Dear friends –

Let me begin by congratulating Ben-Gurion University of the Negev President Professor Daniel Chamovitz on assuming the position of Chairman of the Committee of University Heads in Israel (affectionately known by its Hebrew acronym, VERA). This well-deserved recognition of President Chamovitz’s leadership comes at a pivotal time for Israeli academics and universities.  

Firstly, the global rise in antisemitism and open hostility towards Israel is leading to academic boycotts and growing isolation. President Chamovitz has acted quickly and has “already assembled a dedicated team to help VERA counter these efforts and ensure that Israeli academics are not discriminated against in North America and Europe.” Here in Canada, we saw the shameless and dangerous capitulation of the University of Windsor in signing an agreement, which finally ended the disgraceful encampment, but created unacceptable policies that are diametrically opposed to what universities ought to be doing – promoting the exchange of ideas and mutual understanding. 

Secondly, according to President Chamovitz “despite the crucial role that Israeli universities have played, especially since October 7, in developing Israeli society and the economy…a recent proposed law threatens to seriously undermine the independence of our universities, introducing for the first time the potential for political interference in determining the boundaries of free speech on campuses. This is happening at a time when universities, Ben-Gurion University in particular, have been bastions of calm during the most challenging of times.”

These are both difficult issues, but as President Chamovitz wrote, “despite these obstacles, I am confident in our collective ability to protect the independence, reputation, and international collaborations of our universities. My colleagues and I will work tirelessly to ensure our institutions maintain their excellence in education, research, and innovation. We are committed to ensuring that Israeli universities continue to shine as beacons of hope…”

On July 9th, BGU held a full day symposium on antisemitism entitled ‘Perspectives On The Question of Antisemitism Following October 7th: From Computational Sciences To The Humanities’. Fighting antisemitism requires a fulsome understanding of its history and evolution and the impact of social media and AI on its proliferation. It is clear that too many universities in Europe and North America are creating the next generation of antisemites. I am so proud that BGU is at the forefront of academic efforts to help push back against the world’s oldest hatred.

This past week, BGU lost a cherished member of our international Board of Governors, Dr. Ruth Westheimer, Z”L who received a BGU honorary doctorate in 2021. “Her connection to BGU was profound, and her generosity was boundless. Dr. Ruth’s life was one of remarkable resilience and courage. A Holocaust survivor who sustained serious injuries while fighting for Israel's independence, she rose above adversity to become a trailblazer in the field of human sexuality. Her absence will be profoundly felt, but her legacy of openness, resilience, and boundless enthusiasm will continue to inspire generations to come.”

As another week and chaotic news cycle comes to a close, the return of the 120 Israeli hostages - now in depraved Hamas captivity for 40 weeks, 286 days, 6,864 hours, and approximately 411,840 minutes – remains our most fervent hope and demand #bringthemhomenow.

Shabbat Shalom,

Andrea

The entire BGU community is stricken by grief and mourning at the loss of our students, staff and faculty who were murdered and killed in the line of duty during the Iron Swords war.