Dear Friends,

Welcome to a new month! May is upon us and with that, a number of significant days on the Israeli calendar. On Tuesday we will be marking the very sad Yom HaZikaron - a day of remembrance for the lives lost during the wars and battles Israel has fought since 1948 as well as the victims of terrorist attacks, numbering in total approximately 28,000.

This day of remembrance will be followed by Yom Ha'atzmaut beginning on Wednesday evening - a day dedicated to celebrating Israel's establishment and independence. Ben-Gurion University Canada (BGU Canada) will be marking this day with a special episode of Coffee with Our Researchers which will take a look at what David Ben-Gurion would say about how far Israel has come. Stay tuned for that.

Later this month, I will be heading to Israel with a Canadian contingency for BGU's Board of Governors. This year, it will be held in Sde Boker, where David Ben-Gurion set roots later in his life. I look forward to bringing back a full report and sharing some of the exciting things coming down the pipeline at the university. I am also very proud to say that 4 Canadians will be receiving Honorary Doctorates this year from BGU!

Once again, I wish you a wonderful May. Let's hope it will be filled with spring weather!
Mark Mendelson
CEO, BGU Canada