Tag: General

Matricelf and Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center (Ichilov) sign agreement to begin manufacturing patient-specific nerve implants based on Tel Aviv University innovation.

In recognition of her courageous and inspiring struggle for the return of all hostages held in Gaza to Israel

Wishing a successful and fruitful academic year to our thousands of students and to our academic and administrative staff!

To the University Community,

Wishing a successful and fruitful academic year to our thousands of students and to our academic and administrative staff!

A special greeting goes out to the students beginning their first year at Tel Aviv University. The University management, academic staff, and administrative staff will do everything in their power to make your study experience both beneficial and enjoyable. You are invited, beyond class attendance, to spend time on the lawns and in the cafeterias, and to enjoy everything our campus has to offer. You will find here a microcosm of Israeli society, where people of all religions and nationalities, from Israel and from around the world, study, teach, research, and meet. This rich human tapestry is what creates the unique community of our University.

The academic year opens after two years of war, which appears to have ended about two weeks ago. The living hostages returned home, and we all experienced a few days of collective uplift. We pray for the swift return of all the fallen hostages and for better and quieter days ahead. The end of the war leaves us with many challenges, first and foremost, providing support for bereaved families and assistance to those who have been physically or emotionally wounded. During the past two years, Tel Aviv University has granted numerous scholarships to support our students who served in the reserves, or whose family members did so, in addition to broad academic assistance. This year, too, we will continue to offer such scholarships. Our debt to the reservists is immense, and the least we can do is help them complete their studies successfully.

Unfortunately, the end of the war does not also end the deep internal rift that has been tearing Israeli society apart since the beginning of the judicial overhaul. This division threatens us to no lesser degree than the external dangers we face. I am sure that each of you holds your own opinions about its causes and about the ways we might overcome this grave social crisis – the most severe one our country has faced since its founding. We expect all members of our University community, including our students, not to hesitate to express their views on this crucial matter, which is vital to our continued existence. We encourage active citizenship, value social engagement in all its forms, and are committed to maintaining a safe and democratic campus where everyone’s freedom of expression is protected.

Finally, I would like to update you about changes in the University’s leadership. A few weeks ago, our Rector, Professor Mark Shtaif, completed a very successful five-year term, during which he led a dramatic transformation in teaching and learning methods. At the same time, Vice Rector Professor Eyal Zisser also concluded his term, after having made an immense contribution to the University’s academic management. Professor Noga Kronfeld-Schor of the Faculty of Life Sciences, who until recently headed the New Environmental School, has succeeded Professor Shtaif as Rector. I wish to express my deep gratitude to Mark and to Eyal for their devoted service to the University, and to extend my best wishes to Noga for much success in her important new role.

Wishing you all a productive academic year and better days ahead,

Yours,

Ariel Porat
President of the University

TAU alumnus Meyer Levinson-Blount wins a Student Academy Award

It’s not every day that a film student gets to live every creator’s dream — to walk the red carpet, hear the applause in a glittering New York theater, and win one of the most coveted prizes in the film world.
Meyer Levinson-Blount, a graduate of Tel Aviv University’s Steve Tisch School of Film and Television, did exactly that when he won second place in the narrative category of the Student Academy Awards for his film Butchers’ Mark.

“At the end of the evening, we found ourselves sitting in a restaurant, trying to understand what had just happened,” Levinson-Blount recalls. “And what happened is simple: thanks to Tel Aviv University, we got to experience a once-in-a-lifetime evening — something not everyone gets to have.”

The Oscar was waiting for them. Meyer Levinson-Blount and Oron Caspi

A Global Stage for Emerging Filmmakers

The Student Academy Awards, granted annually by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, aim to nurture the next generation of filmmakers around the world.
The competition is considered one of the most prestigious and influential in the field, with thousands of films submitted each year from academic institutions worldwide. Winners are selected for artistic quality, originality, and creative courage, and the award is widely regarded as a gateway to the international film industry.

Like the Halls of TAU’s Film Department — Only with a Tuxedo

Levinson-Blount says he truly grasped the significance of the moment only when he arrived at the ceremony at New York’s Ziegfeld Ballroom:
“There was a red carpet at the entrance, journalists interviewing the winners, and inside a big open bar and a giant Oscar statue for photos,” he shares. “The night before, we stayed up late working on the speech — I even prepared a pitch document with a QR code for our next productions. At the event, we met filmmakers, producers, and academics — it felt like home, just like the corridors of TAU’s Film Department, only with tuxedos.”

The film’s plot, inspired by Meyer’s experience working at a supermarket in the fall of 2023, follows Samir, an Arab butcher in Tel Aviv accused of removing posters of the hostages, who sets out on a journey to prove his innocence.
The film explores themes of suspicion and racism in the wake of the October 7 events, portraying their complexity from a human, sensitive, and thought-provoking perspective.

From the film Butchers’ Mark. Actor Omer Samir

Gratitude and Partnership

Levinson-Blount, who immigrated to Israel from the United States about a decade ago, expressed heartfelt thanks to his creative partners after the win:
“I’m overjoyed for this opportunity — I prayed a lot for this moment,” he said. “Thank you to Oron Caspi, the film’s producer, and Omer Samir, the lead actor — I couldn’t have done it without you.”

The distinguished economic historian, who teaches at TAU’s Berglas School of Economics, recognized for groundbreaking research on innovation and economic growth

Despite the war and international challenges, Tel Aviv University once again achieves a major global recognition.

Tel Aviv University continues to lead the global entrepreneurship arena: 865 alumni of Tel Aviv University’s undergraduate programs, who founded 736 companies over the past decade and raised a total of $30 billion, place TAU in 7th place worldwide and 1st outside the U.S. in PitchBook’s prestigious 2025 ranking.

The PitchBook index ranks the world’s top 50 universities by the number of alumni entrepreneurs who have founded venture capital–backed startups in the U.S. It is published annually by PitchBook, a global business information company that tracks startup activity and venture capital investments.

Tel Aviv University retains its outstanding position among the world’s elite, ranked just after Stanford, Berkeley, MIT, University of Pennsylvania, and Harvard. TAU ranks ahead of leading universities such as Yale (12), University of California (13), and Princeton (15).

According to PitchBook, four additional Israeli universities were included in this year’s ranking: the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology (10), the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (30), Reichman University (47), Ben-Gurion University (52), and Bar-Ilan University (90).

Among the five largest companies founded by Tel Aviv University alumni, PitchBook highlights: Generate ($4.3B), Lendbuzz ($1.2B), and Next Insurance ($1.1B).

Prof. Moshe Zviran, Head of the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Division at Tel Aviv University:
“Tel Aviv University is proud to remain Israel’s leading entrepreneurial university. The fact that year after year PitchBook ranks TAU 7th worldwide and 1st outside the U.S. is the strongest evidence of the University’s academic excellence and its pivotal role in fostering entrepreneurs who establish companies, raise venture capital, and drive forward Israel’s economy.”

TAU’s Periphery Program for Outstanding Students ensures that high-achieving students from all backgrounds can study at Israel’s most influential university

For students from Israel’s periphery—disadvantaged communities and cities which are often far from the country’s geographic center—academic education at a leading university can be difficult to access. For 20 years, Tel Aviv University’s Periphery Program for Outstanding Students has helped those with fewer resources be accepted into its ranks. Many periphery students, once at TAU, go on to become high achievers who continue to successful careers both in and out of academia. 

The Periphery Program is generously supported by numerous donors and funds from around the world, including: the Galperin Family; Kadima Scholarships supported by the Kadar Family; Ruth and Amos Wilnai, the Drs. Garry and Kathy Fields-Rayant Scholarship Fund in honor of Dr. Anita Friedman; Prof. Stephen Quake; and The Charles, Evelyn and Sandra Dolansky Foundation through Executive Director Jeff Katz. 

WATCH: Shimron, a recent graduate of the Periphery Program, is now a lawyer at a top Israeli law firm.

A Boost to Begin 

The Periphery Program admits about 60 students per year through its special admissions track, designed for underprivileged applicants who excelled within their local educational setting. Each student receives a scholarship for the entirety of their undergraduate studies to support their tuition and living costs.  

“The scholarship really helps me. I live alone and completely provide for myself: food, transportation, clothes, a social life—the support makes this much easier, I don’t have to fit so many work hours into my already-intense study schedule,” says Hila, 24. Hila, who made aliyah on her own in high school from Russia, is in her final year of a communications BA at TAU’s Coller School of Management. 

“I worked very hard in high school, both to be academically successful and to assimilate into my Israeli surroundings as well as to learn Hebrew. Receiving the letter of eligibility from the Periphery Program showed me that my hard work paid off.”  

Hila discovered a passion for marketing during her TAU studies, made possible by the Periphery Program. (Photo: Rafael Ben-Menashe)

After serving as a lone soldier in the army, Hila enrolled in Tel Aviv University through the Program. In her first year, she and her fellow Periphery students were provided with workshops, lectures and group activities which helped them navigate the University and manage their time in a new environment. Academic services continue to be available throughout their degrees, as does counseling from Program staff. 

A TAU-Led Nationwide Mission 

Today, most universities in Israel have similar programs for periphery students, but none would exist without the efforts of Tel Aviv University’s own President Prof. Ariel Porat. While serving as dean of the Buchmann Faculty of Law, Prof. Porat noticed that the academic entrance exam created a much higher barrier for students from disadvantaged backgrounds. Originally, his goal was to help top high school graduates access higher education based on their grades relative to their classmates, rather than their standardized test scores. 

The program was so successful that it soon expanded to the rest of the University and the package of services grew. It was later picked up by the Israeli Department of Education, who are able to anonymously identify the most promising students at periphery high schools and inform them of their eligibility to apply for the Program. 

Tal, a Periphery Program participant, loves his geophysics studies as well as his fellow students and professors. (Photo: Rafael Ben-Menashe)

“As a kid, studying in Tel Aviv was my dream,” says Tal, 24, a Geophysics (Exact Sciences), third-year student from Bat Yam. “When I got the letter from the Department of Education, I was so happy about the opportunity.”  

He loves his professors and fellow students, and feels very much a part of the scientific community as well as part of the University. “The Program has helped me get out of my academic comfort zone and see and meet people from across campus. It has allowed me to focus on my demanding studies without need to work on the side. I also feel much more confident knowing there’s someone I can reach out to when I need some extra help.”  

Fostering Success during Wartime 

At the Gaza war has worn on, it has affected students in many different ways; many students had to serve as reserve soldiers, others are struggling with trauma and still others had their homes damaged by missiles. Throughout this time, the Periphery Program has done everything it can to be available and accommodating to its participants. 

“I feel that I’m supported from every direction at TAU,” says Yakir, 25. “When I was in reserve duty as a Krav Maga instructor for a combat unit, I received financial help. And when I need academic or any other support, there is always someone for me to turn to.” Yakir is from Or Akiva in Israel’s north, a region which was ravaged by rocket fire and is still struggling to recover.  

Though his parents never graduated high school, both Yakir and his sister are now studying to become engineers. “The fact that the Program allowed me to start my studies based on my high school performance helped me start sooner and relieved my admissions anxiety; the tuition aid allows me to really focus without getting bogged down by financial worries,” he says. “This was a golden opportunity for which I’m deeply grateful. I would have found a way to do a degree without it, but it would have been an uphill battle.” 

Each student is optimistic about the future. Hila has already found work in her field at an international marketing agency, and is very excited to go full-time there when she graduates. Tal hopes to continue in academia to an MA in Environmental Studies, and eventually to go into a career in environmental protection. 

Honorees include scientists, journalists, industry leaders, philanthropists, a social activist, and Israel’s national orchestra – recognized for their exceptional contributions to science, culture, society, and peace.

At a moving and festive ceremony, Tel Aviv University awarded honorary doctorates and fellowships to ten extraordinary individuals and organizations in recognition of their outstanding contributions to science, culture, the economy, society, and peace.

The recipients include renowned scientists, journalists, industry leaders, philanthropists, social activists, and Israel’s national orchestra — all honored for their impactful work and embodiment of TAU’s core values: innovation, academic excellence, and public engagement.

Dan Holzmann – Entrepreneur, Investor, and Philanthropist
TAU awarded an honorary doctorate to Dan Holzmann for his pioneering achievements over more than three decades as a businessman, entrepreneur, investor, and philanthropist. Holzmann has launched successful ventures across sectors ranging from real estate and sports management to AI-powered cosmetics. Through the Holzmann Foundation, he has supported over 50 educational and social organizations worldwide. He is also recognized for his commitment to empowering the next generation of Israeli entrepreneurs — particularly TAU students — through initiatives like the “Launchpad Dan” program on campus.

Dr. Yael Admi – Peace Activist and Software Engineer
Dr. Yael Admi, a leading voice in cross-cultural dialogue in Israel, received an honorary doctorate in recognition of her remarkable efforts to promote reconciliation and civic courage. She is a co-founder of “Women Wage Peace,” Israel’s largest grassroots peace movement, and a former chair of the Israeli-Palestinian Bereaved Families Forum. With a background in software engineering and AI, Dr. Admi has combined technological expertise with decades-long peace activism to build trust and foster a more equal and responsible society.

Gideon Hamburger – President of Harel Insurance and Advocate for Higher Education
TAU honored Gideon Hamburger for his long-standing contributions to Israel’s insurance industry and for his philanthropic leadership in academia and culture. Together with his brother Yair, he established the Harel Center for Capital Market Research and the Harel Institute for Actuarial Innovation at TAU’s Coller School of Management. Beyond his business achievements, Hamburger holds prominent roles in major Israeli cultural institutions, including the Israeli Opera, the Tel Aviv Museum of Art, Variety Israel, and the Weizmann Institute of Science.

Israel Philharmonic Orchestra – Cultural Icon and Academic Partner
The Israel Philharmonic Orchestra was awarded an Honorary Fellowship for its immense contribution to Israeli and global culture over nearly 90 years. Founded in 1936 to provide refuge for Jewish musicians fleeing Europe, the IPO has performed with world-class conductors and soloists ever since. The orchestra is a key partner in TAU’s Buchmann-Mehta School of Music, where it plays a vital role in training the next generation of musicians. Maestro Lahav Shani, the IPO’s current Music Director, is a graduate of the school.

Prof. Miranda A. Schreurs – Global Environmental Policy Leader
A distinguished scholar in environmental policy and sustainability, Prof. Miranda Schreurs of the Technical University of Munich received an honorary doctorate for her research and public service. Known for her cross-continental efforts to promote climate action, Prof. Schreurs serves in influential advisory roles across Europe. TAU recognized her for advancing global academic discourse at the intersection of science, policy, and environmental justice — and for her ongoing collaborations with institutions worldwide, including TAU.

Yair Hamburger – Chairman, Business Leader, and Philanthropist
Yair Hamburger, Chairman of Harel Insurance and Finance Group, was honored for his leadership in Israel’s financial sector and for his social impact through broad philanthropic engagement. His initiatives in education, the arts, and public health reflect a lifelong commitment to improving Israeli society. At TAU, he has played a key role in establishing research centers that shape the future of economics and actuarial science. His honorary doctorate recognizes over 50 years of visionary leadership and civic dedication.

Danna Azrieli – Chairwoman of the Azrieli Group and Azrieli Foundation
Businesswoman, real estate developer, and philanthropist Danna Azrieli was honored for her visionary leadership of Israel’s largest real estate group and her extensive philanthropic activity in education, health, and Jewish identity. Under her leadership, the Azrieli Group expanded into senior housing and data centers internationally. The honorary doctorate also acknowledges her long-standing support of TAU’s Azrieli School of Architecture and her role in cultivating Israel’s next generation of architects and builders.

Thomas L. Friedman – Award-Winning Journalist and Commentator
Thomas Friedman, one of the world’s most influential journalists, received an honorary doctorate for his exceptional role in shaping public discourse on the Middle East, globalization, and foreign policy. A longtime New York Times columnist and three-time Pulitzer Prize winner, Friedman has helped global audiences better understand Israel’s regional dynamics. TAU recognized him for his enduring friendship with Israel and his meaningful connection to Tel Aviv University, where his sister once studied — a trip that first sparked his lifelong interest in the region.

Prof. Stephen (Steve) Quake – Pioneering Bioengineer and Innovator
Prof. Steve Quake of Stanford University was honored for transforming modern biology and medicine through groundbreaking technologies — including rapid DNA sequencing and the first non-invasive prenatal test for Down syndrome. He currently serves as Head of Science at the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative and co-leads the Biohub, a cutting-edge biomedical research center. TAU recognized his revolutionary scientific work, his mentorship of young researchers, and his active collaboration with Israeli scientists.

Jonathan R. Goodman – Pharmaceutical Entrepreneur and Philanthropist
Jonathan Goodman was awarded an honorary doctorate for his outstanding contributions to the pharmaceutical industry and his deep commitment to social impact. Founder and former CEO of Paladin Labs and current Executive Chair of Knight Therapeutics, Goodman has also led major philanthropic initiatives in climate, education, cancer research, and Jewish communities worldwide. His support of TAU and his dedication to Israel’s development reflect a powerful blend of entrepreneurial drive and civic responsibility.

The $125 million gift from the Gray Foundation is set to transform the University’s medical education and research

Tel Aviv University made history today with the naming of its new Gray Faculty of Medical & Health Sciences, Gray School of Medicine, and Gray School of Medical Sciences. The generous donation from the Gray Foundation – the largest ever to TAU – will significantly expand capacity at the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, improve access for students and elevate the quality of education, training and research.

At the festive ceremony held on campus in the presence of President of Israel Isaac Herzog and First Lady Michal Herzog, Gray Foundation co-founders Jon and Mindy Gray said: “We know that there has always been so much promise in this Promised Land, despite – or maybe because of – its greatest challenges. We could think of no better place to start planting a few seeds of promise than the amazing medical faculty here at Tel Aviv University.”

A TAU alumnus himself, together with his wife, Michal, President Herzog said to the Grays that at this “critical point in Israel’s 77-year-old history …  you chose to reach out and have our backs. What a profound statement of solidarity and optimism.”

TAU President Prof. Ariel Porat told the audience: “The Gray donation is a vote of confidence in Tel Aviv University, in Israeli academia, in Israeli science–in fact, in the State of Israel and its future.”

Read Prof. Ariel Porat’s letter of gratitude to the Gray Family >

Also participating in the ceremony were Mrs. Dafna Meitar-Nechmad, Chairwoman of the TAU Board of Governors; Prof. Mark Shtaif, TAU Rector; Prof. Karen B. Avraham, Dean of the Gray Faculty of Medical & Health Sciences; other TAU academic leaders and TAU Governors and friends.

Presenting the TAU certificate of appreciation to Jon and Mindy Gray. (Photo credit: Yuval Yosef)

A quantum leap in education and research

The Grays’ transformative gift, the third largest to any Israeli academic institution, includes funding for: 

–    A new 600-bed dormitory, with preference given to underprivileged students
–    New advanced teaching and research facilities
–    Modernization of the Schools of Medicine and Dentistry
–    Scholarships for underrepresented groups 
–    Support for faculty recruitment and retention
–    BRCA research and collaboration
–    Creation of a memorial for the victims of October 7th 

Prof. Ariel Porat: “The Gray family’s generous gift will enable us to make a true ‘quantum leap’  in both medical education and research. In honor of this gift, the Faculty will be named the Gray Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences. I believe and hope this gift will inspire many others to follow their example.”

Mindy and Jon Gray: “We’ve been searching for a way to make a meaningful impact in Israel since the tragic events of October 7th. We can think of no better way to accelerate healing than by supporting an institution that touches the lives of so many. This gift will expand Tel Aviv University’s capacity to educate new healthcare professionals, including underrepresented students, and create state-of-the-art research facilities, building on our longtime support for medical research and access to higher education.”

The signing ceremony. (Photo credit: Yuval Yosef)

Dean Karen Avraham: “Thanks to the remarkable support of Mindy and Jon Gray and the Gray Foundation, we will take our medical training and research complex to a new level of excellence, enabling Tel Aviv University to train future clinicians and researchers to lead Israeli healthcare and global science. We will foster the next generation of medical innovators in rapidly evolving fields – from diagnostics and personalized treatment to healthcare delivery and biomedical research.”

Addressing Israel’s acute doctor shortage

Recent reports show that the number of doctors and medical school graduates in Israel is well below the average for OECD nations. The country faces additional pressure from looming retirements, with 25% of current doctors over the age of 67 and nearly half over 55. Israel’s Ministry of Health has prioritized increasing enrollment in medical schools, with a strategic plan to reach 2,000 new incoming students per year by 2030. 

This gift allows TAU – the largest training institution for doctors in Israel – to increase the number of new medical students by approximately 25%. In addition to doctors, TAU will also aim to increase the number of students in the overall Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences by approximately 20%, training thousands of nurses, therapists, dentists, and other healthcare professionals.

TAU plays a central role in Israel’s healthcare system through its partnership with 18 hospitals and alumni working across most hospitals in the country.

Access to medical education

To dramatically improve access for students, the Grays’ gift will help create a new 600-bed dormitory and additional scholarship opportunities. This will include targeted support and recruiting efforts for underrepresented groups at TAU who have faced challenges with housing costs and access. In particular, TAU will aim to double the number of Arab Israeli students at the School of Medicine.

Further expanding the pool of medical students, while elevating the quality of training for all in the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, will ultimately improve care for communities across Israel.

Boosting innovation and discoveries

This gift will enable a comprehensive renovation of existing medical and health sciences facilities, along with the creation of new world-class research laboratories. It also provides for strategic investment to attract and retain leading biomedical scientists from around the world. 

One area of focus will be TAU’s work in BRCA-related cancers, which disproportionately impact the Ashkenazi Jewish community, nearly one-third of the Israeli population. 

(photo credit: Yuval Yosef)

Gray Foundation’s support 

The Gray Foundation has a dual mission of accelerating research, awareness, and treatment for individuals and families who have inherited BRCA mutations, as well as expanding access to education, healthcare, and opportunity for low-income youth in New York City. 

In 2012, the Grays created the Basser Center at Penn Medicine’s Abramson Cancer Center, the first center in the world exclusively focused on BRCA cancers. The Foundation has also supported programs focused on careers in medicine at CUNY School of Medicine, Montefiore Einstein, Mount Sinai, Memorial Sloan Kettering, among others.

In 2024, the Foundation helped launch a holocaust education program for students at the Museum of Jewish Heritage in New York, and the Grays have been long-time supporters of UJA and other Jewish organizations.

The Gray family has generously donated $125 million to advance and develop the Faculty.

Dear Tel Aviv University community – faculty, staff, students, Governors, and Friends of the TAU in Israel and worldwide,

Today, a special event took place at the University: the naming of the Faculty of Medical & Health Sciences, as well as of the School of Medicine and School of Medical Sciences, after the Gray family. The Gray Foundation has made a major gift of $125 million to the University for the development and advancement of the Faculty. This is the largest donation ever received by Tel Aviv University and one of the largest ever made to an academic institution in Israel.

About half a year ago, I met for the first time in New York with Jon Gray, President of Blackstone, and presented him with Tel Aviv University and its needs. It did not take long for Jon and his wife, Mindy, to visit the University, be impressed by our Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, and decide to support it.

The Gray family’s generous gift will enable us to make a true “quantum leap” in both medical education and research. It will allow us to increase the number of medical students, including those from minority groups in Israel; bolster the high-quality research taking place at the University in medicine and related fields; and deepen our collaborations with 18 affiliated hospitals. Since our Faculty of Medical & Health Sciences is the largest of its kind in Israel, the Gray family’s contribution will directly strengthen the national healthcare system and advance biomedical research throughout the country.

Mindy and Jon Gray’s philanthropic efforts did not begin today. Through their family foundation, they provide access to education and health services for underprivileged children in New York, thereby promoting equal opportunities. They are also active in advancing research, treatment and prevention of breast and ovarian cancer associated with genetic mutations. Mindy and Jon are not only generous individuals, they are also humble, compassionate, and captivating in their personal charm. Their love for the State of Israel and the Jewish people is what motivates their support of the University, and their aim is to help Israeli society heal in the aftermath of the October 7th tragedy.

I would like to recognize the exceptional teamwork that brought this donation to fruition. I extend thanks to Professor Karen Avraham, Dean of the Gray Faculty of Medical & Health Sciences, to the Faculty’s leadership and heads of schools, and to the faculty members and students who met with the Grays and made a great impression on them. Thanks to my deputy, Amos Elad, and to the University’s CEO, Gady Frank, and their dedicated teams. Thanks to Julie Lipsett-Singer from American Friends of Tel Aviv University; to Danny Gillerman, a TAU Governor; and to Yifat Oron, President of the Israeli Friends of TAU, for their support and guidance. A special thank-you goes to the President of Israel, Mr. Isaac Herzog, and to his wife, Mrs. Michal Herzog – both alumni of the University – for honoring us with their presence at today’s inauguration ceremony and for their unwavering support of the University and Israeli academia as a whole.

Since October 7th, we have all swung between hope and despair. Today is a day of hope. The Grays’ decision to support us with such generosity moves us deeply. I believe that their act, which expresses great confidence in Tel Aviv University, will inspire other philanthropists in Israel and around the world to support Israeli academia, recognizing it as an essential pillar of the State of Israel and a cornerstone of its continued survival and prosperity.

Today, we gained precious partners – the Gray family – we are profoundly grateful for the trust they have placed in us.

Sincerely,

Prof. Ariel Porat

President of Tel Aviv University