BGU conferred six honorary doctorates on outstanding individuals on Thursday evening on the Marcus Family Campus in Beer-Sheva: Musician Shlomo Bar, Baroness Ariane de Rothschild, historian Prof. Shulamit Volkov, hi-tech entrepreneur Dr. Yossi Vardi, actress Miriam Zohar and Talmud researcher Prof. Yaakov Sussman. The Ben-Gurion Negev Award was bestowed upon Shoshana Agagani.
Ben-Gurion Day commemorates the yarzheit of Israel’s first prime minister David Ben-Gurion.
University President Prof. Rivka Carmi lauded the recipients for their accomplishments and welcomed them to the BGU family.
Rector Prof. Zvi HaCohen called on the government and the University’s donors to step up and meet the challenge posed by the IDF moving south. The move will bring many more students to BGU, he said, “and I call first and foremost on the government to reach out a helping hand, so we can offer higher education for all who are capable. This is the best investment there is. An investment whose fruits will enable the development of the Negev and the continued existence of the State of Israel, as a leading country in science, technology and culture.”
Baroness Ariane de Rothschild, “The Rothschild Caesarea Foundation is a cornerstone of our family's historical philanthropic engagement. As part of our global network of foundations, it embodies our values centered on social empowerment, inclusion and building collaborative societies, with governments, donors,business and civil society. "Ben-Gurion, Ha Nadiv and Edmond de Rothschild were all pioneers. We too strive to be pioneers in our own time – challenging outdated models, promoting catalytic philanthropy and harnessing the social innovation that Israel needs to demonstrate to the world. In my eyes, this is the key for strengthening the resilience and legitimacy of this country. I am confident in the future of Israel. I am hopeful in the potential of all Israelis – across social boundaries, ethnicity and religion – to achieve excellence. Universities and BGU play a vital role in cultivating such incredible talents. Through teaching and research, with faculty and students they embody the best that can be offered to society."
“There is something in the Negev, in the air. It starts around Kiryat Malachi. Suddenly you find the people are more committed to core values; to one another and a more just society. The entire project of the Negev and its special people deserve to be appreciated. I am proud to be here and be affiliated with the exciting work being done here,” Dr. Yossi Vardi declared.
As a Holocaust survivor who was never able to study, Miriam Zohar said that being honored with a degree was "a real victory for me; to achieve what others would have denied me."
The citations read as follows:
Baroness Ariane de Rothschild
In recognition of a visionary woman, whose whole-hearted commitment to the enhancement of society and the betterment of humankind is deeply rooted in a multi-generational tradition of giving, founded on humanistic values and the quest for excellence; in acknowledgment of a talented banker and an extraordinary businesswoman at the helm of the Edmond de Rothschild Group, for outstanding, long-lasting contributions to a wide range of noble causes in Israel and around the world, spanning culture and education, the environment, health and research; in appreciation of a patron of contemporary art, sponsoring the prestigious prize that bears her name; for her selfless devotion to the promotion of social entrepreneurship and intercultural dialogue, through the establishment of the Ariane de Rothschild Fellowship; and with esteem for a true friend who contributes extensively to higher education in Israel and at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, supporting the Rothschild Cube, Heksherim – The Research Institute for Jewish and Israeli Literature and Culture, and the Benjamin de Rothschild Ambassadors Organization, promoting leadership, social engagement, and business innovation, for the benefit of society.
Dr. Yossi Vardi
In recognition of an ingenious entrepreneur, an innovator and pillar of the Israeli hi-tech industry, whose initiatives have been adopted throughout the world; in acknowledgment of a brilliant manager, who has filled key roles on the directorates of numerous public and private organizations in Israel and abroad, including the Ministries of Development and Energy, and has served as an advisor to the World Bank and many other institutions; with profound appreciation for a leader and investor, instrumental to the prosperity of dozens of startup companies, for his contribution to the flourishing of Israeli hi-tech and its considerable impact worldwide; with esteem for the guidance he offers to the youths he inspires and his commitment to groundbreaking innovation in the field of education; to a devoted friend of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, who shares its vision and unfailingly promotes the growth of the region, transforming the University into a center of entrepreneurship and innovation; and with gratitude for his tireless work on behalf of regional cooperation in the Middle East, ensuring a brighter future for all its inhabitants.
Shlomo Bar
In appreciation of a charismatic artist, whose faith and creativity have changed the face of Israeli music; in recognition of a gifted singer, songwriter, composer and drummer, who immigrated to Israel from Morocco as a child and has graced his audiences with the flavors and fragrances of distant and nearby lands; with esteem for an extraordinary musician, whose singular ethnic cadences draw inspiration from a wide range of traditions, giving ultimate expression to the cultural mosaic constituting Israeli society; in honor of one who has never hesitated to express social injustice in music, for decades of prolific creative activity, constantly reinvigorated, leaving its mark on innumerable colleagues; and with gratitude for a representative of the State of Israel on the world's stages, voicing the melodies of the Hebrew lyricists and poets, with heartfelt belief in the power of music to reconcile peoples and elevate the spirit.
Prof. Shulamit Volkov
In recognition of a brilliant historian, whose keen discernment and profound perspective have illuminated the lives of European communities in the modern era; in acknowledgment of an eminent researcher, who has documented her invaluable discoveries regarding the Late Enlightenment period, particularly in Germany, and investigated the chronicles of its Jewish populations in times of virulent anti-Semitism; in honor of a leading scholar, a member of the Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities, who has composed numerous books and enriched generations of students and colleagues; with esteem for a devoted academic, who has served in important capacities in both public and academic institutions, and has tirelessly contributed to the advancement of higher education in Israel; and with gratitude to one whose pioneering work has unlocked the secrets of our people's past and delineated the forces that have shaped contemporary culture, endowing us with the prospect of a brighter future.
Miriam Zohar
In acknowledgment of an illustrious actress, a pillar of the Israeli theater, who has moved the hearts of audiences in a variety of leading roles, performing with supreme talent; in appreciation of the wonder child, who survived the Holocaust and the internment camps in Cyprus, then making her way to Israel's most prestigious stages; with esteem for a distinguished artist who, for over sixty years, has brilliantly embodied a diverse gallery of characters in more than sixty plays, drawn from classical and modern repertoires, such as Mary Stuart, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf , and The Rose Tattoo , as well as her moving rendition of the monodrama The Journey , in addition to her appearance in cinematic productions and television series; and in recognition of a true star, whose countless awards, among them the Israel Prize for Theater and the Israeli Theater Lifetime Achievement Award, testify to her extraordinary ability to bring theatrical masterpieces to life and bestow her insights on the future generations of actors, as well as her significant contribution to the enrichment of art and culture in Israel.
Prof. Yaakov Sussmann
In appreciation of an outstanding scholar in the field of Rabbinic Literature, whose groundbreaking research and distinguished scholarship have expanded the realm of knowledge of the Talmud and the Midrash; in profound recognition of a scion of a rabbinic dynasty, who escaped the clutches of the Nazis in Hungary and went on to acquire expertise on the fundamental tenets at the core of Jewish tradition; with high regard for a member of the Academy of the Hebrew Language, whose numerous and wide-ranging publications include the newest authoritative edition of the Jerusalem Talmud; in acknowledgment of a devoted academician, among the very first Talmud professors at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, who has taught and inspired generations of successors; and with esteem for an Israel Prize Laureate for Talmud Study and a recipient of the EMET Prize for Science, Art and Culture, attesting to his immeasurable contribution to Jewish heritage and culture for generations to come.
The Ben-Gurion Negev Award was bestowed upon Shoshana Agagani
In recognition of an exceptional woman for her considerable work on behalf of the welfare of the Negev's residents; for her extensive volunteerism and selfless devotion to all those in need, including the mentally disabled, singles, families, and children, out of a sincere desire to facilitate their integration into the community; with high regard for the chairperson of the REEM volunteers association, for her tireless efforts to raise awareness of social issues and strengthen social cohesion in the south, earning her numerous honors; with esteem for her significant contribution to the enhancement of the quality of life in the region, in her long-term role as director of the Beer-Sheva municipality's community services department; and in appreciation of her profound commitment to the advancement and flourishing of the Negev, promoting the personal and social prosperity of all its inhabitants.
