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SPRING 2014

ENCOURAGING ENTREPRENEURS

CONVERTING HEAT TO ENERGY

ULTRA-ORTHODOX PSYCHOLOGISTS

DESERT WINE

THE STEM CELLNEW PATHS IN REGENERATIVE MEDICINE

FROM THE TOP

AMERICAN ASSOCIATES BEN-GURION UNIVERSITY OF THE NEGEV1001 Avenue of the Americas, 19th FloorNew York, NY 100181-800-962-2248 • [email protected] www.aabgu.org

PresidentLLOYD GOLDMAN, NY

Executive Vice PresidentDORON KRAKOW

Immediate Past PresidentALEXANDER M. GOREN, NY

Vice PresidentsRUTH FLINKMAN-MARANDY, CA STANLEY D. GINSBURG, PA BILLY JOEL, FLJOSEPH M. ROSE, NYMAX SCHECHNER, MAERNEST SCHELLER, JR., PAJESSICA SILLINS, NYALTON I. SUTNICK, PAWAYNE WOODMAN, PA

TreasurerIRA INGERMAN, PA

Assistant TreasurerJACOB DAYAN, CA

SecretaryBEN GUEFEN, TX

Assistant SecretaryFREDERICK SIEGMUND, NY

Regional Offices:

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Editor-in-Chief: RONNI STRONGINEditor and Writer: NATALIE CANAVORRegional News Editor: SISSY BLOCKCopy Editor: DAISY WALDMANBGU Photographer: DANI MACHLISGraphic Design: RD DESIGN

Send comments to: [email protected]

WORKING FOR MIRACLES BIG AND SMALLBY LLOYD GOLDMAN AABGU PRESIDENT

Sometimes it’s easy to forget how much of a miracle today’s Israel is. I know, of course, that innumerable challenges need to be dealt with, and that the diverse opinion that characterizes the country may never disappear. But what istangible—what we can see, experience and read about— is a modern, vibrant,thriving nation with more promise than imagination could have conceived a few decades ago. Of course this big miracle is made up of many small miracles: especially progressive breakthroughs in scientific fields and technology. To me, this issueepitomizes some of these collective miracles of progress. It is fascinating toglimpse how they are fostered, and the people who make them happen. You’ll find a report on BGU’s current landmark work in regenerative medicine,using stem cell discoveries that enable scientists to bypass the ethical debatesthat have surrounded this research. BGU’s new Center for Regenerative Medicineis contributing to a revolution in medical care uniquely, in a way that draws onand reinforces the University’s long commitment to the region. I know you’ll also be fascinated by the revival of the Negev’s wine-growingindustry after a hiatus of several thousand years, this time based on solid scientific ground. And, how the thermoelectrics lab is working to help foster a dramatic change in how we use and conserve energy. BGU is always part of the larger Israeli community, too. Find out how its new psychology programs for ultra-Orthodox men and women are bringing themnew skills and opportunities, while respecting their traditions. Discover, too, howBGU offers every student the chance to develop the independent, entrepreneurialthinking today’s Israel needs. So enjoy this issue, and share your thoughts. Send a note [email protected].

IN THIS ISSUE

News Briefs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Alumnus Profile

Guy Gecht: Leading the Digital Revolution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Donor Impact

Rachel and Max Javit, Terry M. Rubenstein . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Education and Research

The Science of Desert Wine. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Thermoelectrics and Energy Efficiency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Regenerative Medicine: Miracles in a Petri Dish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Fostering the Entrepreneurial Spirit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Community Outreach

Training Orthodox Psychologists . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Regional News. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

ON THE COVER: A graphic simulation of stem cells.

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NEWS BRIEFS

DRAWN BY THE PROVEN expertise incyber security at Ben-Gurion Universityof the Negev (BGU), the State of Israeland the Israel Defense Forces are turning Beer-Sheva into the country’scyber capital. Thousands of soldiers and officersfrom elite telecommunications and intelligence units, together with Israel’s national cyber bureau, are

being relocated to Beer-Sheva to lever-age Ben-GurionUniversity’s educa-tion and researchenvironment, while working with theindustrial giants that

have invested in

Beer-Sheva’s burgeoning ecosystem. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahuannounced the establishment of thisnational cyber complex, naming itCyberSpark. “Beer-Sheva will not only

be the cyber capital of Israel, but oneof the most important places in thecyber security field in the world,” hesaid at the opening of a two-dayCybertech International Conferenceand Exhibition co-sponsored by BGUthat took place in late January. “Ben-Gurion University of the Negev

is a leading center of innovation ininformation security, partnering withindustry, security agencies and thegovernment in a variety of tasks toprotect Israel’s digital borders,” saidBGU President Rivka Carmi. “We are at the forefront of cyber security research and are training thesecurity researchers of tomorrow.” At the Cybertech Conference,Fortune 500 companies LockheedMartin and IBM both announced theywould invest in CyberSpark R&D facili-ties, joining Deutsche Telekom, EMC,and other major companies and start-ups that moved to Beer-Sheva’s newAdvanced Technologies Park adjacentto the University. IBM is opening aCenter of Excellence for Security andProtection of Infrastructure and Assetsin the Alon Building for Hi-Tech on

BEER-SHEVA BECOMES ISRAEL’S CYBERCAPITAL

“Beer-Sheva will not only bethe cyber capital of Israel,but one of the most impor-tant places in the cybersecurity field in the world.”

— PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU

Continued on next page

Top: CyberSpark, the convergence of business, government and BGU academia in Beer-Sheva, was announced at the CyberTech 2014 conference. Left: Prime Minister BenjaminNetanyahu announces CyberSpark.

BGU’s Marcus Family Campus. Together, they will produce a complete ecosystem with all the com-ponents for global leadership in thecyber field: a common physical space,allowing the pooling of resources,shared technology infrastructure

construction, and a synergy of specialists, researchers and students. The Deutsche Telekom InnovationLabs at BGU have been at the forefront of mobile data protection for nearly a decade. Harnessing theinnovative might of the telecommu-nications giant to the unconventional and inventive brainpower of BGUresearchers has led to numerousbreakthroughs and created an environment that fosters innovation in the field. “I think it’s phenomenal whatthey’re trying to do. I’ve never seensuch a collaboration in the incubationof new technology,” said LockheedMartin Vice President of GlobalSolutions Robert Eastman about theestablishment of CyberSpark. “Israel is one of the best when we look atcyberdefense, and it also is one of thebest incubators of new technology and innovation,” he added. Prof. Dan Blumberg, director ofBGU’s Homeland Security Institute,remarked, “In California’s Bay Areayou have Silicon Valley. In Berlin,Silicon Allee. In Beer-Sheva, you willhave Silicon Wadi.” n

NEGEV DEVELOPMENT took a signifi-cant leap in September with the inau-guration of Beer-Sheva’s AdvancedTechnologies Park (ATP) in which Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU)is the academic research partner. IsraelPrime Minister Benjamin Netanyahupresided over the ribbon-cutting ceremony on September 3, 2013. A joint public-private partnership ofBGU, the Beer-Sheva Municipality,KUD International LLC, and Gav-YamNegev, the first building of the ATPwas completed and occupied last

summer by international companiesthat include Oracle, Deutsche Telekom,EMC², RSA, and ECI Telecom. Newincubators such as Elbit Incubit andJerusalem Venture Partner’s CyberLabs,as well as BGN Technologies, BGU’stechnology transfer company, have also taken space. The high-tech park is adjacent toBGU’s Marcus Family Campus, andwhen finished will encompass 16buildings on 23 acres, with 2 millionsquare feet of office and lab space, a conference center, and a hotel.

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NEWS BRIEFS

Dr. John Evans, vice president of businessinnovation for Lockheed Martin Corporation, and Dr. Orna Berry, director of EMC Israel, signagreement to fund collaborative research asBGU President Prof. Rivka Carmi (center) looks on.

ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIESPARK OPENS NEXT TOBGUAmerican and international companies, business incubators andtechnology startups will occupy the 16-building, 23-acre facility.

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A similar amount of space next to thecommercial park will be used by theIsrael Defense Forces (IDF), whoseelite technology units are relocatingto the Negev to take advantage of theresources at BGU and in the ATP. Prime Minister Netanyahu declaredthe park a national cyber center thatwill maximize the resources of theUniversity, the IDF and the new high-tech tenants. In order to advanceprogress, NIS 40 million ($11 million)in government support has been allocated over the next three years for companies that establish cyberinnovation centers in Beer-Sheva. Speaking at the ceremony,

It has been difficult not to bedrawn to the growing number ofnews stories about the increasinginfiltration of supporters of theBoycott-Divestment-Sanctions (BDS)movement in American academia.BDS is a fundamentally anti-Semiticmovement predicated on the notionthat Jews are a foreign, colonialistimport to “Palestine” with no realties to the land. Boycotts of this kind are not new. Arab-world boycotts of theJewish community began in pre-State Israel in 1922 and have continued without interruption fornearly a century. And we haveeyed, warily, the growing chorus of anti-Semitism in European academia for more than a decade.Still, that was “over there—acrossthe ocean.” Cause for concern, but not alarm. But institutional anti-Semitismhere at home? Easy to recognize,but hard to believe. During the pastfew months, resolutions to boycottcollaborations with Israeli universi-ties have been adopted by theAssociation for Asian Studies, theNative American and IndigenousStudies Association, and generatingthe most notoriety: the AmericanStudies Association (ASA). AABGU,along with six other friends ofIsraeli university organizations, par-ticipated in an ad denouncing ASAthat was placed in both The NewYork Times and Los Angeles Times. In contravention of the principlesof academic freedom and in theabsence of similar resolutionsdirected even at a single one of theworld’s most repressive regimes,BDS proponents have infiltrated the leadership ranks of these

associations andprevailed upontheir members to adopt resolutionscalling for a boycott. In January, when the ModernLanguages Association (MLA)—todate the largest such association to take up the issue—convened itsannual conference in Chicago, a similar resolution was proposed. It was presented at a panel discussion at which not a singleopponent of the resolution waspermitted to appear. And the MLArefused to allow an alternativepanel to be added to the program. Opponents of the resolution convened their own program at anearby hotel, featuring Prof. CaryNelson (University of Illinois), theimmediate past president of theAmerican Association of UniversityPresidents; Prof. Russell Berman(Stanford University), immediatepast president of the MLA; andBGU’s own Prof. Ilan Troen, a for-mer dean of the faculty of humani-ties and sciences, and currentlyhead of the Schusterman Center forIsrael Studies at Brandeis University. AABGU, together again with ourpartners at the other Americanfriends, gathered materials andinformation about the extraordinarywork being done in promotion ofmulticulturalism, increasing accessto higher education for Israel’s Araband minority citizens and in sup-port of research collaborations withwilling students and scientistsacross the Middle East. Troen did us proud. The counter-panel got significant coverage in themedia. The resolution passed any-way, 63 to 50.

NEWS BRIEFS

1. The first building of the ATP was inauguratedin September. 2. The ATP ribbon-cutting with dignitaries, including Beer-Sheva MayorRuvik Danilovich, Prime Minister BenjaminNetanyahu, BGU President Prof. Rivka Carmi.3. Inside view of the first building in the ATP.4. Aerial view that depicts BGU’s newlyacquired North Campus, the ATP and the siteof the IDF campus.

Continued on page 31

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THE CREEPING OF ANTI-SEMITISM IN AMERICABY DORON KRAKOW, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT


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Netanyahyu stated that “we are launch-ing the economic anchor that will turnBeer-Sheva into a national and interna-tional center for cyber security. We arechanging the future of Israel and weare doing it in Beer-Sheva.” The primeminister reaffirmed this commitment inJanuary with the announcement ofCyberSpark (see page 3). Cyber security is a major focus andstrength at BGU. The University’semphasis on applied research in infor-mation systems is unparalleled in Israel.

“The goal is to create a ‘SiliconWadi,’ harnessing the research andbrainpower emerging from BGU and the IDF, as well as to provide high paying jobs to keep Israel’s bestand brightest in the area,” says DoronKrakow, executive vice president of American Associates, Ben-GurionUniversity of the Negev (AABGU). “This academic-business-governmentpartnership is the ultimate fulfillmentof David Ben-Gurion’s dream to develop the Negev through science

and technology,” says Krakow. “BGUwill play a prominent role in majortechnology innovations that will secureIsrael’s future.” Prof. Rivka Carmi concluded: “Theopening of the Advanced TechnologiesPark in Beer-Sheva will be remem-bered as the turning point in thedevelopment of the Negev. We havealways been at the geographical heartof Israel. Now we are on our way tobecoming the true center for innova-tion and growth.” n

NEWS BRIEFS

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THE JACK, JOSEPH AND MORTONMandel Foundation of Cleveland, Ohio granted $13,106,700 to BGU inFebruary. The gift is comprised of acapital grant of $10 million to construct a new building: the Jack,Joseph and Morton Mandel Institutefor Social Leadership. The balancewill establish the Jack, Joseph andMorton Mandel Honors Program in Social Leadership, which will behoused in the new building. Morton L. Mandel, Foundation chairman and chief executive officer,remarks, “As part of our long-term relationship with Ben-GurionUniversity, the Mandel Foundation welcomes the opportunity to assist theUniversity in further developing thearea of social leadership. This gift represents our desire to support Ben-Gurion University, the city of Beer-Sheva, and the advancement ofsocial leadership in Israel.” This new building will be located

on BGU’s Marcus Family Campus adjacent to the Guilford GlazerFaculty of Business and Management.The 40,000 square foot building,designed by Plesner Architects of Tel Aviv, will house classrooms, studios, offices, auditoriums, andresearch facilities, addressing BGU’sacademic needs to further developthe area of social leadership. The Jack, Joseph and MortonMandel Honors Program in SocialLeadership will incorporate both thecurrent academic MBA program insocial leadership and the Israel Centerfor Third-Sector Research. The purposeof the Mandel Honors Program inSocial Leadership is to teach studentswithin the Guilford Glazer Faculty—including students enrolled in other

business programs—relevant businessadministration, social responsibility and social leadership skills. Prof. Amos Drory, vice president for external affairs and one of thefounders and former deans of theGuilford Glazer Faculty of Businessand Management, adds, “This donationmakes it possible to create the highestquality educational program to trainthe next generation of nonprofit managers, while broadening the scopeof research in the field and making a real impact on the quality of NGO[non-governmental organization] management in Israel. “This is the Mandel Foundation’sunique vision and this is likewise partof our DNA. A perfect match!” n

MANDEL FOUNDATION AWARDS $13 MILLION TO BGU

The first class of the Mandel Social Leadership MBA Program graduated in January. This program will now be incorporated into the new Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Honors Program in Social Leadership.

ALUMNUS PROFILE

GUY GECHT grew up in Beer-Sheva and was drawn intoBGU’s orbit early. “The University was right there and I wasinvolved with classes for kids my age when I was 14,” he says. “I got exposed to computer science—programming andworking on actual projects. People encouraged me to focuson programming.” Continuing on for a degree, Gecht wasattracted to many subjects, includingeconomics, but theoriginal interest held.“I was really fascinatedby the magic of software,” he says. “It was the earlydays of the personalcomputer so we wereworking on a lot of things that are now part of everydaylife. There was a lot of excitement about how computerswould change the world, which I shared—and still do.” Gecht’s enthusiasm led him to spend 18 hours per dayattending class, then working in the afternoon with some of his professors and at nights in a company that devel-oped computers for educational purposes. After earning his degree in mathematics and computer science, he joined the Israel Defense Forces,which proved to be the second half of his preparation for his chosen life path. “The army was a phenomenal experience for me,” he recounts. “At just 20, I was very quickly put into a leadership position, managingpeople and a very complex multi-million dollar project.” He directed an engineering development team and was later an acting manager of an IDF high-tech division. “You learn a lot in the army about management, how to work in high-pressure environments, working on tough deadlines,” he says. “My officer training was almost like getting my master’s degree in leadership. Between my education at BGU and my five years in the army, I couldn’t have asked for better preparation.” Gecht’s first post-IDF job, a venture to bring Apple computers to the private sector, gave him his first introduction to the business world. The experience alsoprompted him to move to California’s Silicon Valley.

“I liked the environment and really wanted to be part of something to change the world—not just think about it.”He worked at a few software startups but was interested in experience with a bigger company. A firm calledElectronics for Imaging (EFI) offered him the job of head

of engineering to replace the person who moved on to be chief executive officer. When Gecht joined EFI in 1995 he found an exciting butchallenging opportunity. EFI was a printing firm with a verysuccessful product, but its survival was threatened by indus-

try shifts that Gechtunderstood well. “Boththe company and theproduct had to changefor a different worldwhere people will readmost documents online.”

He rose quickly andwas named chief execu-tive officer in 2000. Inthis role, he has guidedthe Fremont-based company through a

number of acquisitions, opened new markets and diversi-fied company offerings. Dozens of new products have beenlaunched. Today, EFI products include business automationsystems; printers, inks and software that enable customersto print on virtually any surface or material; and mobilecloud solutions. The company is known for its intensive R&D and Gechtsees this as imperative. “In our industry, the competition

is fierce and customers decide carefullywho to spend their limited budgetswith. Most are small family-owned businesses in the printing, graphic arts,packaging, and ceramic tile industries,and they depend on us for innovation.We’re passionate about helping them.”

Guy Gecht andhis family visitBeer-Shevaregularly to see hisparents

and on behalf of EFI. Drivingby BGU, he says, gives him “a warm feeling that continues to grow.” He serves on theboard of an Israeli cyber security company, Check Point Software, and notices the number of new BGU graduatescoming into the firm. “They’re doing amazing things,” he says with admiration. n

GUY GECHTLEADING THE DIGITAL

REVOLUTION

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“Between my education atBGU and my five years in thearmy, I couldn’t have askedfor better preparation.” — GUY GECHT

RACHEL AND MAX JAVIT believethat the future of Judaismdepends on Israel, and thefuture of Israel depends onthe Negev. They also thinkthat supporting Israel’s imme-diate and future developmentis a necessity. “The country is very small,and what they’re doing is phenomenal,” Max says. “It’s recognized worldwide for its amazing technology, but Israel needs help—particularly in the south—to do more research, tobring more people there, to do whatever it takes.” Rachel agrees. “Thefuture is very promising.But the situation Israel is in politically, surroundedby enemies, means weneed to help.” The Javits have beenstaunch supporters of Israel and its educationalinstitutions for manyyears, but were familiarwith BGU only by reputa-tion, until recently. Rachel, a native Israeli, visited BGU in the course of a mission and shared her enthusiasm with Max. “We met the scientists and were very impressed withthe caliber of all the people and what they’re workingon,” says Max. “They’re enhancing the quality of life for all Israelis. Just as we saw happen in the north, theindustries in the south are developing, bringing jobs and an economic boom.” Knowing that BGU is a key factor in the region’sgrowth, the Javits met with President Prof. Rivka Carmiand offered support. She suggested several options, oneof which immediately appealed to Max. “He’s alwaysbeen interested in defense and its importance to Israel,”Rachel notes. The project they decided on was to build a miniaturespace satellite and send it into orbit. Prof. Dan Blumberg,director of BGU’s Homeland Security Institute, is leading the development. The pico-satellite or BGUSAT, as it’sknown, will be smaller than a shoebox and weigh aboutsix and a half pounds. It will carry specially designedimaging, communication and GPS technologies, including

a two-camera imaging systemthat uses wavelengths in the visible and short waveinfrared spectrums.

In addition to generatingvaluable data for researchersto work with in the future,the satellite design and pro-duction stages are invaluableexperiences in themselves.BGU scientists and studentsare learning how to miniatur-ize space components, applyrobotics knowledge, studythe communication issuesrelated to transmitting databoth ways, operate solar pan-els in space, and much more,Prof. Blumberg pointed out.

The anticipated launch will give Israel a footholdin space and firmly posi-tion it as the aerospaceleader in the region. It will also advance Israel’sstake in the growing inter-national market for home-land security technology.

For Max Javit, the satellite program is a

significant step toward safeguarding Israel and counter-ing terrorism. “I feel it will be Israel’s eyes in the sky,”he says. “Finding out what your neighbors and enemies are doing and what’s going on elsewhere in theglobe is very important. Defense is absolutely critical.” The Javits are thrilled with the development progressof BGUSAT, but point out a need for additional support. They are generously underwriting the cost of building the satellite, and also the ground receiving station that will receive data once it’s in orbit. Supportfor the launch itself—which will piggyback on a grouplaunch probably from Europe—is needed. Max, an AABGU board member, retired from a real estate development business that is now run by oneof the couple’s three children. He and Rachel split theirtime between Connecticut and Florida. Among their charitable enterprises, supporting Israel is their majorcommitment, Rachel says. “When Israel succeeds, all Jews walk taller and prouder around the world. There’s a symbiotic relationship between Israel and the Diaspora. And weshould work together.” n

RACHEL AND MAX JAVITBOCA RATON, FLORIDA

GIVING ISRAEL “EYES IN THE SKY”

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DONOR IMPACT

WHEN IN 1998 Terry MeyerhoffRubenstein assumed leadership of theJoseph and Harvey Meyerhoff FamilyCharitable Funds—known more simplyas “the Funds”—she began spending 40 to 50 days in Israel each year andlearned a lot about the country. “I saw a tremendous potential forgrowth in the south,” she says. “As a former builder and developer, that’s how I look at things. We saw the truepotential of the Negev and we continueto invest in BGU—it’s the nexus, theanchor for everything there.” Terry’s grandfather, Joseph Meyerhoff,was a BGU benefactor from theUniversity’s early days. He had come to the United States from Ukraineas a boy in 1906, andultimately made his for-tune in residential andcommercial constructionand development. A visit to Israel in1949 prompted an abiding concern for itspeople. He worked tohelp foster a businesseconomy for the strug-gling young country, and headed key organizations such as the Israel Education Fund, United Jewish Appealand Israel Bonds. With his son, Harvey (Terry’s father), Joseph created theFunds, which has continued as a family foundation devotedto Israel and Jewish charities, as well as to museums andcultural institutions in Baltimore and elsewhere in the U.S.In Israel, the family built libraries, daycare centers, commu-nity centers, sports centers, auditoriums, and much more.They have generously supported the nation’s universities. Most recently, the Funds contributed to building theAmerican Associates Village at Sede Boqer. The gift created four courtyards for the housing complex, whichserves graduate students of the Jacob Blaustein Institutesfor Desert Research—a program that Terry appreciates. “What I especially like about BGU is that it brings somany people from around the world to learn about waterand conservation. It’s an incredibly important message forthe world that Israel shares its knowledge as the ‘waterdoctor of the world’ and that others come to the Negev tosee how it’s done.” The family also finances student scholarships, and has

supported the graduate program in nonprofit management, which Terrybelieves is extremely important for leading the way in Israel.

Terry has also stayed attuned to Beer-Sheva’s needs. “As builders anddevelopers, we understand the role ofhaving strong communities and activities.We’re very concerned about the qualityof life there for everyone,” she says.

The Funds built a high school for gifted Arab and Bedouin students, a library, a center for the blind, a theater, and more.

“We’ve helped develop leadershipprograms for the mayors, businesses and

nonprofits in the southernregion to strengthen thewhole area.” She believesthat everything is inplace to fulfill theregion’s tremendouspotential: BGU, SorokaUniversity MedicalCenter, the school sys-tem, a dynamic mayor,and a road systemthrough the undevel-oped land that is readyfor growth.

“The University has developed beautifully and has beenan extraordinarily important part of the area’s success,” shesays. “It’s demonstrated a real sensitivity to the region andthe neighborhood it belongs to—BGU doesn’t simply hap-pen to be there, it’s of the place. That’s a huge difference. “It’s in the forefront of most of the social changes thathave occurred and will occur. It brings a lot of talent to thesouth and that’s very important to the future of the country.” In 2005, Terry’s leadership was recognized with an honorary doctorate from BGU. Terry retired as the Funds’ executive vice president in2011, but the Funds remain a family enterprise for theMeyerhoffs. Terry’s daughter, Elizabeth Minkin, is now the Funds’ director of Baltimore and Domestic Initiatives,and Rafi Rone directs Jewish and Israel Initiatives. Instilling responsible philanthropy in each generation is a major priority. “We feel very privileged and lucky and blessed to work on these projects that can make sucha difference to people,” Terry observes. “The interesting thing about philanthropy is that you getmuch more than you give. I think people miss a lot by notbeing involved in communal and charitable activities.” n

TERRY M. RUBENSTEIN, THE MEYERHOFF FUNDS BALTIMORE, MARYLAND

A FAMILYMISSION: BUILDING ISRAEL’S SOUTH

DONOR IMPACT

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IMAGINE A DRY, HOT desert landscapefilled with vineyards. The vision may sound surreal, but today’s

Negev desert is home to a flourishing wineindustry, thanks to BGU research into arid-land agriculture and in particular—grape cultivation. Making wine in the desert reinvents astaple product of the region’s early history. “It’s amazing, but the archeological remnants show that every Nabatean village,thousands of years ago, harbored huge

wine presses,” says Dr. Aaron Fait, aresearcher in the French Associates

Institute for Agriculture andBiotechnology ofDrylands, part ofthe Jacob BlausteinInstitutes forDesert Research.“The extent ofproductionindicates that the wine was

not just for local use, but was exported tothe Mediterranean: Greece, Egypt, Turkey.” Dr. Fait, a plant biochemist, researchesseed and fruit quality and plant metabolismto understand their regulation and improvedesert agricultural products. He worksdirectly with farmers in an attempt to apply new scientific ideas and monitorresults. Beyond the surprise of how wellgrapes can grow in the Negev’s harsh environment, he sees an ironic twist toIsrael’s winemaking experience. “For thousands of years the art of wine-making was developed in Europe. But theclimate is changing, so the traditional waysno longer work. Now Israel comes backinto the wine world and is able to showthe great winemaking regions how to re-invent viniculture for arid environmentsand extreme conditions.” Dr. Fait and his colleagues advise Italianwinemakers, as well as their new counter-parts in the Negev.

EDUCATION AND RESEARCH

THE SCIENCE OF DESERT WINE

Top: Grape vines in the desert Left: Daniel Kish, oneof the boutique winemakers in the Negev, owns theDerech Eretz vineyard.

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WINEMAKING THEN AND NOWThe Negev climate has not changedfor thousands of years, Faitsays. “There was very littlerain, high light and large variance in temperaturefrom day to night. TheNabateans knew how to use limited waterresources.” They terracedthe hills, took advantageof the dew created by the Negev plateau’s elevation, and stored winein the cool environmentsunder the rocks ofcanyons between hills.The wine industry evidently thrived, butended with the Islamicconquest of 634 AD. “Today we’re basically doing thesame, but with new technology,” Fait says. Drip irrigation, which was invented in Israel, precisely controls and minimizes water use. Desalinated water from theMediterranean—through a processpartly developed at BGU—workswell for irrigation since grapes, unlike crops such as peppers and

melons, do not grow well with thesalinity that is found in brackish water. Recycled water may also beemployed, as determined by eachvineyard’s resource needs. Typically,the soil is covered with nylon sheetsto avoid evaporation.

Significantattention

is given alsoto the interac-tion between lightexposure and temperature,which can have a negative

effect via sunburn. These practical measures sustainabout a dozen different vineyards inthe Negev that are gaining interna-tional recognition for high qualitywine. But there is more to the storyof how basic scientific research feedsthe experiments that benefit farmers. Fait’s work on seed and fruit quality aims at improving plants’nutritional value and flavor. He is immersed in studying plantmetabolomics—a new field thatresearches the biochemical interac-tions that govern a plant’s life. “The research gives us a picture of the biochemical network of theplant or seed, and how the networkchanges at several levels in the cell, from the metabolites to thegenes, in response to growing conditions and environmental cues.For example, we can look at the

changes in the biochemical networkduring seed and fruit development,or in response to stress.”

FROM LAB TO FIELD

Thanks to technology developed during the past 15 years, the pace of investigating plant metabolism is skyrocketing. New, highly sensitivemass spectrometry-based machinesoperate robotically, day and night, so hundreds of metabolites from a single sample, a seed or a few cells, can be examined at one shot.This enables scientists to conductlarge-scale population studies, whichare important because plant traits are regulated by numerous genes. Tomato research, for example,demonstrates the potential gains. To produce better tasting and morenutritious tomatoes, Fait explains, scientists collect genotypes from different ancestors of today’s tomato.“Our commercial crop is very light in genetic variability because modernagriculture prefers uniformity. So variability was lost. Now we want to reintroduce some of these traits.”

“It’s amazing, but thearcheological remnantsshow that every Nabateanvillage, thousands of years ago, harbored hugewine presses.” — DR. AARON FAIT

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Left: Dr. Aaron Fait Right: Desert winemakersbenefit from scientific advances made in BGU labs.



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It has been proven that regulatedstress can be a good tool for improv-ing fruit quality. “We can use wildancestors to bring back flavor. And we can add back health promoters likeanti-inflammatories and antioxidants,which are molecules produced whenthe plant is under stress.” Metabolitesalso protect the plant from threats likepathogens, a pest attack or ultravioletlight, as well as water deficit.

“Cultivated crops are grown stressfree, so the biosynthesis of protectivemetabolites can become down-regulated. The plant doesn’t need tomake the chemicals that protect it,which actually are what contribute toits good taste and color.” In otherwords, stressed plants produce betterquality crops. In the case of grapes, vines that aregiven just the bare minimum of waterproduce small, intensely flavored fruitwith more sugar—ideal for winemak-ing. Additionally, grapes grown in aridand semi-arid lands are stressed bystrong light, hot and cold tempera-tures, and, often, saline soil. All these stresses produce specificmolecular responses, which will affectthe blend of flavors and characteristicsof the wine, Fait finds. The more scien-tists understand the vine’s interactionwith its environment on the molecular

level, the more they can teach farmersabout growing better grapes.

SHARING THE SCIENCE

The Negev’s new success in vinicul-ture is already drawing other wine-making regions around the world toIsraeli researchers for advice. “The climate is changing so fast we need to reinvent viniculture, and

these new measures can be usedelsewhere, as well as in Israel,” Fait says. He continues a long-termcollaboration with researchers inReno, Nevada (“similar climate, but more snow!”), but is now alsoengaged with wine regions in Italyand France. Since 1990, France’s famedBordeaux region has experiencedsevere change in climate. And, thevine-hills of northeast Italy have beensubjected to drought and dramaticallyhigh temperatures during the periodof grape-berry maturation every threeor four years, conditions not previ-ously known. Some years, 30 percentof the crop has been lost and winequality was affected. The need to change traditionalmethods is widely recognized. Faitnotes that how to irrigate vines is stillunder debate in various grape-growingregions, as well as new trends of biodynamic cropping. “They never thought they’d get to

that situation. It’s a change of concept—a new way of thinking. “I see Israel modeling for othernations the effects of climate changeon wine quality. We have a fantasticclimate gradient, irradiation, hightemperature, almost no rain, and weuse it all to grow quality wine. Welearn how to apply the correct irriga-tion in the correct environment anduse a variety of cultivars. We are

making viniculture a real science.” For Fait personally, the Negevvineyard success is a happy surprise.He was raised in a Jewish familyfrom a grape-growing region innorthern Italy. After being drawn toIsrael and making aliyah in 1992, hevisited the Negev and fell in lovewith it. He remembered its pull aftercompleting his degrees in biology,ecology and plant biochemistry. A visit to the Blaustein Institutes confirmed his life path: to protect a valuable ecology, contribute toIsrael’s future and devote his researchto desert agriculture. But, reality hasexceeded his expectations. “It’s amazing!” Fait says. “Comingfrom Italy, I like good wine, and sud-denly I can enjoy it here—somethingI never imagined when I first came to Israel.” And he can look out on desertvineyards that are a living demonstra-tion of how science can give new lifeto an ancient tradition. n

Measuring the transpiration in a plant throughthe stomata, which are small pores on the top and bottom of a leaf that are responsible for taking in and expelling carbon dioxide and moisture.

Dr. Fait’s students from the Albert Katz International School for Desert Studies measure plant morphologyand physiology in a deficit irrigation experiment at the Derech Eretz vineyard (Kish farm).

THERMOELECTRICS:ANEW ROADTO ENERGYEFFICIENCY“IMAGINE LIGHTING A CANDLE andusing its heat to operate an electricaldevice, without plugging it into the wall,” Dr. Yaniv Gelbstein says,explaining the aspirations of hisresearch field: thermoelectrics. This relatively young disciplinefocuses on the interaction of heat and energy. While the work starts on the basic science level, majorapplications beckon. Converting wasted heat into electricenergy that will power engines moreefficiently, for example, is high on the global agenda. This approach to

conserving energycould dramaticallyreduce the need forfossil fuel with all theattendant benefits. Dr. Gelbsteinheads the Laboratoryof Thermoelectricsand the division of electronic materials at BGU’sDepartment ofMaterials Engineering.The lab has earned a reputation as one of the most important national centers of materials education and research in Israel. It collaborates with majorplayers in the auto industry, includingRolls-Royce and Jaguar, as well as the Israeli military. All eagerly await energy tech-nologies for vehicles that are already partially on the drawing board.

IT STARTED WITH SPACESHIPS

The thermoelectrics field launched in the 1960s, Gelbstein says,when both the United States and the then-Soviet Union created new systems to power spacecraft. Theydeveloped semiconductors construct-ed of totally different materials thatproduced large amounts of electricityfrom the heat generated by the decay of radioactive materials. The systems were efficient and reliable, but plutonium is not wellsuited to everyday uses on earth.Researchers now work to developnovel materials to bring the benefitsof thermoelectrics to practical devices.

In addition to drawing on chemistry,physics and multiple engineering disciplines, Gelbstein, a member ofBGU’s Ilse Katz Institute for NanoscaleScience and Technology, works onthe nanoscale level to create newmaterials with properties he chooses. While scientists in many areas ofenergy research are exploring nano-structuring, Gelbstein’s lab confronts a special issue. “When devices withnano-materials are subjected to veryhigh temperatures—as in a car engine—the material’s nano-features tend to coarsen. So you may start withmaterials made of very small features,but with heat they become bigger and you lose the properties you want. We look for thermodynamic reactionsthat stay stable at high temperatures.” Recently, Gelbstein—whose labsare fueled by 20 enthusiastic Ph.D.and master’s students—found one such reaction. “It can give us fine patterns and high efficiencies, and stabilizes the nano-features at hightemperatures,” he says. Progress in energy research is


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Phase diagrams showing a miscibility gap—a situation where two constituents co-exist ratherthan mixing, a key to materials development forselected improved thermoelectric compositionsinvestigated in the lab.

Dr. Yaniv Gelbstein

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measured by an engineering termcalled “Figure of Merit,” which indicates a system’s relative efficiency. “This value for materials commonlybeing used in practical applications,like car engines, exhibit thermoelectricproperties with a value of one. Our novel approaches can give us a value of two, so our materials aretwice as efficient. They’re the bestthermoelectric materials in the world.Now we want to take these materialsinto practical devices, like cars.”

ACHIEVING ENERGY EFFICIENCYHow much more efficient autoengines can become varies on thespecific engine and use. Gelbstein notes that car engineswaste 70 percent of incoming energyas heat, mostly expelled by theirexhaust systems. So the potential is huge for minimizing energy lossthrough channeling heat into electricity to help run the car. Autocompanies are already devoting

research and development efforts into operating more car functionselectrically. “They believe in this technology,”Gelbstein says. “You don’t have toconvince them—they analyzed thisoption as viable, so they’re waiting for the technology.” He estimates that given currentfindings and budgets, applications in practical devices are possible in as little as three years. Another measurement scale to track progress is technological readiness level (TRL). The minimallevel is one, while the highest figure,nine, represents a final product inuse. Thermoelectric projects aroundthe world—including BGU’s—arebetween the third and fifth stage, and bridging the gap will take a lot of work, Gelbstein notes. He runs one lab devoted to synthesizing new materials and a second whose job is to characterizetheir mechanical, physical and electrical properties. A lot of trial

and error is involved, he affirms.“Every day we have new questionsabout things we didn’t expect. Afterthe material is characterized, it loopsback for the experimental lab toimprove or synthesize it again.” In addition to the auto industry,interest in thermoelectric applicationsis strong from producers of marinevessels, locomotives, tanks, and satellites. The BGU group has academic partners in the EuropeanUnion and the U.S., includingNorthwestern University and theUniversity of Michigan. Gelbstein considers himself fortu-nate to have established his expertiseearly, when thermoelectric specialistsformed a small community in theworld. He spent 15 years in theindustry as a leading researcher inmaterials science before undertakinghis Ph.D. at BGU, where he alsoobtained his B.Sc. and MSc. He stayed on to lecture and lead the thermoelectric group. “I understood for years that therewas something unique about the field,but couldn’t predict that countrieswould be so motivated to reducedependence on fossil fuels. I was inthe right place at the right time.” BGU is similarly well positioned, hebelieves. “Israel is a small country andcompared to the biggest universities,BGU is a small one, but it is wellequipped and benefits from a specialdrive,” Gelbstein says. “We work hard for results. Wedesign and build methodologies by ourselves. Then our work is appreciated…and we get the funds to move ahead.” n

Nano features of a new material generated by themodynamic reaction. The research goals are toreduce thermal conductivity and increase efficiency so waste heat can be captured and used. A nanometer is one billionth of a meter, or .000000039 of an inch.

Read more about green energyresearch in a special feature in the next issue of Impact. To learn more about BGU’s Energy Initiative now, visitwww.bgu.ac.il/energy

THE BUILDING TO HOUSE BGU’snew Center for RegenerativeMedicine, Cellular Therapy and StemCell Research is just taking shape, but the building blocks are definitelyin place, says the Center’s director,Prof. Smadar Cohen. “We have bioengineering, the lifesciences and medicine. In my lab,we’ve been working for many yearsto develop biomaterials and bioengi-neering strategies for advancingregenerative medicine, and other people are at work in their labs. Butwe haven’t had a center. I totallybelieve that in order to collaborate—for people to work together—youneed to share a facility, not sit in different buildings.” She and her colleagues are nowplanning and equipping the buildingthat will centralize the University’sstrengths and foster interdisciplinaryresearch in the field. The goal ofregenerative medicine is as big asthey come: to restore the function

of human tissues and organs, usingapproaches that effectively bridgebasic science to clinical application. Researching on the level of cellsand genes, scientists see extraordinaryhope for achieving better therapies

for intractable diseases that includeheart defects, ALS, multiple sclerosis,diabetes, and Parkinson’s. Even more,the researchers aim to find cures, a word that they traditionally use with caution.

The Center is expected to positionBGU as a leader in regenerativemedicine and stem cell research andapplications. This is an intensivelycompetitive arena, and BGU movesinto it with a unique advantage. For three decades, BGU scientistsand physicians have been studyingthe Negev’s Bedouin population. As a result of tribal isolation, theBedouins demonstrate a long historyof intermarriage among relatives.They consequently suffer from a number of inherited diseases causedby genetic mutation.

Identifying these mutations haslong engaged BGU researchers. It was the subject of BGU PresidentProf. Rivka Carmi’s own pioneeringresearch as a medical doctor in the1980s. Since that time, data and samples have been steadily collected,adding up to a treasure trove of information for today’s scientists. The Bedouin are willing partners,reaping the benefits of improved health,treatment and genetic counseling.


MAKING MIRACLESIN PETRI DISHES

REGENERATIVE MEDICINE AND STEM CELL RESEARCH

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Top: Dr. Rivki Ofir’s image of induced pluripotentstem cells, made from skin cells, in a differen-tiation stage triggered by a cocktail of materials.

Scientists see extraordinaryhope for achieving better therapies for intractable diseases that include heartdefects, ALS, multiple sclerosis,diabetes, and Parkinson’s.


Monogenic diseases—those caused by a single gene mutation—are especially interesting for researchersbecause they are easier to study than diseases in which many geneticchanges and environmental interac-tions play a role. As an example, Prof.Cohen cites a Bedouin family whosemembers fail to produce the enzymenecessary to metabolize iron: a singletransformed gene is responsible. “The iron accumulates in theirbrains. The result is very similar toAlzheimer’s disease,” Cohen says. “Ifwe look at the disease features—themechanisms and thermodynamics—maybe we can find ways of inhibitingthe disease or can correct the gene, oradd it in if it’s missing. This may alsoafford important insight into under-standing and treating Alzheimer’s.” Such results are in the future,Cohen emphasizes. Right now, muchof the emphasis is on identifyinggenetic defects and working to under-stand how they develop in the organ-ism. This is where stem cells come in.

CREATING NEW STEM CELLS

In places including the United States,the progress of research based

on stem cells—

the original unformed cells that differ-entiate to constitute all the body’sorgans and tissues—has been slowedby ethical concerns about using humanembryos as a source of the cells. In 2012, a Japanese scientist, ShinyaYamanaka, won the Nobel Prize forcreating induced pluripotent stem cells(iPSC): basic cells that can differenti-ate into various specialized cells. Dr. Rivki Ofir, a senior research associate at the Center,bases her work on this breakthrough and leads it in newdirections. “My main purposeis to reprogram patientcells into embryonicstem-like cells andthen instruct them tobecome a cell relatedto a disease,” explainsDr. Ofir. “These cells carry thepatient’s genetic infor-mation and can become any of thebody’s cell types. This is helpful as many cell types are not readilyaccessible from patients. iPSC cells,when turned into adult cell types,play out the disease in a manner simi-lar to that of cells in the patient.”

For example, skin cells from a person with a congenital heart disease can be reprogrammed tobecome embryonic cells, and theninstructed to become heart cells.These cells are used to model the disease in a Petri dish and are thencomprehensively studied to findunderlying causes. Patients, hoping a family diseasecan be remedied, are happy to

provide samples, Ofirsays. “We follow theprotocol generated byYamanaka and use amanipulation to bringthe cells back to theembryonic state, thestarting point of a humanbeing when the egg andsperm are together.”

The process centerson introducing a particu-lar kind of virus into thecells, but Ofir and hercolleagues are experi-

menting with various chemicals toaccomplish the goal. To date, what she finds most excitingis seeing the heart cells she created. “We started the whole process from nothing—took skin cells, reprogrammed them to behave likestem cells, and then used the protocolto instruct them to become heart cells. We can see them beating in the

Petri dish!”

Dr. Rivki Ofir

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Studying the genes that are respon-sible for a disease in a Petri dish helpsresearchers figure out how the muta-tion dictates the defect and enablesthem to look for a new drug remedy.Investigating monogenic diseases,common to the Bedouin, can lead scientists to extrapolate that under-standing to the mechanism of diseaseslike ALS, where the specific mutationis not known. “It may seem like no big deal tostudy a unique disease in an isolatedtribe in the desert,” Ofir explains, “but you may learn something thatcan be important to the general popu-lation if there’s a similarity betweenthe diseases. “Doing regenerative medicine in a dish can teach us about dimensionsand structure. You learn about the signals required for the organism tosurvive. And we work for our secondgoal: to use the cells for drug discov-ery. Using human cells offers manyadvantages. “For example, when you use micefor clinical studies with a heart drug,there are big problems because amouse’s heart is different from ahuman’s. A drug might be good formice, but kill people. So we try tomodel the disease in the repro-grammed human cells for better preclinical studies.” Ultimately this disease-in-a-Petridish approach may empower scien-tists to “correct” genetically defectiveheart cells, and then transplant theminto that person’s body to make new heart muscle. A major benefit of this procedure is that it would nottrigger the auto-immune responsesthat often lead the body to reject atransplant. “But much needs to be learned,”Ofir says. Her own contribution is to create asmany disease models as she can tosupport the study of neurological,

muscular, metabolic, musco-skeletaldiseases, and more. “I dream of a freezer full of fibroblasts,skin or blood cells from many differentpatients, which wecan then repro-gram to producepluripotent stemcells. Then wecan start to learnhow the mutatedgene leads to thedisease. That’s mymission!” The work couldnot be done withoutthe new Center, Ofir states. “We couldn’t ask these questions on the level of the stem cell before, and understand why thedisease happens. The new methodswill help us make huge progress inunderstanding the causes and lookingfor potential cures.” In addition to creating heart cells,researchers are making great strides in producing pancreatic cells, and Ofir is excited about working with epilepsy. She is also looking towardcollaborating with other Center scien-tists on Alzheimer’s research.

THE MYSTERY OF BLOOD SYSTEM STEM CELLSDr. Roi Gazit is an expert on hematopoietic stem cells—cells thatreside in the bonemarrow and sustainproduction of allblood cells: platelets, lymphocytes, redand white blood cells. “These are stemcells that are quitedifferent fromembryonic stem cellsand we have themwithin our bodies as normal adults.” Dr. Gazit’s work involves isolatingthese cells, manipulating them genetically and differentiating them.

Understanding their specific propertiescan become the basis of research,

and potential therapy, for untreatable blood

diseases and closelyrelates to the development oftreatments forblood cancer.

His expertise is considered sovaluable by thoseshaping the newCenter that he was

specifically “targeted”for recruitment.

“I’m happy to be recruit-ed,” he says, but acknowl-

edges a long courtship. The BGU scientists spotted him

while he was on staff at the HarvardMedical School and talked him into avisit when he was in Israel for family reasons. “The University impressed me so much, the people here are just amazing and the atmosphere wasso positive, I just couldn’t resist.” Gazit joined the faculty a year agoand opened a new lab. The hematopoietic stem cells thatreside in bone marrow have beenstudied for 50 years, he explains;uniquely, they can be transplanted, so they have been used for clinicaltreatment that has saved many lives

over the years. However,this strategy demands precisely correct matchesbetween bone marrowdonors and recipients, a greatly limiting factor.

“We dream of understanding adult stem cells to a level thatenables us to make them stronger and more capable of transplant, andwe also aim to generatethem from a patient’s own cells,” Gazit says. “If you can reprogram

blood cells back to the adult stem cell state, you have an unlimitedresource ready for clinical utilization.That’s a big dream—but we already

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Dr. Roi Gazit

Left: Prof. Smadar Cohen, second from the left,with students in her research lab. This page, top: Stem cells in differentiation stage from Dr. Ofir’s lab.

ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES AT THE CENTER FOR REGENERATIVE MEDICINE

PROF. SMADAR COHEN, Center director and memberof the Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Departmentof Biotechnology Engineering, developed a strategyfor regenerating cartilage specifically for the treat-ment of patients suffering from either osteoarthritisor sport-related injuries. The strategy is based on

augmenting reparative processes in the body, is acellular, and has proven effective in pre-clinical studies.

A patent is pending and commercialization is the next step.Prof. Cohen’s earlier work creating an algae-based “scaffolding” system

to remedy damage following a heart attack is now in final clinical trials in theU.S., Europe, Australia, and Israel. A New Jersey-based company, Ikaria, is responsible for clinical trials and has announced that results will be available this year.

DR. ELI LEWIS, head of BGU’s Clinical Islet Laboratoryand a member of the Department of ClinicalBiochemistry and Pharmacology, has identified acommon anti-inflammatory drug (alpha 1 antitrypsinor AAT) that could reverse diabetes in recently diagnosed patients. Due to low supply, his team is currently working on a genetically engineered

version of the protein-based drug. AAT also providesprotection during stem cell therapy and transplantation,

and stimulates beta cell regeneration.

DR. RACHEL G. LICHTENSTEIN, of the Avram andStella Goldstein-Goren Department of BiotechnologyEngineering, is working to develop therapy for ALSbased on glycan macromolecules that enable thecells in the body to communicate with each other.This research won a major infrastructure award from

the Israel Ministry of Science and Technology.

PROF. ALON MONSONEGO, of the Shraga SegalDepartment of Microbiology, Immunology andGenetics, developed a T-cell therapy approach to treat Alzheimer’s disease. This therapy activates a neuro-protective signaling process in spite of the high level of immune deficiency in a typical Alzheimer’s disease patient.

A patent application is pending, moving toward commercialization of the technology.


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have reason from mouse studies tobelieve we can do it.” The research involves advanced molecular biology, cloning genes, study-ing cells in tissue cultures, and doing real transplantations in mouse models. “It is still largely unknown why onlyvery rare cells in the bone marrow havethe power to generate all blood cells, or what limits other cells from doing so,”Gazit says. “The vision is to first under-stand the basic biology—what makes the bone marrow stem cell different fromothers at the molecular level—and thendevelop new insights for treating patients.” Reprogramming a blood cell into ahematopoietic stem cell will also have a direct impact on understanding and treating leukemia, where the healthy cell-making capacity is “hijacked” to create the disease. Gazit is also interested in the immunol-ogy aspect. The hematopoietic stem cellsmake virtually all the body’s immunecells, as well as the blood cells, and thereis mutual dependence between the two,Gazit explains. “Somehow there’s feedback betweenthe stem cells and immune cells. It makessense that the body has a regulator mech-anism to tell the source producer whenmore immune cells are needed, or thatthere are too many. One great interest is to uncover the activity and relationship of the stem cells with the whole immunesystem. This will affect the treatment ofany infection, once immune cells can be produced for specific clinical needs. “Understanding the relationshipbetween the immune system and stemcells is a long-term dream—something I hope to be busy with the rest of mycareer,” Gazit adds. “Working together at the Center rather than in single labs, we’ll be able to accelerate our scientificprogress and turn it into useful treatmentsall along our research journey.” Researchers agree that concrete resultsof their work may materialize within fiveto 10 years. Multiple avenues are beingpursued, says Prof. Smadar Cohen. “Eachstrategy has advantages and disadvan-tages. You can’t always tell which is best,so it’s better and more interesting to work with different ones.” n

MANY RESEARCH UNIVERSITIEStoday offer resources for entre-preneurs, but BGU’s level ofcommitment stands a cut abovethe rest. The Bengis Center forEntrepreneurship and Hi-Tech,housed in the Guilford GlazerFaculty of Business andManagement, is open to all theUniversity’s students and facultymembers. The Center proactivelyencourages use of its resources andhelps those who seek its services to think like business leaders. “We see our role as an importantone for the whole university, connected to all departments,” saysthe Center’s director, Prof. DafnaSchwartz. “We want to educate all BGU students in innovative thinking—whether they’re studyingbusiness, engineering or education—and give them the competitive

advantage of entrepreneurial skills.” This philosophy is essential to Israelitself, and most particularly to theNegev, observes Prof. Amos Drory,BGU’s vice president for externalaffairs and incumbent of the ErnestScheller, Jr. Chair in InnovativeManagement. “When I became deanof the business school 15 years ago, it was just beginning. I asked myself,how can we be relevant to the times,beyond just the regular curriculum?”

Drory answered his question byworking to fill a void in Israel’s busi-ness community. “In the late ‘90s,Israel was beginning to make a namefor itself as a startup nation that wasproducing very successful technologyventures. But, while Israelis were very good at coming up with brilliantideas, we were not so good at theprocess of turning those ideas intoproducts and businesses. It requires a different set of skills and mindset; I thought we could help fill that gap.” When Drory met Arnie Bengis, for whom the Center is named, hefound an enthusiastic partner whose

THE ENTREPRENEURIALSPIRITOF BGU


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1. Prof. Amos Drory (with mike) and Arnold Bengis ata “Marketplace” event during a Board of GovernorsMeeting 2. A student presenter at TedXBGU, theUniversity’s version of the famous lecture series3. A student project showcased at the 2013 InnovationUnconference 4.Prof. Dafna Schwartz, left, interviewsCherie Blair on women’s entrepreneurship

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In 2006, Dror Matalon was an MBA student at BGU, and alsoa long-term employee of a civil service security organization.

“I took a course with Prof. Schwartz and that was the beginning,” he says. “I was inspired to retire from my positionand start a second career as an entrepreneur two years later.”

He established a group that works with high-tech brainresearch, and later started a company called Inovytech withtwo friends he met at the Bengis Center. The company produces devices that nonmedical people can use on the spotin various emergency situations.

“We checked the needs and were surprised to see no goodsolution on the market, so we decided to start the project. We got funding the first year from a program that supportsresearch enterprises. Then we raised money from investors.

I’m flying to Japan and Korea to sign distribution contracts for two products.

“A lot of people have dreams,” 47-year old Matalon continues. “But they can’t always bring them to reality. TheBengis Center helped me feel we could do it and showed me the first steps. I always had entrepreneurial ideas, but howto succeed in the business world wasn’t obvious.”

Today, Matalon lives and works near Beer-Sheva, which he would not have considered before his BGU experience andbusiness building. He sees the region’s future materializingright now. “You can see just by looking—the high-tech centerbeing built near BGU. A lot of good entrepreneurs, great companies—all the new activity is here in the Negev.”

generosity brought the idea to reality.Since then, Bengis has remained aclose partner in planning and strate-gizing the activities of the Center tomeet its goals. Today, the Bengis Center teachescourses, presents dozens of lecturesthroughout the academic year andcontributes to the curriculum of theGuilford Glazer Faculty of Businessand Management. It offers accessibleconsulting services for all BGU stu-dents and has helped many of themestablish businesses. Opening its doors to the communi-ty, the Center provides social oppor-tunities for informal networking, andlinks new business adventurers withinvestors, industry, collaborators, andpotential customers. The Center also runs major events,such as business plan competitions; aGlobal Entrepreneurship Week thatdraws people from all over Israel; andan Innovation “Un-Conference,”which in its fourth year drew 3,000participants and 130 presenters. This year the Center sponsored the first Google “Hackathon,” wherestudents came up with new apps tocompete for cash rewards. BGU teams

placed in the top three and eachreceived $20,000 and the opportunityto compete in the second stage, anextensive global competition. The Bengis Center has also sentsmall groups of students overseas tofoster international thinking and

make new business connections forIsrael—one such group recently spenttime in Brazil, and a joint project withSimon Frazer University in Vancouveris in the works.

CREATING NEW BUSINESSES

Yossi Shavit, the Center’s project manager, meets one-on-one with 200

to 400 students each year who comewith ideas. He talks to them about marketing,finance, strategy, and the problemsthey might face. He provides data,tells them about courses and lecturesthat can help them, shows them howto write business plans, and helpsthem practice presentations. “We help them understand theopportunities and may get them amentor in the industry. Some come tounderstand the dream is not so good,”Shavit says. “The beautiful part is thatwhile 30 to 50 percent don’t keep theoriginal dream, they come up withanother idea because they seethrough new glasses and noticeopportunities other people don’t. “Twenty to 40 new businesses starthere each year and their survival rateis excellent,” he says. Shavit credits the Bengis Center for changing his own life. He was an MBA student in 2004 when hebrought an idea to the Center andconnected with Prof. Schwartz. He proceeded to build a consultingservice that helps entrepreneurs. Later, he built a textile-related

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DROR’S STORY: CIVIL SERVANTTO BUSINESS OWNER

“We want to educate all BGU students in innovative thinking and give them the competitive advantage of entrepreneurial skills.”

— PROF. DAFNA SCHWARTZ


COMMUNITY OUTREACH

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WHILE PROF. DAVID LEISER was pursuing his own private Talmudicstudies six years ago, a study partnerconnected him with Adina Bar-Shalom, founder and president ofJerusalem’s Haredi College. The well-known and deter-mined educator waslooking for someoneat a university willingto open a psychologyprogram for ultra-Orthodox students. Leiser, at that timechair of BGU’sDepartment ofPsychology, wasintrigued. “I thought itextremely important totrain Haredi [ultra-Orthodox] psycholo-gists,” he says. “Not just because it’s anavenue for them to make a living, butbecause there’s a crying need for themin their community. “Many Haredi live in psychologicaldistress and could be helped, but noHaredi professionals are being trainedin Israel. Some are imported from theUnited States, but their world view andculture is very different. In psychology,

it’s important to have someone conver-sant with your world.” Leiser’s suggestion that BGU initiate

a new program drew strong supportfrom University President Prof. RivkaCarmi, who sees higher education for

Israel’s ultra-Orthodoxcommunity as vital forthe future of the country.“College educationclearly could help theHaredi, whose level ofpoverty is escalatingalong with their popula-tion. It would also begood for Israel, provid-ing quality contributionsto the work force andeconomy,” she says.

But bringing the ideato life proved an uphill

battle on many levels. Funding was sought and obtainedfrom the Ministry of Education.Accreditation for the atypical programwas established. Concerns aboutwhether the degree’s value would bediminished were addressed. “We had to convince all the differentUniversity functions that the Harediwould meet the same high standards

as everyone else, that we wouldn’t be giving our prized degree away at adiscount,” Leiser says. And support of at least some Haredi rabbis had to be secured.There were issues about finding andselecting candidates, the complexlogistics of creating a program in linewith the community’s traditions, andmuch more. All were resolved. The big academic stumbling blockwas an educational disparity. Typically,Haredi men leave high school severalyears early for religious study, and lack virtually all math, science andEnglish skills. It was determined that to qualify, they needed two years ofpreparatory study at Jerusalem’s OpenUniversity, which offers supervisedself-study programs. In contrast tomen, most Haredi women finish highschool, so they need only one year ofpre-college study. Obtaining acceptance from the iso-lated community presented another setof hurdles. Many Haredi believe thateducation will take young peopleaway from their world.

Top: Students at the Haredi College, where BGU's psychology programs are taught.

Prof. David Leiser

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“They were afraid their identitywould be compromised,” Leiser says,“that they would be forced to becomepart of a general group. With my part-ner, Prof. Amnon Rav-Krakotzin (nowhead of the Department of History), I had to navigate many delicate situa-tions to think through a program in away people would be happy with.” One non-negotiable requirement:entirely separate programs for menand women. Haredi custom alsodemands that men be taught only by men, and some subjects forwomen must be taught by women.

HOW IT WORKS

The undergraduate program in educa-tional psychology is based at theHaredi College in Jerusalem and isadministered by BGU, which hires theteachers—now a staff of about 30,including teaching assistants. Haredimen and women who successfullycomplete their preparatory study canapply for the bachelor’s degree pro-gram. Of the 120 students nowenrolled, about three quarters arewomen, because they need less timefor the preliminary preparation andhave a much lower dropout rate. “The program is an exact copy ofthe one at BGU,” Leiser says. Whilelearning standards are identical to

BGU’s program, the Haredi benefitfrom small classes: 20 to 25 students in Leiser’s own second-year class, vs.300 at BGU, for example. Students are given more personalattention and support. Specific aspectsof Haredi lifestyle are accommodated:the girls come straight from highschool and are younger than otherBGU students. Many are engaged by

the first year, marry and begin having children. The program offers an on-site childcare center.

Curriculum challenges arise. “Forexample, do you teach evolution?What do you say? You can’t just leaveit open. We decided to teach it, as it is taught on the main campus. Butwe tell them: ‘this is the most widelyaccepted theory, but you don’t have toaccept it—you just have to know it.’ ” A book on personality disordersincluded graphic depictions of sexualdeviation. “We covered the pictures.

No need to make people feel acutelyuncomfortable, but the content wastaught,” Leiser says.

A rabbi on staff at the HarediCollege helps students resolve anyconflicts between what they’re learningand their religious beliefs. The ultra-Orthodox students’ accom-plishments are measured precisely onpar with those of other BGU students.The same exams are given in bothlocations, at the same day and hour.BGU proctors are taxied in toJerusalem to oversee the test taking,and the same teaching assistants gradeboth sets of exams without knowingwhich students wrote them. “Amazingly, they do about as wellin the courses and also on the gradu-ate admission exam given by thenational testing service,” Leiser says.“They are very hard working and verydevoted students, both the men andwomen. They study hard and it shows. “It’s extremely gratifying to me tohave helped bring this about,” Leisersays. “It really works!”

The first class of Haredi students received theirbachelor’s degrees in psychology from BGU inMarch. Standing: Fourth from left, Prof. DavidNewman, dean of BGU's Pinchas Sapir Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences; far right, Profs. David Leiser and Amnon Rav-Krakotzin, program founders. Seated: Fourth from left, Adina Bar-Shalom, president of Haredi College.

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The first group of 11 girls startedtheir graduate degrees this year.They will take the mandatorycourses that all BGU psychologystudents take, plus unique coursessuch as “Educational Psychology inthe Haredi Community” and“Foundations of Family Therapy.”

WHAT IS GAINED, WHAT IS LEARNEDProf. Leiser found himself sur-prised by how appreciative theHaredi students are. “They expressgratitude constantly. At breaks,there’s always a glass of water orcup of coffee for the teacher;nobody brought it but there it is. “The teachers find the interac-tion striking, and enjoy the eagerness of the students. They,too, thank me all the time. Andeveryone—students and teach-ers—realizes people are not verydifferent after all, and thisencounter is very healthy.” Leiser believes the psychologyprograms open many doors. “The Haredi are fascinated by theexternal world but are afraid of it.If you can take a Haredi girl intocollege and educate her, and otherpeople see that no effort was madeto change her or remove her fromtheir world, this is bound to havea huge impact on the entire Haredicommunity. The men also see theycan be respected professionals andbelong to the world without losingtheir identity. That’s the message.” It is assumed that all the Harediwomen graduates will work intheir communities and bring theirskills to them. He sees signs thatthe community is becoming moreinterested in the psychology pro-grams and in education generally. “Every man and woman weteach is an ambassador to a largenumber of people,” Leiser says.“Each will bring an opening toacademics, science, the widerworld, and show the community

What do you like best about the psychology program? The program integrates psychology with education and well-being. This ismeaningful for us, because the educationgives us tools for another hat that wewear as parents.

In terms of the teaching faculty, theteam is perfect. The lecturers know thematerial. They are patient and responsi-ble. They are very caring and want us tobecome wise and successful. This is anenvironment of acceptance, relationshipsand cooperation.

To a great extent the timetable is fit-ted to our needs and lifestyle as religiouswomen. For example, we never have anexamination on a fast day. The lecturerstake our lives into account and are flexi-ble in setting dates to submit work. Theyalso endeavor to respect our way of life,expressed through appropriate dress,not sending e-mail on holidays, and attimes modifying pictures and wording[of the course material].

What is important for people to knowabout the program?It’s important to us that from a profes-sional point of view, this program doesn'tlower the standards at all. We learn at ahigh level, and the demands on us areequal to a standard student’s. There is a serious environment of learning in ourclasses. The students come here with alot of motivation to learn and succeed.

What special services do you value?The accessibility of the nursery is veryhelpful. During class a mother doesn'thave to worry about her baby, so she canrelax and learn more. And in general, thefact that the class is small inspires warmthand confidence. It makes it possible for

us to understand the issues in depth.And also, the rabbi is at the college

so if we need some help with anything,he is there for us.

Has anything you’ve experiencedespecially surprised you? I am surprised how the curriculumapplies to real life and integrates with it.During the lessons we enjoy interweavingverse and the sages’ sayings accordingto the issues. We see that there is a lot of overlap between what we’re learning and the values we were taught.It is interesting and exciting to see that alot of the discoveries and findings ofresearch were said many years before inthe Torah and Midrash.

Do you have a plan for the future? Looking back, I can say that my choice oflearning was one of the most significantdecisions in my life. I am so happy withthis, both from the professional andsocial aspects. When I began the B.A., I knew that I was interested in psycholo-gy and that there were different areas tofocus on within the discipline. As I con-tinue to learn I understand in depth thedifferences, and I see that the researcharea is very interesting to me, so current-ly I want to turn to that.

How do your family and friends feelabout what you are doing? My family and friends are very supportive. One way they express it is bygiving me time to learn, and financialhelp. It's very important to my parentsthat I learn and succeed. When I beganto study at the college, it wasn't commonto do so, but people still respected me.Now it’s becoming more common in my community.

A Haredi psychology undergraduate student in her third year asked not to be identified,but generously answered questions about the program and its place in her life.

IN HER OWN WORDS:ONE STUDENT’S VIEW


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GREATER FLORIDA

Greater Florida Advisory CommitteeRichard N. Bernstein, Alan Hurst, Max Javit, Billy Joel, Edward Kaplan,Jan Liff, Joel Reinstein, Lyon Roth, Dr. Rubin Salant, Marty WeinbergElise Dolgow,DirectorReva Feldman, Associate Director(561) [email protected]

TALKING NANOSCIENCE IN SOUTH FLORIDAAABGU’s Greater Florida Region welcomed Prof. Yuval Golan, directorof the Ilse Katz Institute for NanoscaleScience and Technology. Thanks to Lyon (Lenny) Roth,national board member, for hosting a

meeting in Aventura and to Mark List,a member of AABGU’s Zin Fellowsfirst cohort, for hosting in Boca Raton. Prof. Golan also spoke at a first-time AABGU event at Indian SpringCountry Club in Boynton Beach, host-ed by Harriet and Mervin Hartman.

This event honored new LivingLegacy Society members George andPhyllis Brindis who are also newFounders; Mel and Jean Edelman;Lionel Fendell; Lucille Goldberg; andMel and Iris Katzman.

GREAT LAKES

Larry Goodman, Honorary ChairSteven Franklin, Director(847) [email protected]

BGU SCHOLARS VISIT THE MIDWEST In Milwaukee, Mark Brickman andJason Gottlieb, a member of the firstcohort of AABGU’s Zin Fellows, host-ed a presentation by Prof. Eilon Adar,director of BGU’s Zuckerberg Institutefor Water Research, for a group of newsupporters. Prof. Adar spoke aboutthe Israeli approach to overcomingwater scarcity in the Middle East. He gave a similar talk to support-ers in Chicago at the Sidley Austinlaw firm. Thanks are due to MarkRaven for hosting this event. Prof. Yuval Golan, director of theIlse Katz Institute for NanoscaleScience and Technology, gave anoverview of the latest nanotechnologyinnovations at BGU over breakfast at

the Illinois Science and TechnologyPark in Skokie. The event was hostedby Michael Rosen. Dr. Aaron Fait, of BGU’s FrenchAssociates Institute for Agricultureand Biotechnology of Drylands,spoke about “Better Crops fromFewer Drops” at the home of KarenGray-Keeler and Tom Keeler. Dr. Fait researches ways to advancedesert agriculture using cutting-edgescience, with a particular focus on thecultivation of wine grapes (see page10).

New Founders and Living Legacy Society members George and Phyllis Brindiswith Prof. Yuval Golan

Gary Moss; Prof. Yuval Golan; Lenny Roth, nationalboard member; Joey Givner; Billy Joel, AABGU and BGUboard member

Mark Brickman, Prof. Eilon Adar and Zin FellowJason Gottlieb in Milwaukee

Event host Michael Rosen with Prof. Yuval Golanand Steve Franklin, regional director, at theIllinois Science and Technology Park

Ernie Simon, national board member; SteveFranklin, regional director; Nissim Nesher, BGU alumnus; BGU’s Dr. Aaron Fait


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GREATER NEW YORKLite Sabin, ChairKevin M. Leopold Executive Director -NortheastJay Leipzig Senior Philanthropic AdvisorDiane RomirowskyMajor Gifts DirectorDana Ben-Benyamin Program Manager(646) 452-3703 [email protected]

INTRODUCING NEW FRIENDS ANDEXPANDING THE AABGU CIRCLEThe Greater New York Region recently kicked off an exciting newlecture series, “Negev 101: Shapingthe Future of Israel.” The programwas the brainchild of Tony Felzen, a new national board member, whowas inspired by his participation inAABGU’s Zin Fellows LeadershipDevelopment Program. Tony wanted to share his experi-ences of learning from BGU’s talentedand inspiring professors with col-leagues and other professionals in theNew York area. Under his guidance,the Greater New York team created a “mini Zin,” where a select group ofindividuals gathered for three informaldiscussions with some of BGU’s lead-ing faculty. The goal was to examinehow BGU is changing the face of theNegev, Israel and the world. Most of the participants had littleknowledge of BGU and the Negev.

The first session, with Prof. Ilan Troen, provided anoverview of the Negev, emphasizing its history andwhy it was so important toDavid Ben-Gurion. The second session, withProf. Eilon Adar, focusedon innovations coming outof BGU, and how theUniversity is developingwater technologies that aremaking a difference in theNegev and beyond. The final session, led by Prof. Yuval Golan, focused on theNegev and how it is a strategic asset for Israel’s future in the area of medical advancements based on nanotechnology.

The programs were a huge success; many participants asked whenthe next Negev 101 serieswould take place.

The Greater New YorkRegion is also pleased to announce the addition of Diane Romirowsky, the region’s new majorgifts director. She hasworked extensively in funddevelopment for Israel-

based and Jewish educational organi-zations, most recently as Northeast development consultant for the United States -Israel Binational ScienceFoundation. Diane also served for 13years as New York development direc-tor at the American Technion Society.

Carol Kimmel; Neil Small; Jay Leipzig, senior philanthropic advisor; and Sheila Schlosser at a recent presentation by BGU’s diabetes expert, Dr. Eli Lewis

Diane Romirowsky, theregion’s new major giftsdirector

LEARNING ABOUT BRAIN SCIENCE WITH NEW AND LONGTIME FRIENDSProf. Alon Friedman, chair of BGU’sZlotowski Center for Neuroscience,visited the region and spoke atEdgewater Estates in Boca Raton,Harbour’s Edge in Delray Beach and The Chesterfield in Palm Beach. In West Palm Beach, he spoke atBreakers West Country Club and The Traditions of the Palm Beaches.

New members of the Asarot Society, donors who have contributedten gifts or more to AABGU, were rec-ognized at several of these events.

MAZAL TOV AND THANKSCongratulations to Dr. Rob Colton,incoming chair of the Boca/DelrayAdvisory Committee, and thanks toJoel Reinstein, national board mem-ber, for chairing the past four years.

At the AABGU Village at Sede Boqer: Joel Reinstein,national board member; Dr. Andrea Colton; Prof. Pedro Berliner, director of the Jacob BlausteinInstitutes for Desert Research; Dr. Rob Colton

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MID-ATLANTICJack R Bershad, Regional ChairConnie and Sam KatzPhiladelphia Chapter ChairsMarla and Dr. Robert ZipkinPhiladelphia Chapter Vice ChairsClaire Winick, DirectorAndrew L.Demchick, Associate Director(215) 884-4510 [email protected]

DOUBLE THE DOLLARS: MAXIMIZINGCONTRIBUTIONS TO BGUThrough the generosity of theRoberta and Ernest Scheller, Jr. FamilyFoundation, AABGU’s PhiladelphiaChapter has the opportunity to“Double the Dollars” of contributors

GREATER TEXASStephen Breslauer and Arline Guefen, ChairsStephen Friedman, Vice ChairEllen Marcus, Austin ChairDeborah K. Bergeron, Director(713) [email protected]

LEARNING WITH AABGU BGU’s diabetes expert, Dr. Eli Lewis,visited the Greater Texas Region andspoke about his research and the U.S. clinical trials for his breakthroughtype 1 diabetes treatment. Dr. Lewisalso briefed doctors at the TexasMedical Center about what hisresearch could mean for patientsselected for the trials. Neal Myerberg, AABGU’s plannedgiving advisor, spoke at the HoustonJewish Federation and the HoustonJewish Community Foundation about“Ways to Make Tax-AdvantagedCharitable Gifts.” Myerberg also gavean informative presentation at theGreater Texas regional board meeting. Prof. Eilon Adar, director of BGU’sZuckerberg Institute for WaterResearch, met with state officials whoare exploring the possibility of estab-

lishing desalinization plants on theTexas Gulf Coast and in the RioGrande Valley. A dinner reception forProf. Adar was held at the home ofElizabeth and David Grzebinski. BGU Prof. Alon Tal shared hisexpertise on Judaism and environmen-talism at Austin’s Tapestry of JewishLearning in January. Karen and DavidBrenner, who recently returned fromtheir first trip to BGU, hosted a dinnerreception for Prof. Tal in their home.

THE EXTRAVAGANZA CELEBRATES ITS BAR MITZVAH The 13th Gourmet Kosher Extravaganza,held March 18, was a huge success.Chaired by Linda Jayaram and

David Barish at the Westin Oaks Hotel,the event was packed with over 400 foodies. The honorees were three genera-tions of the Samuels family—the familybehind Houston’s Jewish Herald-Voice. The Samuels humbly accepted the AABGU David Ben-GurionLeadership Award in recognition oftheir dedication and commitment tothe Houston community, their integrity and excellence in reportingthe community events that bind ustogether, and their early and ongoingsupport of BGU.

David and Elizabeth Grzebinski; Prof. Eilon Adar;Arline Guefen, regional co-chair

Honoring the family behind Houston’s JewishHerald-Voice: Vicki Samuels Levy; Laurence SSamuels; Jeanne Samuels; Matt Samuels; Michael Duke. The framed photo is of JoeSamuels (of blessed memory) who passed awayin 2011 at the age of 95.


Over 250 people came together to honor “Women of Distinction” at the 2013 Philadelphia Chapterannual community-wide tribute brunch in November. Key figures to the success of this event include (standing) Doron Krakow, AABGU executive vice president; Dr. Paula Kabalo of BGU’s Ben-GurionResearch Institute for the Study of Israel and Zionism; honorees Dr. Lori Goldstein, Lisa Scheller, Jane Golden; and Sam Katz, Philadelphia chapter co-chair. Seated are Tribute Chair Sherrie R. Savett,Esq., president, Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia; and honorees, Eileen Heisman, MarilynBirnhak and Lynne Abraham, Esq.

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who are 60 years-old or younger and donate a minimum of $1,000. A donor can designate his or her giftto a specific project at BGU, and thematch will support that project. On the heels of the first successfulhalf million dollar matching fundbacked by an anonymous

Philadelphia benefactor, ErnieScheller, on behalf of the familyfoundation, stepped up to continuethis program. The goal of this$500,000 matching gift fund is tostimulate younger donors to give. A prominent business leader and a nationally recognized philanthropist,Ernie is a member of BGU’s Board of Governors, a national vice presidentof AABGU, and a past PhiladelphiaChapter chair. Ernie and Roberta aremembers of the Ben-Gurion Societyand Living Legacy Society. Their daughter, Lisa Scheller, and son-in-law, Wayne Woodman,also part of the family foundation, are major donors and chairs of theZin Fellows Leadership DevelopmentProgram. AABGU is fortunate to

benefit from the family’s leadershipand deep commitment to the futureof BGU, the Negev and Israel.

Ernie and Roberta Scheller

A parlor meeting was hosted by Pittsburgh business and philanthropic leader Jim Rudolph andhis wife, Louisa, in their Squirrel Hill home, featuringProf. Oren Regev (center) of BGU’s Ilsa KatzInstitute for Nanoscale Science and Technology.

NEW ENGLANDMax Schechner, PresidentKevin M. LeopoldExecutive Director -Northeast(646) [email protected]

CHEERING ON THE BGU TEAM AT A BIOTECHNOLOGY COMPETITION AT MITThe New England Region welcomed a team of BGU’s most talented anddriven students from the Departmentof Biotechnology Engineering inNovember when they participated in the International GeneticallyEngineered Machine (iGEM) competi-tion at MIT. After initial support from Prof. Yosi Kost, dean of BGU’s Faculty ofEngineering Sciences, Prof. SmadarCohen, of BGU’s Avram and StellaGoldstein-Goren Department ofBiotechnology Engineering, becamethe team’s faculty advisor. She trav-eled with the 12-student team andprovided expertise and support. The iGEM competition is one of thepremier collegiate academic competi-tions in the world, with 216 participat-ing teams from North and South

America, Europe, Asia, and Australia.It’s comprised of two stages beginningwith five regional competitionsaround the world, culminating in aworld championship in Cambridge. The BGU team created a self-destructing mechanism that can be introduced to any bacteria for safe and extensive use in a range of applications.

The team’s vision was to create abiological time bomb in the form ofsynthetic bacteria with a self-destructmechanism. “If someone is a little sick from a‘bad’ bacteria, we envision a two-weektreatment period administering a probiotic pill containing special, genet-ically engineered ‘good’ bacteria,”

BGU’s iGEM team in their lab at the Marcus Family Campus in Beer-Sheva


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NORTHWESTSonny Hurst, PresidentDaphna Noily, DirectorJudith Alterman, Associate Director(415) [email protected]

GREAT CHEMISTRY Lorry Lokey has been passionate abouthigher education for decades. Afterselling his company, BusinessWire, he decided to make a “concrete”impact upon the institutions he caresabout most. Now several buildings atprestigious universities carry hisname. BGU will join the list with theconstruction of the Lorry I. LokeyChemistry Building on its MarcusFamily Campus in Beer-Sheva.

A SPECIAL CONNECTION TO THE NEGEV There’s a special place in MarjorieOffer’s heart for BGU and the Negev.Her late husband, Dr. Daniel Offer,fled Berlin for Palestine during therise of Hitler, and in 1948 served inthe Palmach unit that liberated Beer-Sheva. Daniel became a renownedpsychiatrist specializing in the healthand well-being of youth. When Danielpassed away, Margie established anendowment fund that supports BGU’s

explains team member Gal Margolis. “When the pill is initially taken, itallows ‘good’ bacteria to settle in thepatient’s body, creating antibiotics for exactly the desired time. After twoweeks, the ‘good’ bacteria finishes its job and destroys itself without atrace. The program is like an antivirusfor the body.” This impressive group is the first teamfrom BGU to enter the iGEM competi-tion, and the first Israeli team ever toadvance to the finals. The students alsoearned a silver medal, as well as winningBest Movie and Best Presentation at theEuropean Jamboree in Lyon, France.

Left: Marjorie Offer visits the Monument to the Negev Brigade overlooking Beer-Sheva during her first trip to BGU. Right: Founder Hilda Namm (right), with Florence Giamona, enjoying an AABGUreception in Sonoma. Hilda was acknowledged that evening for her generous gift to help BGUresearchers come closer to a cure for type 1 diabetes.

Brian Lefsky; Amy Klein; Regional President Max Schechner with his wife, Marge, at Temple Emanuelfollowing a presentation by Dr. Paula Kabalo, director of BGU’s Ben-Gurion Research Institute for theStudy of Israel and Zionism

Ben-Gurion Society member Lorry Lokey receives a certificate of appreciation from Prof. Amos Drory,BGU’s vice president for external affairs, at a February dinner reception in Sonoma.


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medical research for adolescents. In December, Margie made her first visit to BGU, and plans to return withher family in July.

A GIFT TO HELP CURE DIABETESBGU diabetes expert Dr. Eli Lewis presented his groundbreaking researchthroughout the Bay Area. Jane andBarry Moss hosted a reception at theirTiburon home, where Dr. Lewis spokeabout clinical trials he had just comple-ted, with promising results for revers-ing type 1 diabetes. When Hilda Nammof Larkspur learned about his work,she made a leadership gift to helpaccelerate this research toward a cure.

SOUTHWESTRuth Flinkman-MarandyCampaign ChairPhilip Gomperts, Director(310) [email protected]

BGU LAUNCHES PILOT PARENTING PROGRAMWith the support of Judge (ret.) LeonS. Kaplan, national board member, the Southwest Region hosted a luncheon in his home to highlight a reflective parenting program Leon has promoted at BGU. In attendancewere Los Angeles City Council member Jan Perry, along with StacySillins and Regina Palley. The region also hosted BGU Prof. Naama Ataba Poria and Ph.D.student Noa Geron, who came to Los Angeles to learn from a localinnovative program that enhances parenting skills by helping parentsdevelop their innate mindfulness.

BGU DOUBLEHEADER IN BEVERLY HILLSIn February, the Southwest Regionhosted an event at the Beverly HiltonHotel featuring two speakers.

Harry Saal, BGU Board of Governors member,with Judge Leon S. Kaplan in Sonoma

Back Row: Doron Krakow, AABGU executive vice president; Neal Myerberg Esq.; and Philip Gomperts,regional director Seated: Prof. Alon Tal and his wife, Robyn

Ruth Flinkman-Marandy, regional campaign chair,national board member, and BGU board member,with her husband, Ben Marandy, in Sonoma

Riki and Jacob Dayan of Los Altos Hills hosted a gathering of 70 Bay Area Israelis for an evening ofHebrew poetry with Dr. Anat Weisman from BGU’s Department of Hebrew Literature who is currently onsabbatical at Stanford University. Pictured here are Orli Rinat, host Riki Dayan, and Dr. Anat Weisman.

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Prof. Alon Tal’s topic, “CanEnvironmental Cooperation Renewthe Middle East Peace Process?” provoked an interesting discussion.Prof. Tal, a member of BGU’s JacobBlaustein Institutes for Desert

Research, is one of Israel’s leadingenvironmentalists. Neal Myerberg, AABGU’s plannedgiving advisor, spoke about “SavvyWays to Make Tax-AdvantagedCharitable Gifts and Gain Lifetime

Income Using Real Estate and Other Assets.” Doron Krakow, AABGU executivevice president, provided the introductory remarks.

WASHINGTON/BALTIMORE

Edie and Art Hessel

Keren M. Waranch, Director(240) 482-4844 [email protected]

HONORING THE MEMORY OF DAVID BEN-GURIONRichmond, Virginia supporters Marcus and Carole Weinstein visited BGU in

November. They attended Israel’snational commemoration of the pass-ing of David Ben-Gurion, which isknown as “Ben-Gurion Day.” Marcuswas given the distinct honor of layingBGU’s wreath at Ben-Gurion’sgravesite in Sede Boqer. Both IsraeliPresident Shimon Peres and Prime

Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spokeduring the ceremony about Ben-Gurion's leadership and his personalexample of moving to the Negev.

AN EVENING WITH LEADERSHIPThanks to the generosity of support-ers Peter Schechter and Rosa Puech,the leadership of the Washington/Baltimore Region enjoyed an evening

of Mediterranean food and cama-raderie at Zaytinya in October. Dr. Rachel Golan, an alumna of BGU,spoke about her role in theDepartment of Epidemiology and as a member of Prof. Iris Shai’s teamthat conducted a 2008 study compar-ing the safety and effectiveness of

weight loss with a Mediterranean,low-fat or low-carbohydrate diet. Dr. Golan completed both her mas-ter’s and Ph.D. in public health andepidemiology at BGU.

THE VISIONS AND REALITIES OF ISRAELDr. Paula Kabalo, director of the Ben-Gurion Research Institute for the Studyof Israel and Zionism, spoke to studentsand Baltimore area supporters at theBaltimore Hebrew Institute at TowsonUniversity. Dr. Kabalo compared thevisions and realities of the State ofIsrael from its inception to today.

EXPLORING INNOVATION AND COOPERATION IN WATER CONSERVATIONIn March, the Washington/BaltimoreRegion and American University spon-sored a one-day conference, Water:Scarcity, Innovation and Cooperation.Prof. Alon Tal, a member of BGU’sJacob Blaustein Institutes for DesertResearch, was a keynote speaker.

BGU President Prof. Rivka Carmi and Marcus Weinstein lay a wreath on David Ben-Gurion's grave during the government ceremony marking the 40th anniversary of his passing.

Dr. Paula Kabalo with supporters at TowsonUniversity in Baltimore, Maryland

For information about upcoming events in your area, please visit: www.aabgu.org/regions-eventsFor information about giving opportunities or planned gifts, such as charitable gift annuities andbequests, contact your regional office.

Washington D.C. Chapter Chairs

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business, and is now working on an automated air traffic control system.In 2007, he agreed to join the Centeras project manager. “We had to change the way peoplethink about what can be done in auniversity,” he says, “and bring thempractical knowledge.” He has seen a major shift in student outlook since 2006. “I’mamazed now by the amount of interest. Rather than becoming goodemployees, young people want tolearn how to become good entrepre-neurs. They believe in themselves and understand what they want.”

CONNECTING WITH THE NEGEVStudents bring in business ideas generated by their courses, or byCenter events. While many of thehopeful entrepreneurs come from the engineering and business management sec-tors, a surprisingnumber are fromother fields, suchas education.They come upwith ideas for new schools, orsocial serviceswith low startupcosts, for example. “Many studentsinitiate ventures to help the community andare especially passionate aboutthem,” Shavit says.Prof. Drory pointsout that fosteringnew businessesserves BGU’s mission to galvanize the region’s economy. One segment of the Center’s business plan competition focuses on local development. Recent ideasincluded a center to help lonely

hospital patients, a branding proposalfor the Bedouin village of Rahat, and a plan to train area youths intechnology. Shavit emphasizes that studentswho start businesses are less likely to leave the area, and often workwith people in the community. “It keeps good and interesting people in the Negev, so the regioncan grow and improve. By focusingon entrepreneurship and innovation,we’re taking part in a big changehappening here.” Prof. Dafna Schwartz sees a greatopportunity for BGU to play yet a bigger role in the Negev, especiallygiven the relocation of key army unitsto the region and the new technologypark adjacent to BGU (see page 3). “We’ve accomplished a lot but we need to increase our activity even more, and expand our vision,”Schwartz feels. “We believe that integrating ideasfrom the world of entrepreneurshipand innovation into academic courses

is critical to Israel, and to our students. What the Center offers, combined with learning the principlesof entrepreneurship in class, lays the groundwork for revolutionaryresearch.” n

ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRITContinued from page 20

that these things are not so dangerousas they’re thought to be. That’s the way things will change. But gradually—they can’t be rushed.” He is very pleased that a secondmaster’s program, in clinical psychology, may now be takingshape. Talks with the HigherEducation Council are in progress and Leiser and Bar-Shalom hope toopen the program for women nextyear and for men the year thereafter. n

ULTRA-ORTHODOX PSYCHOLOGISTSContinued from page 23

Reflecting on his experience inChicago, Prof. Troen described what is happening with the growing number of BDS resolutions as akin toa carefully orchestrated campaign ofarson, and not a few isolated fires.More such resolutions are on the way,and BDS is finding altogether toomany enthusiastic audiences in associ-ations across the humanities. Beyondresolutions, American academics arebeing increasingly confronted withtests of political correctness in regardto Israel and BDS: tests that bear uponmatters of promotion and tenure. It is a difficult environment for youngacademics—and for students. BGU is a standard bearer for pro-moting cooperation and opportunityfor all Israelis and for internationalstudents and faculty from across theglobe. We can and should be justifi-ably proud. But rational repudiation ofanti-Semitism rarely even makes a dent. Academic boycotts are un-American.Anti-Semitism is anathema to Americanvalues. And we must be vigilant inshining a spotlight on every instance;in denouncing those who wouldattempt to delegitimize Israel; and in restoring a safe, sound andsecure environment for every studentand faculty member, Jewish and otherwise, who are committed to andengaged with the Jewish State. Am Yisrael chai. n

ANTI-SEMITISMContinued from page 5

Engineering students developed an autonomous submarine that was entered in an international competition and showcased at BGU’s 2013 Innovation Unconference.

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