Steve Tisch School to grace the red carpet for the 17th time.
We are excited to share that the film “Kinship” by TAU student Orin Kadouri will be screened at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival on May 26, as part of the La Cinéf competition. The competition was established within the Cannes Film Festival in 1998 and aims to discover the next generation of leading filmmakers. The film will have its local premiere and compete at the International Student Film Festival taking place in Tel Aviv on June 12-18.
Orin Kadouri, 26, is a third-year student at The Steve Tisch School of Film and Television, The David and Yolanda Katz Faculty of the Arts. In the film, Kadouri’s first, a young girl explores new boundaries in her relationship with her widowed father following the entry of a new woman into his life. Spoiler: The daughter will do everything in her power to become the center of her father’s life again. The film was supervised by journalist and director Dalia Karpel and Head of the Tisch School, Prof. Yaron Bloch.
Red Carpet Return
This is the 17th time that the School has been accepted to the official Cannes Student Competition. “Im Hukim” (With Rules), by director Dover Koshvili, was the first film to be accepted to the competition (in 1999), earning second place. In 2002, Aya Somekh won another second place with her film “Questions of a Dead Worker”, and in 2005 the director Mia Dreyfus won yet another second place with her film “Visiting Hours.” Other young TAU directors who have walked the red carpet over the years include: Hadar Morag, Haim Tabakman, Amit Skomsky, Yaniv Berman, Maayan Rif, Yuval Shani and others.
Eti Tsicko, Industry Relations Responsible of The Steve Tisch School says, “Although this is the 17th time the School is competing at Cannes, we’re still very excited for and with Orin and her thought-provoking film and wish her good luck!”
Orin Kadouri
Featured image: Scene from the movie “Kinship” (Photo: Eugene Grebenchuk)
Hundreds honor legacy of long-time University benefactors.
Tel Aviv University inaugurated the Pouran and Parviz Izak Nazarian Building on May 15 in honor of the distinguished TAU benefactors and long-time friends, as part of the 2022 Board of Governors meeting. The building provides world-class facilities for visitors to the University. It also houses the Citizen’s Empowerment Center in Israel (CECI), which Parviz Izak initiated, and TAU Online – Innovative Learning Center.
“Today, we’re not just celebrating the inauguration of a building, but a dream come true—a hub, a center for new ideas, for creative plans and important strategies to forge new paths for the future of our country,” said Dora Nazarian, in recognition of her parents. “I know my father is looking down on us with satisfaction at this beautiful building.”
The Los Angeles-based Nazarian family and TAU share a decades-long friendship. Parviz Izak, who passed away in 2017, was an Iranian-born American businessman, investor and philanthropist. His wife, Pouran, has held leadership roles at several organizations that advocate for education, Jewish causes and women’s rights in Iran and the US. The couple, both TAU Honorary Doctors, have a dedicated record of supporting Israel and higher education. Parviz Izak was a TAU Governor, and Pouran and Dora are both current TAU Governors. The Nazarian family’s contributions to TAU over the years include an endowment for the Parviz and Pouran Nazarian Chair for Modern Iranian Studies at the Entin Faculty of Humanities.
“In an expression of their deep love for Israel, Pouran and her family are synonymous with supporting the rights of Israel’s citizens and preserving democracy and academic excellence,” said TAU Vice President Amos Elad. “What better way to support and recognize the importance of all these elements than to unite them under one roof!”
In 2003, Parviz Izak founded the Citizen’s Empowerment Center in Israel, an NGO which aims to improve the performance of the country’s government and public sector by providing tools to make government operations more accessible to the public. It also produces academic studies, surveys and events, with the goal of boosting civic awareness and oversight of public systems. Dora Nazarian is president of the organization.
The inauguration ceremony at TAU took place in the presence of Pouran Nazarian, her children, Dora, Dalia, Daphna, and Benjamin, and grandchildren Eliott, Ethan, Ryan, and Alexa.
During the festivities, the family unveiled the plaque with the building’s name and a bust of Parviz Izak. They also held a mezuzah-hanging ceremony. Nearly 200 people attended the event, including TAU leadership and former prime minister Ehud Olmert, TAU Prof. Ronni Gamzu, head of Ichilov Hospital, and several former ministers.
Prof. Gamzu, a Board Member of the Citizen’s Empowerment Center in Israel and TAU alumnus, said: “I only knew Parviz during his last years. But I understood the power of his and Pouran’s vision…which the Center is fulfilling to strengthen governance to make Israel a better place.” He added, “The legacy of Parviz, and your legacy Pouran, will prevail and continue to change the way we live in Israel.”
Former minister Moshe Kahlon, who has held the communications, welfare & social services and finance portfolios, also spoke at the event: “I thank the Nazarian family for their great contributions to the State of Israel domestically and abroad.” He added that “Izak didn’t hesitate to use his connections to strengthen Israel,” noting the late industrialist’s support for matters ranging from Israeli industry to aliyah services. “He touched on every important aspect in Israel.”
Featured image: The Nazarian family at the inauguration of the Pouran and Parviz Izak Nazarian Building. (Photo: Chen Galili)
Canadian donors inaugurate hub of student and community activity.
In a festive ceremony held during Tel Aviv University’s 2022 Board of Governors meeting, the Arbib Family Entrance Plaza was dedicated at the Millie Phillips Student City complex by benefactor Stephen Arbib, Vice Chair of the Canadian Friends of TAU – Ontario & Western Canada, and his family. Also attending were TAU’s Vice President, International, Prof. Milette Shamir; members of the Canadian Friends; TAU Governors; students and guests.
The Arbib Plaza lies at the entrance to Student City, a 35,000 square meter student housing and commercial center with 11 dormitory buildings. Student City enables TAU to provide housing for thousands, in particular international students, undergraduates from Israel’s social and geographic periphery, and visiting scientists.
“It is through generous donations such as the one we are celebrating today, with the dedication of this plaza, that our university can continue to nurture amazing students as well as support promising research projects,” said Shamir. She stressed that “Tel Aviv University’s most important asset, and perhaps its most significant source of strength, is its amazing student body.
“Thank you, Stephen, for being a loyal friend of the University. Your contribution makes an impact where it matters the most to us,” Shamir said.
Featured image: From left: Stephen Arbib, Prof. Milette Shamir, TAU’s VP International, Stephen Adler – Chief Executive Officer, Tel Aviv University Canada (Ontario & Western Canada)
TAU researchers: more brain power helped animals adapt to changing conditions and increased chances of survival.
What do an elephant, a rhino and a hippopotamus all have in common? All three, along with other large animals, survived the mass extinction that took place for a period of about 120,000 years, starting from the time the last Ice Age began. In contrast, other huge animals, such as giant armadillos (weighing a ton), giant kangaroos and mammoths went extinct.
Researchers at Tel Aviv University and the University of Naples have examined the mass extinction of large animals over the past tens of thousands of years, and found that those species who survived extinction had, on average, much larger brains than those who did not. The researchers conclude that having a large brain (relative to body size) indicates relatively high intelligence and helped the surviving species adapt to changing conditions and cope with potential causes of extinction, such as human hunting.
The study was led by doctoral student Jacob Dembitzer of the University of Naples in Italy, Prof. Shai Meiri of Tel Aviv University’s School of Zoology and The Steinhardt Museum of Natural History, and Prof. Pasquale Raia and doctoral student Silvia Castiglione of the University of Naples. The study was published in the journal Scientific Reports.
Heavy Weight – No Guarantee
The researchers explain that the last Ice Age was characterized by the widespread extinction of large and giant animals on all continents on earth (except Antarctica). Among these:
America: Giant ground sloths weighing 4 tons, a giant armadillo weighing a ton, and mastodons
Australia: Marsupial diprotodon weighing a ton, giant kangaroos, and a marsupial ‘lion’
Eurasia: Giant deer, woolly rhinoceros, mammoth, and giant elephants weighing up to 11 tons
Other large animals, however, such as elephants, rhinos, and hippos, survived this extinction event and exist to this day.
The researchers also note that in some places, the extinction was particularly widespread:
Australia: The red and grey kangaroos are today the largest native animals
South America: The largest survivors are the guanaco and vicuña (similar to the llama, which is a domesticated animal) and the tapir, while many of the species weighing half a ton or more have become extinct
Brains over Body
Jacob Dembitzer: “We know that most of the extinctions were of large animals, and yet it is not clear what distinguishes the large extant species from those that went extinct. We hypothesized that behavioral flexibility, made possible by a large brain in relation to body size, gave the surviving species an evolutionary advantage – it has allowed them to adapt to the changes that have taken place over the last tens of thousands of years, including climate change and the appearance of humans. Previous studies have shown that many species, especially large species, went extinct due to over-hunting by humans that have entered their habitats. In this study, we tested our hypothesis for mammals over a period of about 120,000 years, from the time the last Ice Age began, and the time that modern man began to spread all over the world with lethal weapons, to 500 years before our time. This hypothesis even helps us explain the large number of extinctions in South America and Australia, since the large mammals living on these continents had relatively small brains.”
The researchers collected data from the paleontological literature on 50 extinct species of mammal from all continents, weighing from 11 kg (an extinct giant echidna) up to 11 tons (the straight-tusked elephant, which was also found in the Land of Israel), and compared the size of their cranial cavity to that of 291 evolutionarily close mammal species that survived and exist today, weighing from 1.4 kg (the platypus) up to 4 tons (the African elephant). They fed the data into statistical models that included the weighting of body size and phylogeny between different species.
Prof. Meiri: “We found that the surviving animals had brains 53% larger, on average than evolutionarily closely related, extinct species of a similar body size. We hypothesize that mammals with larger brains have been able to adapt their behavior and cope better with the changing conditions – mainly human hunting and possibly climate changes that occurred during that period – compared to mammals with relatively small brains.”
More than 3000 job applications were submitted during TAU’s annual career fair.
el Aviv University this week held a massive employment fair on campus, after two years of being held online. Dozens of companies and organization took part in the event, meeting with thousands of students and alumni, informing them about open employment opportunities.
Over 3,000 resumes were submitted during the event, and a number of immediate recruitments occurred.
Students and alumni were treated to having professional photos taken for their LinkedIn profiles, courtesy of TAU’s Career Development Center.
Meeting Again In Person
“Once again, we’ve successfully recruited dozens or companies for our Career Fair, which has for years been the largest employment fair of its kind. And we were able to bring together the students whom we serve, and potential employers,” says Sefi Benaim, Head of the Career Development Center at Tel Aviv University, adding that “The job market has changed a lot over the last two years, from the jobs offered through the recruitment process itself and the characteristics of the jobs. We, at the Career Development Center, have made sure to stay up to date with the changing trends in order to prepare our students for the changing world of employment.”
Among the companies that participated were Taboola, Apple, Samsung, the Mossad, Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), Mobileye and more. The positions that were offered were diverse, and appealed to all studying disciplines. Participants could find jobs in hi-tech, project management, analysis, product management, marketing and the list goes on.
Networking with a popsicle in hand. Students and potential employers in discussion at the annual employment fair
School manifests Israel’s leadership in many arenas related to the social sciences.
The Gershon H. Gordon Faculty of Social Sciences at Tel Aviv University, under the leadership of its Dean, Prof. Itai Sened, is launching a new initiative that targets the global arena: The International Graduate School of Social Sciences. The School will offer a range of MA programs in the English language for students from all over the world, and host leading international experts, researchers, and lecturers. Full activities will commence in October 2022, at the beginning of the 2022-23 academic year.
Program Jump-Started by Nobel Laureate
The School’s first guest, who arrived this week, is Prof. Paul Romer from NYU, 2018 Nobel Prize Laureate in Economics, and one of the world’s most inspiring thinkers in his field. Prof. Romer is a staunch supporter of the new initiative and has agreed to lead the School’s excellent cohort of visiting scholars. During his current visit he conducted workshops for outstanding students and young faculty, delivered a lecture to the Friends of TAU, and give an interview to well-known Israeli journalist Guy Rolnik.
Dr. Ro’ee Levy from The Eitan Berglas School of Economics, who researches political economy and social media, on his meeting with Romer: “I am excited to meet a Nobel Laureate in Economics and hear his thoughts on burning economic issues. Prof. Romer won the Nobel Prize together with William Nordhaus for his research on economic growth, and explored how innovation contributes to long-term growth. While economists have already realized that entrepreneurship and knowledge contribute to economic growth, Romer explored the conditions that encourage more entrepreneurship. Instead of assuming that technological developments occur on their own at random, he modeled these developments as dependent on economic conditions. The obvious conclusion is that economic policy can encourage entrepreneurship and technological advancement and thus influence economic growth.”
Prof. Paul Romer is a staunch supporter of TAU’s new initiative
Israel – Much More than The Hi-Tech Nation
The International Graduate School of Social Sciences serves as an umbrella for the Faculty’s five existing international MA programs – Developing Countries (sustainable development), Migration Studies, Conflict Resolution and Mediation, Security and Diplomacy, and Cyber Politics and Government – which are annually attended by about 150 students, both international and Israeli. Five more programs will be added in coming years, including Climate, Trauma, and Public Health, bringing the number of students to approximately 300 annually. Upon graduation, most alumni will join international organizations and Non-Profit Organizations active in their fields of study.
Sened believes that the new School, in its very essence, manifests Israel’s leadership in many arenas related to the social sciences. “Everyone talks about the hi-tech nation,” he says, “but we have a great deal more to offer. Israel has accumulated immense knowledge and experience in many non-technological areas, and Israeli expertise is in great demand all over the world. Our School’s programs will address many of these disciplines, making the vast knowledge amassed here at Tel Aviv University, and throughout the state of Israel, accessible to the entire world.”
This claim is corroborated by most of the School’s current and future programs: Public Health (in collaboration with TAU’s Medical School) – a field in which Israel’s critical edge was revealed during the recent pandemic; Sustainable Development (with an emphasis on developing nations) and Climate Change – where Israel’s geographical location on the edge of the desert has generated considerable expertise; Trauma (collaboration with the Schools of Psychology and Social Work), Conflict Resolution and Security and Diplomacy – in which our country’s constant state of conflict has inevitably bred extensive experience; Migration Studies – whose complex issues are extensively explored in our multicultural nation of immigrants; Cyber Politics and Government (digital governance), relying on Israel’s technological prominence; and more.
International Hub for the Exchange of Ideas
The School’s wealth of MA programs will be complemented by a unique track to the PhD: 10 outstanding undergraduates, completing their BA at the Faculty of Social Sciences, will be admitted to an accelerated PhD program, which includes a scholarship for the entire period of studies, a co-supervisor from a leading university abroad, and a year of studies at the supervisor’s institution.
Academic faculty will benefit from the dynamic two-way flow of scholars generated by the School, with Israeli lecturers and researchers visiting top institutions all over the world, and their colleagues from other countries (20-30 every year, 2-3 at any given time), coming to TAU to conduct research and teach in the various international programs.
At present, the Faculty of Social Sciences is discussing a range of student exchange agreements with several world-leading academic institutions, including: the Johns Hopkins University branch in Bologna, Northwestern University in Illinois, Science-Po in Paris, and EUI (European University Institute) in Venice.
“The new International Graduate School of Social Science reflects the vision of the President of TAU,” notes Sened. “Namely, enhancing TAU’s visibility and leadership in the international arena. On the one hand, we attract students from all over the world, who wish to benefit from the knowledge accumulated here in Israel, and specifically at TAU, in the social sciences. On the other, we essentially ‘bring the world’ to Israeli students and faculty – in the form of world-class lecturers, researchers, and supervisors from around the globe. In this way, we reduce the regrettable ‘brain drain’ and encourage our excellent students and researchers to stay here with us. Ultimately, thanks to its dynamic entrepreneurial spirit, the School will become an international hub for the exchange of ideas and growth of knowledge in many areas of the social sciences that are at the heart of the human experience and critical challenges of our times.”
“Everyone talks about the hi-tech nation, but we have a great deal more to offer.” – Prof. Itai Sened, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences
Game-changing program will incorporate cutting-edge field into mainstream medical practice.
Regenerative Medicine is an emerging field that develops methods to regrow, repair or replace damaged or diseased cells, organs or tissues. Now, Tel Aviv University has launched the Sagol Center for Regenerative Medicine to accelerate research and training in this new and burgeoning field at TAU and in Israel.
The Center, which was inaugurated during TAU’s Board of Governors meeting, was initiated by TAU benefactor and Honorary Doctor, Sami Sagol, Vice Chairman of the Board of Governors, together with his wife, Tova, and is being supported by the Sagol family.
Regenerative medicine includes cellular therapies such as the generation and use of therapeutic stem cells, tissue engineering and biomaterials, and medical devices and production of artificial organs. Conditions that require regenerative medicine include kidney repair, heart disease, cancer, and neurodegenerative disorders.
The Sagol Center for Regenerative Medicine will develop regenerative-based treatments and medications and accelerate the transfer of findings from experimental research to practical applications. Through the Center, TAU medical students in a specially designed MD-PhD track, along with PhD candidates from other faculties, will receive fellowships. In parallel, the Center will provide research grants and cutting-edge equipment to facilitate discoveries. Prof. Benjamin Dekel, a physician and scientist from the Sheba Medical Center and the Klayman Chair of Nephro-Urology at the TAU Faculty of Medicine, will head the Center.
“My dream is to use this Center to facilitate a vision of clinical regenerative departments in the hospital setting and cure patients with the technology that our brightest researchers will develop,” Dekel said.
“It’s only the start of this regenerative field,” said Sami Sagol at the festive outdoor inauguration. “Billions are going to come into this field because we need it: governments, businesses and other players.”
Prof. Ariel Porat: “As he has done before, Sami has predicted the scientific future many years before others.”
During the inauguration ceremony, 2022 TAU Honorary Doctor Katalin Karikó gave the keynote talk on the future role of mRNA, her field of expertise, in regenerative therapies. A musical performance followed the lecture.
Prof. Dan Peer, TAU’s Vice President of Research and Development, concluded the event: “When Sami dreams, he dreams big. As a result of his visionary philanthropy, we will have an impressive impact on regenerative health.”
Featured image: From left: Sami Sagol, Prof. Ariel Porat, Prof. Dan Peer Credit: Chen Galili
Center, uniting TAU and ANU Museum, aims to bridge divides between Israel and Diaspora, boost understanding of contemporary Jewish thought and identity.
Tel Aviv University, together with the Koret Foundation and with ANU – Museum of the Jewish People (ANU), on Sunday, May 15 inaugurated the Koret Center for Jewish Civilization.
The festive ceremony took place during TAU’s 2022 Board of Governors meeting. It coincided with the announcement of a $10 million gift from the Koret Foundation to establish the Center in a three-way partnership with the University and ANU.
The Koret Center was formed to enhance education and understanding of contemporary Jewish thought, social engagement, and identity. It aims to do so by drawing on the strengths of each partnering institution to enact a comprehensive, multi-year approach combining joint public, teaching and research activities. Such endeavors range from leadership and teacher training, to community building, live and online international events, and scholarly research on Judaism and the Jewish people.
WATCH: The inauguration of the Koret Center for Jewish Civilization
Touching on the vision behind the Koret Center, Dr. Anita Friedman, President of the Koret Foundation and the Chair of TAU’s Global Campaign, said: “Those of us who are in leadership in the Jewish community need to take responsibility for where we find ourselves.
“It is simultaneously the moment we are the strongest the Jewish people have ever been,” she said, adding, “[but] we are also under tremendous attack; delegitimization of Israel and antisemitism are widespread.”
She explained that the Koret Center is “finding the way forward by bringing together the preeminent Jewish museum in the world…with the flagship academic institution of the State of Israel and the world and a major Jewish foundation.”
As part of its programming, the Koret Center will produce five online courses on Jewish civilization, provide internships at ANU for 100 TAU students, and establish two biennial international conferences.
The Israeli government, which is acutely aware of the growing disconnect between Israel and global Jewry, has also pledged to lend critical support to the project.
Touching on the urgent need to bridge ties throughout the Jewish world for the safety and future of the Jewish people, Jeffrey Farber, CEO of the Koret Foundation, said: “The Koret Center will pioneer new ways to educate Israeli and Diaspora Jews on contemporary Jewish, though, shared identity and shared Jewish stories.”
Collaborating with Israeli schools, the Koret Center will provide teachers across Israel with innovative programs and resources to enhance their students’ understanding of Jewish peoplehood.
In collaboration with the Koret Center, TAU will offer 325 BA, MA, and PhD scholarships for pedagogy, teacher and leadership training in Jewish Studies.
Furthermore, the University will develop a new international graduate program in Jewish studies in cooperation with two major academic centers abroad in Europe and the U.S.
In addition, TAU will establish a Koret International Society of Fellows for 25 postdoctoral students, who will participate in a yearlong research seminar.
“Together we hope to transform Tel Aviv into a global focal point for bolstering the place of Judaism and the Jewish people in the world today,” said TAU President Prof. Ariel Porat at Sunday’s event. “This mission is critical, even existential.”
The activities of the Koret Center will also help ANU expand its Jewish peoplehood education for Israeli public-school educators and youth. As such, the Museum will support instruction for 50,000 Israeli teachers and leadership training for 40,000 professionals and lay leaders. It will establish a J-Hub accelerator to support 60 to 80 Jewish peoplehood projects, capitalizing on ANU visitors to test apps and initiatives developed.
Additionally, ANU will create an honors program for 240 Israeli high school students. The Museum will also serve as the educational and cultural training center for initiatives such as Birthright Israel.
“We’re clearly seeing in the world now a fight between good and bad,” said Irina Nevzlin, Chair of ANU and President of the Nadav Foundation. “To be on the side of good…requires a lot of energy to stand on the side of good. And you can’t do it by yourself. You need partnerships.”
She explained that the kind of partnership that bore the Koret Center has the potential to push the needle on some of the most pressing challenges the Jewish world faces to “make [Jewish] people feel proud and safe.”
“The only way to fight evil is with education,” she said.
Featured image: From left: Irina Nevzlin, Dr. Anita Friedman and Prof. Ariel Porat (Photo: Chen Galili)
Women over 50 who snore face an elevated risk of sleep apnea.
If you’re a woman and over 50, we recommend that you find out whether or not you snore at nights (your bed partner may or may already have alerted you to the issue). TAU researchers found that women aged 55 and over who snore are at increased risk for sleep apnea, which can be fatal. Because the phenomenon occurs during sleep, most women who suffer from sleep-disordered breathing are not aware that they are at increased risk.
“The lack of early diagnosis is particularly noticeable in one of the target demographic groups: women over the age of 50, who suffer from an increase in the incidence of sleep-disordered breathing due to hormonal changes that occur during menopause,” warns TAU’s Prof. Ilana Eli, adding “We wanted to examine and characterize the phenomenon in this group in order to raise a red flag when necessary.” The following study was conducted by Dr. Alona Emodi-Perlman, Prof. Ilana Eli, Dr. Jawan Sleiman and Dr. Pessia Friedman-Rubin from the Department of Oral Rehabilitation at The Maurice and Gabriela Goldschleger School of Dental Medicine at Tel Aviv University, and was published in the prestigious Journal of Clinical Medicine
Drop the Shame
The researchers examined hundreds of Israeli women, whom they divided into two groups: women aged 20-40 (pre-menopause) and women aged 55 and over (post-menopause).
They found that 15% of the older women are at significant risk for sleep apnea, compared to only 3.5% of the younger women. In addition, they found that 11% of the women who snore are at increased risk for sleep apnea, compared to only 1% of the women who do not snore.
In the study, the participants filled out dedicated questionnaires, which included a variety of questions such as: How do you feel when you get up in the morning: Fatigue, headache, tension/stiffness in the muscles of the face, neck and jaw? Do you grind your teeth at night? Do you wake up during the night? Do you feel tired or drowsy during the day? And the big question, which many women are ashamed of answering: Do you snore? The data were weighted with physical indicators – BMI and neck circumference, which is known to thicken in old age, as well as demographic data – work, number of children, marital status, etc. The findings make it possible to define three categories of risk for sleep apnea: women who are at high, medium and low risk.
Prof. Eli explains that sleep breathing disorders range across a broad spectrum – from mild snoring to the most severe and dangerous disorder – sleep apnea. Sleep apnea causes a decrease in blood oxygen concentration and can, as mentioned, be life-threatening. In addition, if the phenomenon is not diagnosed and treated in time, it can contribute to the development of a variety of systemic diseases, such as hypertension, cardiovascular disease and stroke.
Ask the Right Questions
The difficulty in diagnosing it is mainly due to lack of awareness and under-reporting: women suffering from the problem are unaware of it because it occurs during sleep. They are more likely to report fatigue, headaches, masticatory muscle soreness upon awaking or sleep problems like insomnia to their doctors. It is therefore important that the attending physician makes the connection, asks the right questions and even seeks further diagnosis in case of suspected sleep apnea.
Grinding of teeth at night, high BMI, and a relatively large neck circumference are additional warning signs, according to the researchers.
In the wake of these findings, the researchers address doctors, and especially those who focus on the orofacial area – dentists: “Take note of symptoms that may indicate a risk of sleep apnea. Ask your older patients the relevant questions that no one is asking, such as: Do you snore? Do you suffer from headaches/neck pain when you wake up? Ask them to fill out a dedicated questionnaire to identify the risk of sleep apnea. Take note of the condition of the teeth – are there any indications of grinding of teeth at night? Note the thickness of the neck, which tends to expand in old age. And the bottom line is, if you have identified a high-risk patient, refer her to a sleep diagnosis specialist. This way, we can diagnose women who are ‘under the radar’ due to lack of awareness and under-reporting and provide them with appropriate and life-saving care.”
Upgraded facility “will nurture world-class athletes and future medal winners.
At a festive ceremony held on May 11, Tel Aviv University inaugurated the Sylvan Adams Sports Center. The Sylvan Adams sponsored sports facilities at TAU now include both the Sports Center and the adjacent Sports Institute in his name.
“It is my mission to invest in the sporting infrastructure of Israel,” said Adams, the Center’s benefactor and Vice Chairman of TAU’s Board of Governors, at the event. “The Sylvan Adams Sports Center at Tel Aviv University is a flagship project which will nurture world-class athletes and future medal winners.”
Adams is also a TAU Honorary Doctor and Global Campaign cabinet member. The inauguration took place during the Board of Governors meeting.
“Sports is a language—everybody speaks it. It enables us to show the true and best face of Israel,” Adams said, particularly in the face of the misconceptions about the country around the world.
WATCH: Vice Chair of the Board of Governors and TAU Honorary Doctor Sylvan Adams Launches the Upgraded Sports Complex at TAU
Additionally, Adams noted that his projects at TAU continue the legacy of his late parents, Marcel and Annie, who were also TAU Governors and Honorary Doctors. He attended the ceremony with his wife Margaret.
Speaking at the event, TAU President Prof. Ariel Porat said, “Sylvan Adams is the undisputed ‘Mr. Sports’ of Israel. The Center will consolidate TAU sports facilities into a single world-class hub of sports excellence, research, training, rehabilitation and community activities.”
He added that it will serve thousands of members of the local community and hundreds of professional athletes, in addition to boosting TAU’s ability to recruit Israeli scientists from top international institutions. “Sylvan’s contribution to the Sports Center is a reflection of his love for Israel.”
The dedication of the Sports Center will enable its expansion and renovation, equipping it with advanced facilities to improve the achievements of Israeli athletes and benefit the community.
Planned additions include a new outdoor Olympic swimming pool that can provide athletes with world-class training conditions, thus encouraging success in international competitions and hold international conferences.
Backed by Adams, the scholarships were established to enable elite athletes to study for new careers following their retirement from competitive sports.
Murez spoke on behalf of the scholarship recipients: “I hope we inspire younger athletes in both sport and in school. The scholarship helps us focus in school, but also motivate us to keep up the hard work of training and competing.”
She added that she looks forward to continuing to use the “amazing sports facilities here at Tel Aviv University,” where she trained along with fellow Team Israel swimmers ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Games.
“We reached the Olympic finals,” she said. “We couldn’t have done it without your support.”
Featured image: From left: Director of the Sylvan Adams Sports Institute Prof. Chaim Pick, TAU President Prof. Ariel Porat, Andi Murez, Sylvan Adams, Shahar Resman. (Photo: Chen Galili)
Victoria
Tok Corporate Centre, Level 1, 459 Toorak Road, Toorak VIC 3142 Phone: +61 3 9296 2065 Email: [email protected]
