Inauguration of the Cohn Program for Israeli-Arab Inclusion in the Humanities at Tel Aviv University.
The Cohn Family in collaboration with The Lester and Sally Entin Faculty of Humanities and the Commission for Equity, Diversity and Community at Tel Aviv University inaugurated the Cohn Program for Israeli-Arab inclusion in the Humanities during the University’s annual Board of Governors Meeting this week. The Cohn Family has supported the Cohn Institute for the History and Philosophy of Science and Ideas along with individual departments in the Humanities at TAU for decades. The current program is aimed at centralizing and expanding the existing efforts to attract Arab students to enroll in the Humanities at TAU.
As part of the 2023 Board of Governors meeting at TAU, Dan Cohn, the Entin Faculty of Humanities and the Commission for Equity, Diversity and Community are holding a study tour in Lod, a mixed Jewish-Arab town. The tour will focus on The Lowy International School’s Gap Year Program and the archeological excavations in Lod, which will be presented by Prof. Yuval Gadot, Head of TAU’s Jacob M. Alkow Department of Archaeology and Ancient Near Eastern Cultures.
WATCH: The inauguration ceremony of the Cohn Program for Israeli-Arab Inclusion in the Humanities at Tel Aviv University
Prof. Neta Ziv, TAU Vice President for Equity, Diversity and Community: “Tel Aviv University sees great importance in promoting equity and diversity on its campus. I would like to thank the Cohn Family for their generous gift and the decision to centralize the efforts to promote equity in the Humanities under a unified program. I believe that such a program can help to increase the opportunities for Arab students in Humanities.”
Dan Cohn: “My family has supported the study of the Humanities at TAU for almost half a century. While STEM subjects have attracted substantial support from funders, it has been more difficult to attract that funding in the Humanities. In addition, Arab students have, for a number of reasons – language, role models and critical mass – gravitated to the STEM world. For some time, in initiatives sponsored in specific departments at TAU, efforts have been made to attract Arab students to study Humanities at TAU, to help fill certain gaps in their educational background (e.g., Hebrew), facilitate the creation of a sense of community and open opportunities for graduate fellowships. With the arrival of President [Ariel] Porat and others, the opportunity has been presented to centralize and expand these efforts under the direction of the President and the Vice President of Diversity, Equity and Community. By providing this opportunity at TAU, my family can make a contribution to increasing equity in Israeli society.”
This year’s event, May 14—21, provides a special cause for celebration marking the end of our $1 billion Global Campaign.
This week, Tel Aviv University is hosting its annual Board of Governors Meeting, with over 500 friends and supporters arriving from all over the world. The program is packed with a variety of exciting events: participants will be visiting some of the most innovative labs in the world, attending prize ceremonies, inaugurations, symposia and even gala events! And this year, we’re celebrating big time – not only Israel’s 75th anniversary, but also the smashing success – and visible, campus-wide impact – of the $1 billion TAU Global Campaign.
Here are a few highlights from the program, with a focus on the impact of TAU’s big ideas on the success of Israel and beyond:
Honorary Degrees
On Thursday, TAU will bestow its highest honour, the honorary Doctor of Philosophy degree to nine distinguished individuals making an exceptionally positive impact on the world.
The degrees will be awarded to: Prof. Antoine Compagnon, France; Prof. Barbara Engelking, Poland; Mr. Tamir Gilat, Israel; Mr. Morris Kahn, Israel; Mr. Attalla Mansour, Israel; Prof. Nicholas A. Peppas, USA; Prof. Pavel A. Pevzner, USA; Ms. Sandra & Mr. Vlad Shmunis, USA and Ms. Olga Tokarczuk, Poland (Writer, activist and public intellectual; Nobel Prize laureate). Honorary Fellowship in Israel will be awarded to: Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Singapore.
The participants will get the rare opportunity to visit some of the most innovative laboratories in the world, and witness cutting-edge sicence in action; hear inspiring stories of students from all sectors of Israel society who benefit from TAU’s proactive strategy to boost equality on campus; learn about TAU’s uniquely cross-disciplinary research culture, and hear teams describe their fascinating approaches to research challenges.
They will also attend the inauguration of various programs, including:
Dan Launchpad for Startups – dubbed as “the missing link in TAU’s current ecosystem” by Prof. Moshe Zviran, Head of the Dan Launchpad and former Dean of the Coller School of Management.
Colton Center for Autoimmunity – Israel’s first multidisciplinary center for the study of autoimmune diseases – chronic conditions involving an abnormal response of the immune system within body tissues. The Center will collaborate with Israel’s medical centers and health services including HMO’s and Hospitals as well as selected scientists from other academic institutions to enable big data analytics of medical information and biological samples from patients with autoimmune diseases and promote understanding of the causes of morbidity and recurrent flareups and possible early diagnostics and treatments.
Irwin Cotler Institute for Democracy, Human Rights and Justice – the Institute, honoring the Hon. Irwin Cotler – 2018 TAU Honorary Doctor and TAU Governor, will be devoted to combating antisemitism, racism and Holocaust denial; promoting human rights; and advancing understanding of Israel in the global arena. These important topics are at the center of Prof. Cotler’s life work.
Prof. Irwin Cotler with Cotler Fellowship students on TAU campus
The Human Embrace: Cohn Program for Israeli-Arab Inclusion in the Humanities (at The Lester and Sally Entin Faculty of Humanities) – a unique program aimed at bringing greater numbers of Israeli-Arabs into the academic fold, offering them the tools and skills to successfully complete their degrees, and further incorporating equality, social justice and diversity into the culture and curriculum of the Entin Faculty of Humanities.
The Institute for Integrative Psychedelics Research – The investigation of how psychedelics alter the mind must take into consideration many other aspects of life that affect consciousness, emotions, social and motivation behavior. Thus, the future of psychedelics research lies in the integration of diverse disciplines that can illuminate blind spots and create a stronger and more cohesive body of scientific knowledge.
Participants from the TAU’s Board of Governors Meeting in 2022 visit TAU’s innovative laboratories.
Kadar Family Award for Outstanding Research
The Kadar Family Award for Outstanding Research at Tel Aviv University celebrates pioneering scientists and scholars who have reached the highest levels of excellence in both research and teaching. For the past eight years, the Award has been granted annually to four TAU researchers, two senior and two junior faculty members, from across the entire spectrum of faculties and disciplines on the TAU campus.
2023 Dan David Prize Award Ceremony
Dan David Prize, the largest history prize in the world, will be awarded this year’s winners – nine emerging scholars and practitioners, whose work illuminates the past in bold and creative ways. Each of the winners – who work in Kenya, Ireland, Denmark, Israel, Canada and the United States – will receive $300,000 (USD) in recognition of their achievements and to support their future endeavors.
For regular Board Of Governors Meeting updates and photos, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn, hashtag #TAUbog23.
Three-Year Program Focused on AI for Sustainability and Education.
Google and Tel Aviv University are continuing their ongoing collaboration and launched a new three-year program for the promotion of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and data science research, through the TAD – Center for Artificial Intelligence & Data Science at TAU, headed by Prof. Meir Feder (from The Iby and Aladar Fleischman Faculty of Engineering) with financial support of $1M from Google. The program is focused mainly on AI research for Sustainability and for Education.
Grant Awardees and Fellowships
The launch event, held on May 1, included a ceremony to announce the grant awardees who were selected by the grant committee following a call for research proposals.
In addition, three fellowships were awarded to graduate students from underrepresented groups in the academia in the fields of AI. The winning students come from the Blavatnik School of Computer Science, the School of Zoology and the School of Education.
“In this new program, we place the focus on utilizing AI tools to advance sustainability and education. Sustainability is absolutely critical to the continued existence of humanity, while education is crucial to the health of our society. TAU excels in both of these areas, and collaboration with Google will strengthen them even further.” – Prof. Ariel Porat, Tel Aviv University President
Grant Awardees (photo: Ofra Ron Mazor)
Focus on Sustainability and Education
During the opening ceremony, TAU president, Prof. Ariel Porat, Prof. Yossi Matias, VP Engineering and Research, Google and Head of Google center in Israel, and Prof. Meir Feder, Head of TAD spoke about the program and the TAU-Google long-standing partnership:
Prof. Ariel Porat, President of Tel Aviv University, said: “Several years ago we began a fruitful collaboration with Google, led by Prof. Yossi Matias. The purpose of this partnership is to boost the contribution of AI to the improvement of human society and the world we live in. In this new program, we place the focus on utilizing AI tools to advance sustainability and education. Sustainability is absolutely critical to the continued existence of humanity, while education is crucial to the health of our society. TAU excels in both of these areas, and collaboration with Google will strengthen them even further.”
“Through our continued and expanded partnership with TAU and its Center for AI and Data Science, we hope to join together industrial and academic research to advance science and technology in these critical areas for humanity and society.” – Yossi Matias, Google
Yossi Matias, VP Engineering and Research, Google said: ”We have great opportunities to use AI to make a significant positive impact in many areas, and I’m excited about our continued investments in driving for positive change in Sustainability and Education. Through our continued and expanded partnership with TAU and its Center for AI and Data Science, we hope to join together industrial and academic research to advance science and technology in these critical areas for humanity and society.”
Promoting Inclusivity and Diversity
“We are also committed to continuing our efforts to make academia and industry more inclusive for all segments of society,” said Matias. Google started a mentoring program with ExactShe, established by Prof. Tova Milo, Dean at the Faculty of Exact Sciences at TAU, through which female Google volunteers will mentor female students from the Faculty, to create a supportive community and help them integrate into the research community and the industry.
“The collaboration with Google helps in another very important goal of the center – the support of underrepresented groups in the field of AI in academia and promote diversity and inclusive environment at the university.” – Prof. Meir Feder
Prof. Meir Feder, Head of TAD, thanked Google for the ongoing collaboration and the support in these important fields of AI research at TAU. “Both sustainability and education are topics of growing interest and AI can greatly advance these areas for the benefit of the environment and society in general. AI can help to address some of the biggest challenges such as innovate teaching and learning for all, climate change, water resources, renewable energy, biodiversity and more.”
“The collaboration with Google helps in another very important goal of the center – the support of underrepresented groups in the field of AI in academia and promote diversity and inclusive environment at the university. We are happy to join forces to promote all these important aspects.”
Joint Seminars and Meetings
As part of the long-standing partnership, TAD and Google held joint seminars in the last couple of years in the fields of AI for the Environment, and Health and AI. Led by Dr. Deborah Cohen, Senior Scientist at Google Research, and Dr. Shiri Stempler, Director of Research Collaborations at TAD, the meetings included talks by researchers from both TAU and Google who presented established results as well as work in progress and provided a platform to advance connections between academia and industry. Joint meetings will continue to be held as part of the new program as well.
Tel Aviv University hosts int’l emergency conference to address crisis in Israel-Diaspora relations and the future of Jewish identity.
Last week, Tel Aviv University held an international emergency conference in collaboration with Brandeis University and the World Zionist Organization, under the title: ‘The Jewish Wars?’. The participants, including leading public and academic figures from Israel and the Diaspora, addressed the issues of Israel-Diaspora relations and the future of Jewish identity in light of the escalating crisis in the relations between Israel and world Jewry.
Conference Objectives
According to its organizers, the conference is a first step in a comprehensive academic and research effort to assist in the formulation of a new social contract for the Jewish nation – inside the state of Israel and between Israel and the Diaspora.
Healing the Growing Rift and Redefining Jewish Identity
A range of burning questions were discussed, such as:
The growing rift between Jewish communities and movements in Israel and worldwide – can it be healed and how?
Who is a Jew and who gets to decide this?
Israel and the Jewish Diaspora in the wake of the judicial overhaul
The changing nature of Jewish faith and identity in the 21st century
What can Israel learn from the Diaspora at this time?
The conference is the first initiative of a new partnership between two major academic institutions: Tel Aviv University and Brandeis University – the world’s largest and most important liberal Jewish university, which, like Israel, is currently celebrating its 75th anniversary.
Prominent Participants and Opening Messages
The conference opened with welcoming messages from the President of Israel Isaac Herzog (recorded), TAU President Prof. Ariel Porat, and the President of Brandeis University Prof. Ronald D. Liebowitz.
Prominent participants included: Tova Dorfman, President of the World Zionist Organization; Rabbi Delphine Horvilleur, a leader of liberal French Jewry; Dani Dayan, Chairman of Yad Vashem; Prof. Rabbi Yehudah Mirsky and Prof. Leonard Saxe of Brandeis University; and other leading scholars.
WATCH: Jewish leaders from Israel and the Diaspora convened under the title: “The Jewish Wars?”
Crisis Will Shape Future of the Jewish Nation
“Israel is currently in the midst of one of the greatest crises in its history – a crisis that will impact the entire Jewish nation and shape its future,” proclaimed Prof. Yossi Shain.
“Throughout our history, Jewish wars have always been a time of great distress for our people, and this is also true today. We ask ourselves with deep concern: where is our nation headed?” – Prof. Yossi Shain
“Throughout our history, Jewish wars have always been a time of great distress for our people, and this is also true today. We ask ourselves with deep concern: where is our nation headed?”
“Long ago, at a moment of grave danger to the Jewish people, Queen Esther said to Mordechai: ‘Go, gather together all the Jews’ (Esther 4, 16). Today we also understand that to heal the rifts and find a solution we must gather all the Jews.”
“In this spirit and believing that academia must play a key role in this comprehensive effort, we have chosen to strengthen the ties between Tel Aviv University – which represents the new Israeli spirit – and Brandeis University, the world’s leading Jewish university, named after the first Jewish Justice in the US Supreme Court. This partnership, launched with the blessing of Israel’s President and supported by the Presidents of both universities, is meant to contribute to the formulation of a new social contract between Israel and world Jewry, with an emphasis on the largest and most influential community, the Jews of the US.”
“Diaspora Jewry, contending with a rise in antisemitism and a deterioration in Israel’s standing worldwide, is very worried about the nationalist and religious character of the present Israeli government.” Dr. Yoav Fromer
Understanding Reasons for Crisis, Looking for Solutions
“The relations between Israel and the Jewish Diaspora, especially the Jews living in democratic and liberal Western countries, are currently in deep crisis,” warned Dr. Yoav Fromer. “We are no longer talking about specific issues, as important as they may be, like the Jewish Ancestry Amendment to the Law of Return, or the Women of the Wall.”
“We’re not there anymore.”
“Diaspora Jewry, contending with a rise in antisemitism and a deterioration in Israel’s standing worldwide, is very worried about the nationalist and religious character of the present Israeli government. In addition, many are deeply concerned about the question of ‘Who is a Jew?’ and who has the right to decide this. This is especially critical for American Jews, who belong, for the most part, to Reform or Conservative Judaism. For them this is not merely a theoretical issue: it touches upon the daily lives of many who see themselves as Jews and raise Jewish families, after undergoing conversion that is not Orthodox, and is therefore not recognized in Israel.”
“We Israelis, on our part, must never forget that our ties with our brothers and sisters in the Diaspora are critical for us: they are our greatest allies, offering us generous financial support and defending Israel’s interests in their lands. In this conference we tried to understand the reasons for this deep crisis and began to look for solutions.”
University hosts “Mexico International Week” on May 8-10.
As Israel and Mexico mark 70 years of diplomatic relations, Tel Aviv University (TAU) is hosting its own “Mexico International Week” on campus between May 8-10, in celebration of its longstanding academic relations with Mexican academic institutions.
“During Mexico International Week we celebrate the strong academic relationship between our countries while also promoting understanding.” – Maureen Adiri Meyer
Decades-long Tradition of Academic Collaboration
“We’ve been collaborating with and welcoming students and scholars from Mexico for decades,” says Maureen Adiri Meyer, Director of The Lowy International School at TAU. “During Mexico International Week we celebrate the strong academic relationship between our countries while also promoting understanding .”
The first joint publication between TAU and a Mexican academic institution was published in 1970, and the first academic agreement was signed between TAU and a Mexican university, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, as far back as in 1980.
Today, there are several initiatives supporting academic exchange between the two countries, including a new potential partnership with the Guanajuato state government that would allow local students to attend TAU international programs for free, as well as the Peisach Scholarship Fund for Latin American and Brazilian students.
The Mexico building on TAU campus
“I hope Mexico International Week will spark a curiosity in the participants, prompting them to look beyond the most common images – the food, the beaches and the tequila.” – Paul Frankel
Did you know that TAU has a building named after its collaboration partner? The Mexico Building, which in part houses the Faculty of Arts, was built all the way back in 1964. Donated by members of the Jewish community in Mexico and designed by architects Dan Eitan and Yitzhak Ishar, the building won the Rockach Prize for Architecture.
Legend has it that the building was designed in one night, and the word “Mexico” was scribbled on the architectural sketch. The unofficial reference eventually became the official name of the building, which can be found right in the center of campus.
More than Tacos and Sombreros
During Mexico International Week, participants will get a closer look at the warm and dynamic culture of Mexico, through introductions to traditional food; drinks and dance; lectures on cultural identity and history; discussions on Mexico-Israel relations and more.
The Mexican Embassy will also take part in the festivities, with their own booth on the first day of the event.
Paul Frankel, an MA student with TAU’s Security & Diplomacy program, will be hosting a discussion on Mexican identity and cultural heritage (complete with Mexican sangria!). For Paul, the week of events is an opportunity to build connections between the two countries and peoples, share knowledge and dispel stereotypes: “It has been an incessant curiosity of mine to learn in depth about Mexico,” says Frankel, an Israeli who was born in Mexico and has been working in Mexican museums for several years. “I hope Mexico International Week will spark a curiosity in the participants, prompting them to look beyond the most common images – the food, the beaches and the tequila. While we’re very proud of these elements, there is just so much more to Mexico.”
Andrea Garza (photo: Rafael Ben-Menashe, Tel Aviv University)
“If you compare Tel Avivians with Mexico City residents, people are always cheerful. They love to party, embrace the balagan [/chaos] – and there is the same colorful environment.” – Andrea Garza
Mexico, Israel and the Sabra
Of course, there are many broader connections between Mexico and Israel. Take the sabra, for instance – Israel’s iconic national symbol. Did you know that the famous prickly fruit with the sweet center also happens to be a national symbol in Mexico, appearing on its flag? In fact, the plant was likely first domesticated in Mexico approximately 8,000 years ago and only later made its way to Israel.
“We really are kind of connected,” shares Andrea Garza, a Mexican anthropology MA student who is also involved in running TAU’s Mexico International Week. “If you compare Tel Avivians with Mexico City residents, people are always cheerful. They love to party, embrace the balagan [/chaos] – and there is the same colorful environment.”
Tel Aviv University’s Mexico International Week is open for everyone who would like to join. Learn more and register here.
TAU-Mexico: 5 Facts
150 international students over the past decade
1970 marks the first joint publication between TAU and the Mexican Institute
1 building at TAU named after its collaboration partner, “The Mexico Building”
50+ years for the Mexican friends of Tel Aviv University Association
383 joint publications were co-published by TAU and Mexican universities
We are delighted to announce that Mr. Jack Ma, renowned entrepreneur and philanthropist, will join the University as a Visiting Professor.
Mr. Jack Ma, who holds an Honorary Doctorate from Tel Aviv University, is expected to contribute to the University’s research efforts on sustainable agriculture and food. The University’s faculty and students are also enthusiastic about the opportunity to learn from one of the most successful entrepreneurs in the world. Mr. Ma’s long-time advocacy of global sustainability and his lifelong passion for education make him uniquely positioned to enrich research and studies in Israel.
“We are honoured and excited to welcome Mr. Jack Ma to Tel Aviv University,” said Prof. Ariel Porat, President of Tel Aviv University. “His appointment is a testament to the importance of collaboration between academia and industry, and we look forward to learning from his insights and experience.”
University students and faculty members attend moving ceremony for fallen soldiers and victims of terrorism.
Israel will mark this year’s Memorial Day beginning this evening (Monday night) when a siren will sound across the country. According to tradition, Tel Aviv University organized a university-wide break in studies for its Yom Hazikaron Memorial Ceremony which was held on campus this afternoon. The ceremony was attended by hundreds of students, University staff and faculty members.
“Even when wars are fought far from the civilian home front, the feeling is always that we are all participating in the war.” – Prof. Ariel Porat
“We Are All Participating in the War”
Prof. Ariel Porat, President of Tel Aviv University, opened the ceremony with a recognition of both the personal and national pain of loss caused by war and terror attacks. “Even when wars are fought far from the civilian home front, the feeling is always that we are all participating in the war…parents, children, siblings and relatives – they all take part in it.”
Prof. Ariel Porat
“Many of us have strong personal memories from wars, accompanied by worries on the one hand, and for most of us, a sense of relief once everything was seemingly over. But there are those who do not get to enjoy any sense of relief. Those who pay the ultimate price. For them, the end of the war only marks the beginning of their pain. They are then faced with the worst of all: the loss of a loved one.”
“In addition to personal bereavement, which is without a doubt the most horrendous of all, we also mourn collectively.”
“One day each year, the bereaved families let everyone else join them. One day a year, the bereaved families allow their fellow citizens to feel that they too are the bereaved.” – Eyal Magini
Eyal Magini
One Day Each Year
Eyal Magini, father of Eytam Magini and Tal Morad, sister of Tomer Morad, two TAU students who were murdered in last year’s terror attack in the heart of Tel Aviv, fondly remembered their loved ones in speeches and expressed the difficulty of the past year without them.
Eyal Magini spoke warmly about his son Eytam, who was abruptly taken from him. He described how the lives of the Magini family were changed forever, as they were left with the pain of knowing that Eytam would never return. Despite this, Eyal finds some comfort on this day, when he says: “One day a year, the bereaved families let their fellow citizens share in their pain and feel that they too are the bereaved. On Memorial Day, everyone wants to try to offer the bereaved families some relief by carrying some of their pain, even throughout the rest of the year. “
Miri Kadmiel
“Each of us have the privilege to do what we can for a better future for Israel and our future generations, for a good, decent, and solidary society.” – Miri Kadmiel
Also speaking at the event was Miri Kadmiel, Chairwoman of the Tel Aviv branch of Yad Lebanim, the organization delegated by Israel to commemorate the memory of fallen Israeli soldiers and to support bereaved families. As a bereaved mother herself, she emphasized the important task of Tel Aviv University’s “talented and highly capable young people to continue to shape the future State of Israel,” saying that “we find ourselves in a very complex and challenging period, with many concerns and apprehensions. Each of us has the privilege to do what we can for a better future for Israel and our future generations, to work towards a society based on mutual respect and solidarity.”
Also speaking at the event were Daniel Zilber, Chairwoman of TAU’s Student Union and event moderator Itzik Ziat. Music by Tel Aviv University’s The Buchmann-Mehta School of Music and sign language translation by Iris Ben Moshe were also featured.
The Annual Report on Antisemitism Worldwide – 2022.
On the eve of Holocaust Remembrance Day 2023, The Center for the Study of Contemporary European Jewry at Tel Aviv University published its 22nd annual Antisemitism Worldwide Report in collaboration with the Anti-Defamation League (ADL).
Attacking The Most Vulnerable
According to the Report, visibly identifiable Jews, particularly Haredi Jews, are the main victims of antisemitic assaults in the West, including beatings, being spit on, and having objects thrown at them.
The Report examines dozens of assaults reported in New York (the city that recorded the most assaults in the United States), in London (which saw the largest number of attacks in Europe), and several other cities. The comparative study suggests physical attacks on Jews tend to occur in a small number of areas in major urban centers, usually on the street or on public transportation rather than near or in synagogues or Jewish establishments. Most attacks appear not to be premeditated.
“Our research indicates that effective policing, indictments, and educational campaigns in a small number of urban areas in various Western countries can lead to a significant reduction in the number of violent antisemitic attacks.” – Prof. Uriya Shavit
Haredi Jews are the main victims not only because they are easily identifiable as Jews, but also because they are perceived as vulnerable and unlikely to fight back. While the attacks examined in the Report are legally defined as antisemitic hate crimes, the motivations of the perpetrators are not easy to discern and could be driven by a deeply held antisemitism, hatred for Israel, bullying, or a combination of the three.
Prof. Uriya Shavit, Head of the Center for the Study of Contemporary European Jewry at Tel Aviv University, says “our research indicates that effective policing, indictments, and educational campaigns in a small number of urban areas in various Western countries can lead to a significant reduction in the number of violent antisemitic attacks. The fight against antisemitism must include more practical, measurable, and transparent objectives and fewer declarations and cries of ‘Gevald!’.”
Dr. Carl Yonker, Senior Researcher at the Center, who led the research on the nature of the antisemitic attacks, notes: “It was very disturbing to discover during fieldwork in London that some Haredim regard antisemitism as the inescapable fate of Jews in the diaspora, sometimes even blaming members of their own communities for the situation.”
WATCH: The Annual Report on Antisemitism Worldwide 2022: Haredi Jews – Main Target of Antisemitic Assaults
“Normalization of Crazy Conspirations” in the U.S.
Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL): “The data contained in this survey is very troubling. It is alarming to see the significant increase in antisemitic incidents and trends across the US and in several other countries.”
“Equally concerning is that unlike in 2021, there were no specific events which can be linked to a rise in antisemitism, which speaks to the deeply seated nature of Jew Hatred around the world. We are proud to partner with Tel Aviv University on this important annual report which will be used to educate governments and civil society and help push back against antisemitic trends.”
According to the Annual Report, 2022 saw a sharp rise in the number of antisemitic incidents in the United States and other countries, alongside a decline in several countries. The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) recorded 3,697 antisemitic incidents in the United States, compared to 2,717 in 2021 – a record year in its own right. The NYPD registered 261 hate crimes against Jews compared to 214 in 2021, the LAPD recorded 86 in 2022 compared to 79 in 2021, and the Chicago Police 38 in 2022 compared to 8 in 2021.
The authors of the Report point to a disturbing trend of the ‘normalization of crazy conspirations’ in public discourse in America. The spreading of antisemitic propaganda by white supremacists in the United States almost tripled compared to 2021, reaching a total of 852 incidents.
Does the Current Wave Run Deeper?
A rise in recorded antisemitic incidents compared to 2021 was also found in several other Western countries, including Belgium, Hungary, Italy, and Australia. In Belgium, 17 antisemitic attacks were recorded in 2022 compared to only 3 in 2021 – the highest number since seven attacks were recorded in 2016.
On the other hand, other countries, including Germany, Austria, France, the UK, Canada, and Argentina, saw a decline in the number of antisemitic incidents compared to 2021. In Germany, 2,649 ‘political crimes with an antisemitic background’ were documented, less than the record of 3,028 reached in 2021, but still significantly higher than the figures for 2020 and 2019. In France, 436 incidents were documented compared to 589 in 2021, 339 in 2020, and 687 in 2019.
Prof. Shavit and Dr. Yonker noted that the record numbers registered in 2021 were attributed to the social tensions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as reactions to Israel’s military operation in Gaza, “Guardian of the Walls.”
“In 2022 it was demonstrated once again that antisemitism does not require any real Jewish presence or direct rivalry with Israel in order to find supporters.” – Antisemitism Worldwide Report for 2022
The data for 2022 alarmingly suggest that the roots of the current wave of antisemitism probably run deeper, especially in the United States.
They point to three intertwining factors:
Intensified social and cultural tensions
Rise of radicalism, both right- and left-wing, at the expense of the political center
Proliferation of ‘echo chambers’ on social media, where conspiracy theories spread as if they were undeniable truths (“A reality in which big companies make big money by spreading big lies must be rectified,” cautions Prof. Shavit.)
Reviewing the situation in Russia, the Report notes troubling antisemitic remarks by officials and intellectuals close to the Putin administration, as well as the cynical distortion of the memory of the Holocaust by the regime. This raises concerns that Russian Jews might become scapegoats for the regime’s military failures in Ukraine. “Fascists are never reliable allies for religious minorities or in the fight for human rights,” notes the Report.
Two of the in-depth essays included in the Report discuss the extreme antisemitic propaganda espoused by the Houthis in Yemen, and two small antisemitic parties that won seats in the upper house of the Japanese Parliament. “In 2022 it was demonstrated once again that antisemitism does not require any real Jewish presence or direct rivalry with Israel in order to find supporters,” notes the Report.
Other essays describe the failed coup of an antisemitic group in Germany, white Christian nationalist antisemitism in the United States, antisemitic tendencies in the Hebrew Israelite movement in the United States, and legal controversies in America regarding hate speech and the First Amendment.
“Soul-searching is required in Israel as well,” says the Head of the Center, Prof. Uriya Shavit. “In recent months, several Jewish Members of Knesset have made chilling racist remarks that would have immediately terminated their careers in any other Western democracy. It is sad that this needs to be said on the eve of Holocaust Remembrance Day, but Jewish racism is no better than any other kind of racism. It must be condemned, banned, and eradicated.”
Prof. Yoram Dinstein, Prof. Emanuel Peled and Prof. Avital Gasith are all recipients of the prestigious award.
Three TAU professors were awarded the Israel Prize in the fields of law, chemistry and environmental sciences research. The Israel Prize is the State of Israel’s highest cultural honor and is awarded annually in a public ceremony on Israel’s Independence Day.
The 2023 Award Recipients:
Prof. Yoram Dinstein, President of TAU from 1991 to 1999, has won the 2023 Israel Prize for legal research. Prof. Dinstein was recognized as one of the founding fathers of the field of international law in Israel. He served as Rector of TAU from 1980 to 1985 and as Dean of The Buchmann Faculty of Law at Tel Aviv University from 1978 to 1980, among numerous other academic, national and international leadership roles.
Prof. Emanuel Peled of the School of Chemistry at the Raymond & Beverly Sackler Faculty of Exact Sciences has won the 2023 Israel Prize for chemistry research. He was recognized for his pioneering work in lithium batteries and fuel cells that has influenced the energy field all over the world. Among his many distinctions, Prof. Peled is the recipient of the Israel Chemical Society Outstanding Scientist Award for 2016 and is a Fellow of the International Society of Electrochemistry.
Prof. Avital Gasith of the School of Zoology at The George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences has won the 2023 Israel Prize for environmental sciences and sustainability research. The prize was awarded for his pioneering work in the protection of nature in Israel, especially freshwater aquatic systems, and his active civic involvement in promoting conservation. He was former Head of the Environmental Studies Master’s Program at the Porter School of the Environment and Earth Sciences.
“We call upon the government of Israel and the Knesset to halt legislation that fundamentally alters the democratic system of governance in Israel.”
Issued on March 1st, 2023
Since its founding, Tel Aviv University has upheld the core principles of academic excellence, improving Israeli society, and nurturing critical and creative thinking. We, the members of the Tel Aviv University Senate, are committed to the foundational values of the State of Israel as they were put forth in the Declaration of Independence, including fostering the development of the country for the benefit of all its inhabitants, adhering to the foundations of freedom, justice, and peace as envisaged by the prophets of Israel, ensuring the complete equality of social and political rights to all its inhabitants irrespective of religion, race or sex, and guaranteeing freedom of religion, conscience, language, education, and culture. Like other leading academic institutions around the world, the academic community at Tel Aviv University is committed to freedom of thought and expression, recognizing that these principles are the necessary conditions for research, academic thought, innovation, and scientific achievements.
In the past weeks it has become increasingly clear that these foundational values have been put in real and immediate danger by the accelerating legislative moves led by the current government coalition. The violations should concern every Israeli citizen who aspires to live in a free and democratic society. We are adamantly opposed to any and all steps that would change the very basis of Israel’s system of governance.
The legislative measures led by the coalition go against the opinions and positions expressed by thousands of experts in Israel and worldwide, including Nobel Prize laureates, legal scholars, economists, and public intellectuals, who have stated in clear and unequivocal terms the dangers that will result from such legislation, and the real damages that Israel will likely suffer due to the legislative measures and their attending processes.
We are deeply concerned as well that these unprecedented attacks on the judicial branch are not the endpoint, but rather the preface to violations of other institutions including civil service, free media, and academia. The legislative proposal to displace control over the National Library, which has long rested with academic experts, to the rule of political appointees, is an explicit example of inappropriate political intervention in academia, that threatens both autonomy in academic content, and research independence crucial to academic freedom. The essential tasks of academia cannot, and must not, be conducted under political control.
We call upon the government of Israel and the Knesset to halt legislation that fundamentally alters the democratic system of governance in Israel. We call upon the government of Israel to heed the voices of mass protests coming from all parts of the country and all sectors of Israeli society, and not to promote the destructive processes that are currently taking place. We call upon the government to stop legislation intended to fundamentally harm the autonomy of the legal system and to bring to a halt the dangerous trends of the past few weeks, which subvert the values of democracy, exclude populations and minorities, and lead the State of Israel into a disastrous abyss.
We are determined to struggle to preserve and protect the essential character of the State of Israel, for the autonomy of the legal system, and for the freedom of expression and research, and to take all action necessary, using all tools at our disposal permitted by law, to protect Israeli democracy and the rights of minorities.
Victoria
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