(Translated from the Hebrew)
The honored President of the University, Prof. Arie Zaban
The honored Rector of the University, Prof. Amnon Albeck
The honored former Dean of the School for Advanced Studies, Prof. Ariel Bendor
The honored Dean of the School for Advanced Studies, Prof. Ronit Sarid
The honored Campus Rabbi, Rabbi Shlomo Shefer
Deans of all faculties, heads of departments, lecturers
Dear families
My colleagues in receiving the title, Doctor of Philosophy
Today, we are joining the respectable family of the community of scientists, recipients of the highest title, awarded by Bar-Ilan University in all fields of knowledge: Jewish Studies, Humanities and Social Sciences, Life and Exact Sciences. This has been a long and tortuous route of studies and scientific research, which today has been officially recognized by the university, awarding appropriate remuneration to each and every one of us for our hard work in ploughing, planting, and reaping the fruits of our research.
The hundreds of graduates here today signify the unique expression of Bar-Ilan University’s academic vision – as shown in its logo combining a microscope with a Torah scroll – Torah and science, the dream for academic excellence combined with inspiring Jewish heritage. The realization of the dream is exceptionally impressive due to the openness of the enriching academic environment on the Bar-Ilan campus, bringing together students and researchers from all sectors of the Israeli society: secular and religious, various ethnic backgrounds, Jews and Arabs, Israelis and foreign students, all working together to study, to research, and to encourage productive and inspiring discourse in a variety of faculties, departments, and research centers.
The ceremony today is being held in a reality previously unknown to us. The Coronavirus pandemic has disrupted routines throughout the globe and threatens all of us, forcing us, more than ever, to buckle down and provide, each in his or her own field, for the needs of society and state, in light of the severe difficulties that have affected the health and economy in many countries.
Sadly, the State of Israel has been hurled into the worst political-social crisis it has known, which has only added fuel to the Corona-fire and underscored the rifts in our society. We cannot hide anymore within our academic and personal cocoon. Rather, it is our obligation as academics to invest all efforts to help and contribute our skills and knowledge to cure the many illnesses that exist. This is the greatest and most challenging test facing us right now.
In Pirkei Avot, the Ethics of our Fathers, which discusses desired modes of behavior, tips for respectful relationships, and rules for appropriate conduct, Rabbi Yishma’el teaches us that: “One who studies Torah in order to teach is given the means to study and teach; and one who studies in order to practice is given the means to study and to teach, to observe and to practice.”
The most important role of a scholar is to learn and research, but not to keep this knowledge for his own good. He must convey this knowledge to others in an academic framework. This is the classical task that has characterized the academic world.
On the other hand, Pirkei Avot teaches us that there is an even higher level and this is required from us this year – to build another level, not only to learn and teach in our academic ivory tower, but also to observe and to do; to go out into society and give from our personality and achievements for public benefit.
As a representative of the Faculty of Life Sciences, I feel that our existence amidst Corona, the world we are living in and where we are all waiting for the development of a vaccine, which will bring help to the health crisis threatening all of us, underscores the vital importance of scientific-academic research, as well as advances in technology and medicine.
We are eternally grateful to our wonderful teachers-lecturers, who have given us knowledge and tools for research in our various fields of study, where we have invested endless efforts. Thanks to your excellent and professional guidance, you have taught us to research, to look and to discover the secrets of human intelligence.
I would like to thank my personal tutors in my PhD thesis: Prof. Ehud Banin from the Faculty of Life Sciences and Prof. Shlomo Margel from the Department of Chemistry – for their outstanding professional support and encouragement all along the way, as well as being willing to help with any request.
I am convinced that I express the feelings of thanks and gratitude of all today’s graduates, for our dear families, without whose constant support we would not have reached today.
To all my fellow graduates, I wish that we will continue to invest all efforts in realizing our dreams in all areas of knowledge and research and contribute to our community and society.
Thank you all and wishing you the best of luck.
