Bar-Ilan University Alumni

08/07/2019

Student Spotlight on Shem Tov Sasson

Meet Shem Tov Sasson, 28, formerly of the US, an undergrad and in-house videographer for field trips at the Martin (Szusz) Department of Land of Israel Studies and Archaeology at Bar-Ilan University. Serving as an assistant area supervisor at BIU’s Tell es-Safi/Gath excavation site, Shem Tov is also an active blogger of his adventures trekking through Israel and an avid birdwatcher who photographs some 50 bird species in and around the BIU campus.

Shem Tov arrived at BIU in 2015 after serving in the IDF Logistics Corps. Raised in Detroit and Miami before making Aliya with his family, Shem Tov was instilled with an appreciation for Israel’s rich history. Fascinated with the archaeological ruins surrounding his new home in the Israeli northern town of Ma’alot, it was clear to Shem Tov that following his year in BIU's Mechina for Olim he would pursue a degree in archaeology. Now in his final year of BA studies, Shem Tov reflects, “BIU seemed most aligned with my Jewish and academic values. Having spent a couple years in BIU, I know that I made the right decision.”

During the last few summers at BIU’s Tell es-Safi excavations directed by Prof. Aren Maeir, Shem Tov has had some memorable experiences. “An exciting moment of the dig was when we unearthed a broken bronze bowl of Neo-Assyrian design which has since been restored and dated to the Iron Age. When Prof. Maeir came over to our area and got super excited, we knew we struck something big,” he recalls with pride.

“I imagine the connections built during my university years will prove to be invaluable to my future. Additionally, the field trips and digs offered by the department provide outdoor excitement” he shares. With a passion for photography, Shem Tov enjoys videographing the department's various field trips and the plethora of birds, mammals, and flowers for his personal blog.“ Last week I walked around campus and saw a number of species, including a flock of starlings which have recently arrived from Europe. Just a few days ago I spotted a king parrot near building 410.”

Shem Tov plans to pursue an MA in Crusader Archaeology at BIU and eventually a PhD as well. “I’d like to become an archaeologist and professor, with perhaps some related job on the side, maybe a museum curator.”

For more info on BIU's Martin (Szusz) Department of Land of Israel Studies and Archaeology: https://lisa.biu.ac.il/en

03/07/2019

A Moment in Time: The Fourth of July

Sharing a unique common bond, the US and Israel both revere democratic values and the pioneering spirit; both were founded by refugees fleeing religious persecution; and both gained independence from the British Empire. As the US gears up for its Fourth of July celebrations, Prof. Jonathan Rynhold, of BIU's Department of Political Studies, examines American friendship with the State of Israel.

Unlike nearly every other country, American national identity is based on a set of ideas – democracy, individual rights and the free market, combined with a pioneering ethos. As Herman Melville, the nineteenth-century novelist, put it, “We Americans are the peculiar chosen people – the Israel of our time; we bear the ark of the liberties of the world.” For the majority of the Americans allegiance to these values make the United States an exceptionally good country.

Yet, there is one country which is viewed by many Americans as an exception to this American exceptionalism. As Ronald Reagan put it, “There is no nation like us, except Israel.”

Even before the creation of the State of Israel, Zionist pioneers reminded Americans of themselves. For example, Frank Buxton, a member of the Anglo-American Commission of Enquiry established in 1946 to decide the future of Palestine wrote: “I came away from those [Jewish] farms [in Palestine] . . . not quite so certain that American pioneers left no successors.” While Eleanor Roosevelt reflected that entering Israel was “like breathing the air of the United States again.”

Indeed, many leading Americans identified the founding of the State of Israel with the founding of the United States. Just as the United States was founded by immigrants fleeing religious persecution in Europe; so was Israel. The United States was built by pioneers on the frontier; so was Israel. The United States obtained its independence from the British Empire and created a democracy; so had Israel.

This last fact particularly impressed Americans. In 1948 there were fewer than 30 democracies in the world. Moreover, of all the countries that received their independence in the process of decolonization after World War II, only two have been continually democratic, Israel and India. Unlike India, Israel was allied with the US during the Cold War – thereby giving Israel a unique status for Americans among the new postcolonial states.

Americans are increasingly divided about Israeli foreign policy, and Democrats’ sympathy with Israel in this context has been severely damaged by the perception that the Israeli government takes the side of Trump and the Republicans in American politics. Nonetheless, the overwhelming majority of Republicans and Democrats continue to view Israel favorably, whereas the Palestinian Authority, Iran, Iraq and Syria are among the countries viewed least favorably.
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Prof. Jonathan Rynhold is Director of BIU's Argov Center for the Study of Israel and the Jewish People, and a senior researcher at the Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies. His research focuses on US-Israel relations.

01/07/2019

Meet Our Faculty: Prof. Liat Ayalon

Ageism – discrimination, prejudice and stereotypes based on age – is all too prevalent in today's world. Older people are often marginalized in society and this can be detrimental to their health and wellbeing. Meet Prof. Liat Ayalon of Bar-Ilan University's Louis and Gabi Weisfeld School of Social Work, whose research shows that throughout life we are exposed to stereotypes and preconceived notions about older adults and the aging process. This can lead to reduced opportunities for seniors and a negative bias toward older people and aging.

Heading EuroAgeism – a European Commission-funded international consortium of researchers, policy makers and social and health care professionals – Prof. Ayalon seeks to promote awareness of ageism, in order to create change at the political and social levels. She is also a member of the World Health Organization (WHO) global campaign to counter ageism and is one of the SAPEA (Science Advice for Policy by European Academies) work group members responsible for the report concerning the future of ageing, which was produced for the European Commission. At Bar-Ilan, she directs a research lab on psychosocial aspects of aging. Her research focuses on the interface between formal caregiving and informal care provided by family and friends for older people, and on ageism.

Prof. Ayalon co-edited a book, European Perspectives on Ageism, with Prof. Clemens Tesch-Roemer of the German Centre of Gerontology, and authored a book geared for an Israeli audience, "S*x, Meds and Rock n' Roll: Who Said the World Only Belongs to the Young."

Prof. Ayalon completed her PhD in Clinical Psychology at the Illinois Institute of Technology and pre- and post-doctoral training at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). She has published nearly 200 articles in leading journals, and her research is funded by competitive grants from the European Union, the Israel Science Foundation, the German-Israeli Foundation, the Israeli Ministry of Health and the National Insurance Institute of Israel, among others. She is the recipient of several international awards, most recently from the University of Michigan, The American Geriatrics Society, and the International College of Geriatrics and Psychoneuropharmacology.

For more on BIU's Lous and Gabi Weisfeld School of Social Work: https://social-work.biu.ac.il/en

24/06/2019

Student Spotlight on Michelle Roke

Meet Michelle Roke, from Lake Maggiore, Italy, a second-year student in the Bar-Ilan International BA Program in Communication and Political Studies. The Russian-born Roke, who made the Dean's List and has had articles published in the Israeli media, already holds a BA in Business Administration from Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO University, Moscow). Having grown up in a traditional Jewish family in Russia and then Italy, Roke is pleased to be residing now in Tel Aviv and is considering Aliyah.

Why I chose Bar-Ilan and specifically this program:
When I was thinking of studying abroad, my parents suggested doing my BA in Israel. At Bar-Ilan, the International BA studies are totally in English; secondly, I get a double degree – a major in Communication, which has always interested me, and a minor in Political Studies; thirdly, I like the university's central location – only about 15 minutes away from Tel Aviv with its amazing social life. All this was enough for me to make a decision, which I don’t regret

What I enjoy most in my studies:
My favorite courses are the practical ones, such as News Writing (we wrote about public issues in Israel, and some of our works were published in Israeli newspapers); Video Journalism (we prepared a video story on blind people and guide dogs in Israel, which was published in The Jerusalem Post / JPost.com: https://www.jpost.com/…/WATCH-How-do-the-blind-cope-with-Is…); Search Engine Optimization (we studied how to create websites and promote them online); and Public Speaking. I also enjoyed my Political Studies courses on Israeli Society and Conflict Resolution, and my Jewish Studies courses, which shed light on our traditions and roots. The BIU professors are super smart and fascinating personalities. Bar-Ilan is also about the awesome people with interesting life stories whom you meet. I found my two best friends here and am absolutely happy about that.

Future Plans:
The BIU degree is international and wherever I go it will be accepted. It's also a double degree which is a good thing. I hope my BIU degree will provide me with opportunities for future employment in a transnational company with good career prospects.

What I will take with me from my Bar-Ilan studies:
Some real, practical experience and not just vague theories that are far from reality. But the most important thing that Bar-Ilan gave to me was a sense of Jewishness, a sense of the unity of my people, of my nation, a sense of the strength of Israel and understanding its existence as a real miracle. Living a good part of my life in Russia, I had never even thought there are so many problems in the Middle East. Today, when I live here in Israel, I see the complex situation from within and try to analyze what’s going on. I can understand the real value of being Jewish and having our Land of Israel. I hope that one day we’ll be able to use the knowledge Bar-Ilan University and its professors give to us for the benefit of our country, its international image and geopolitical situation.

For more on BIU’s International Communication and Political Studies BA Program: https://biuinternational.com/…/communication-political-sci…/

17/06/2019

Alumni Success Stories: Ran Gishri

Meet Ran Gishri, 50, a graduate of Bar-Ilan University's Department of Computer Science and VP of Marketing at Taboola, the world's leading content recommendation company. Employing sophisticated data analytics tools to gauge exactly what kind of content is most likely to engage each individual, he can tell you, for example: Daenerys – In; Night King – Out.

"Even today, nearly thirty years after completing my degree, the strong technological base I acquired in Bar-Ilan University's Department of Computer Science gives me great added value as a marketing manager," says Gishri, who began programming as a child. Following his IDF service, he enrolled at BIU, and during his freshman year, joined Mercury – then a small start-up, which was later sold to HP for billions of dollars. Gishri says he enjoyed his Bar-Ilan studies – particularly the congenial atmosphere in the department and the connections he created with classmates, many of whom served in the Israeli Air Force and in the Israel Defense Forces's Center of Computing and Information Systems.

At the outset of his professional career, Gishri worked on software testing and wrote software for quality assurance – "an innovative concept back then," he says. "As someone who knew the company's products in depth, I was called upon to provide support for our first customers in Israel and the US, and I was exposed to a variety of technologies and work environments." At the end of his studies he stood at a crossroads and was asked to choose between joining the development team or opting for a marketing position. "In light of my experience, I thought that the role of a product manager, which embraces both technology and familiarity with the market, would suit me more than the role of a software developer."

Gishri, who also holds an MBA from The University of Manchester, has never worked as a developer, and yet the knowledge and understanding he acquired in BIU's Department of Computer Science has proved very valuable. "Most marketing vice presidents come from non-technological fields. My comparative advantage is that I got the best possible background for modern marketing. A marketing manager today has to understand the possibilities and limitations of technology and data processing, and be able to have intelligent conversations with software and hardware people. "

At Taboola, Gishri manages the global marketing department, which works with the largest media companies and brands in the world. He takes advantage of the vast information gathered on the Taboola platform to identify trends and build stories based on web-browsing data. "Unlike Google and Facebook, Taboola does not know the users' e-mail addresses or who their friends are, but we know what their interests are, what they read and how much time they spend on content," he relates. "For example, we analyzed global surfing data on the new season of the Game of Thrones and found that viewers are most interested in Daenerys, while Night King doesn't even rank among the top 20 characters. Such stories get media coverage and help Taboola position itself as a company that offers interesting and accessible information and data."

For more on BIU's Department of Computer Science: https://cs.biu.ac.il//en/

16/06/2019

Breast-fed milk may nourish a baby’s microbiome in ways that bottled breast milk can’t.
In the earliest days after birth, millions of bacteria make their home in a baby’s body — in the skin, mouth and especially the gut. These immigrants come from the birth canal and the mother’s f***s (during a vaginal birth), the mother’s skin and mouth as she holds and nuzzles the baby and perhaps even from the placenta, although that source is still debated.

Breast-fed milk may nourish a baby’s microbiome in ways that bottled breast milk can’t.

13/06/2019

BIU Champ

Eyal Walach has won again! The 17-year-old MSc student at BIU's Department of Physics has won the silver medal at the 2019 Asian Physics Olympiad, held recently in Australia. Last year, Eyal won a bronze medal at the Asian Olympiad held in Vietnam, and the gold medal in the International Physics Olympiad in Portugal.

Eyal commenced his undergraduate studies in Physics and Mathematics at the age of 12, and his MSc in Physics at the age of 15. Eyal, we are proud of you and wish you much success in your next challenge: ¬the International Physics Olympiad in July.

For more on Physics studies at Bar-Ilan University: https://physics.biu.ac.il/en

12/06/2019

Marking the 64th annual session of its Board of Trustees, Bar-Ilan University awarded Honorary Doctorates to individuals and organizations whose impact on a broad range of disciplines is felt in Israel and throughout the world.

10/06/2019

Student Spotlight on MA candidate Tzachi Paz

Meet Tzachi Paz, 48, a retired Israeli Air Force combat officer and a current MA student in BIU's Israel and Golda Koschitzky Department of Jewish History and Contemporary Jewry. This year, Paz, together with his son, Barak, wife, Yifat, and mother-in-law, Dorit, won the Zionism and Heritage Contest for families organized by the World Zionist Organization - ההסתדרות הציונית העולמית and the Zionist Council in Israel together with the משרד ירושלים ומורשת Ministry of Jerusalem and Heritage. The event was held at the Jerusalem Theater in the presence of hundreds and aired live on Israel Independence Day.

Following his 25-year-long service in the IAF (each of his four children was born at a different air force base), Paz retrained as a history teacher. He currently teaches and prepares students for the history Bagrut (matriculation) exams at a Yeshiva high school in Ashdod, near his home in Moshav Nir Galim.

The MA candidate, who has earned praise from his professors since enrolling at BIU last fall, shares insights about his Bar-Ilan studies:

Why I chose to study this area:
I am very connected to research about the dramatic events and changes that the Jewish People have experienced in contemporary times – the Holocaust, the establishment of the State of Israel, secularization and new streams in Judaism.

What I enjoy most in my studies:
To attend courses of leading lecturers in the field, including Prof. Yechiam Weitz, a walking history book, a person of great stature with vast knowledge of the history of the State of Israel and particularly, Israeli politics; Prof. Kimmy Caplan, Department Chair, who is profoundly knowledgeable about Haredi society in Israel and worldwide; Prof. Adam Ferziger (Director of the Center for Research on Judaism in Israel and North America), whose fascinating lectures have taught me much about the changes and processes that Israeli and Diaspora Jews undergo in contemporary times; and Prof. Judy Baumel Schwartz (Director of the Arnold and Leona Finkler Institute of Holocaust Research) – from her I am learning a great deal about antisemitism and the Holocaust.

Future Plans:
I intend to continue to teach history of the Land of Israel and of the Jewish people to Israeli youth. The added depth that I am gaining from my BIU studies will enable me to transmit sharper and more explicit messages, while also providing a broader historical scope.

What I will take with me from my Bar-Ilan studies:
I am learning volumes from the Department lecturers who are broadening my horizons in a field that interests me greatly. As an educator and also as an MA student at the university, I focus on the Holocaust, Israeli politics and religious streams in Israel and the Diaspora. I am grateful to have an opportunity to delve into these important areas in my MA studies – what I am gaining from my BIU studies is just amazing!

For more on BIU's Israel and Golda Koschitzky Department of Jewish History and Contemporary Jewry: https://jewish-history.biu.ac.il/en

זאב אלקין Zeev Elkin

27/05/2019

Student Spotlight on PhD candidate Tehillah Lieberman

Meet archaeologist Tehillah Lieberman, a PhD candidate at Bar-Ilan University's Martin (Szusz) Department of Land of Israel Studies and Archaeology, who works with the Israel Antiquities Authority, directing excavation sites in Jerusalem, including the dig beneath Wilson's Arch at the Western Wall.

As part of her doctoral thesis, Lieberman explores the representation of gender in archaeological finds, and the social role and status of women during the Roman period in Jerusalem as reflected through the material finds. Her research has earned her a Doctoral Fellowship of Excellence from the BIU President.

Why I chose to study this area:
Modern archaeology, with its analytical tools and well-defined methods, is at the crossroads of social sciences and exact sciences. The findings emerging from systematic and meticulous excavation are not the final result, but rather a research tool, which once analyzed, allows for the restoration of ancient societies and cultures. Combining scientific work with social and cultural aspects is unique to the field and facilitates research in a variety of tangential fields, all of which contribute to our understanding of antiquity.

What I enjoy most in my studies:
To meet people who are engaged in similar yet different research areas, and through this encounter to enrich my field of research.

My favorite corner on campus:
There are many architectural elements on campus, based on Greek and Roman architecture. Every day, on my way to the library, I cross the peristyle courtyard – the Galilean Synagogue Garden – where the names of university donors are inscribed on the columns. At the front of the courtyard is a copy of a coin minted by Bar-Kochba in the second century CE, following the destruction of the Second Temple. The copy was made from tesserae, rather than silver, which was used to mint the original coin. It's exciting to think that although the Romans defeated Bar-Kochba, his descendants still stride through a Roman peristyle courtyard on their way to the Jewish Studies library.

Future Plans:
I hope to continue to excavate and explore the ancient Land of Israel.

What I will take with me from my Bar-Ilan studies:
The good will of people from a variety of fields, who are eager to help: the faculty, administrative staff, secretaries, and fellow students. Many people really make a special effort to assist in a way that enriches the learning experience and improves research. I hope that I too will be able to show this kind of support and encouragement to others in my professional life.

For more info on BIU's Martin (Szusz) Department of Land of Israel Studies and Archaeology: https://lisa.biu.ac.il/en

To view an NBC clip of Tehillah Lieberman explaining the significance of a discovery near Jerusalem's Western Wall: https://www.nbcnews.com/vid…/first-read-minute-1081117251994

Have a look at BIU's beautiful Galilean Synagogue Garden: https://www1.biu.ac.il/indexE.php?id=11880&pt=25&pid=11868&level=5&cPath=11880

20/05/2019

Alumni Success Stories: Shelly Hugler Livne

Meet Attorney Shelly Hugler Livne, an alumna of Bar-Ilan University's Graduate Program in Conflict Resolution, Management and Negotiation (CRMN), who serves in the Israeli diplomatic corps and directs the Cadets Course in the
Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs​.

A kibbutznick, former Israel Defense Forces​ Military Police officer and a lawyer by training (who interned at the Yigal Arnon & Co. Law Firm), she recalls when she, herself, joined the Cadets Course and was drawn into the world of diplomacy. "This is challenging work which puts emphasis on interpersonal relations in dynamic surroundings. Nine years later, after two diplomatic missions and in anticipation of a third, I can say that this work is all that I thought it would be and more."

In 2011, Hugler Livne served as Deputy Chief of Mission, Consul and Head of Administration in the Dominican Republic, where she was responsible for six nations – Haiti, Jamaica, Grenada, Antigua, Barbados and Dominica. "In 2013 I was dispatched to Romania as Deputy Chief of Mission for five fascinating years." This summer, after three years in Israel, she is heading for Madrid, Spain.

While in Israel, Hugler Livne enrolled in graduate training at BIU "at the recommendation of colleagues at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The CRMN program was enriching, relevant to the diplomatic world and interesting for me as a lawyer because life is not black and white and there is place to discuss and promote common interests. At Bar-Ilan I was exposed to respectful discourse between sectors and was trained as a mediator."

Hugler-Livne relays that "during my service in Romania, a circle was closed. My grandparents fled Romania before World War II. Relatives who didn't succeed in immigrating to pre-state Israel in time were murdered. My grandfather was even imprisoned and tortured in Romania for his role in helping Romanian Jews reach Israel after the war. And here I am their granddaughter, an official emissary of Israel – the nation that they dreamed of, founded and so loved."

She also worked with ambassadors and local associations to combat violence against women, bringing to Romania the film about Israel's Linor Abargil, Miss World 1998, which was translated into Romanian. Abargil's story about r**e and subsequent activism touched many hearts and the media buzz led to a change in legislation in the Romanian Parliament. For her role, Huglar Livne received the National Order for Merit from Romanian President Klaus Johannis, which was presented to her in Israel by Romanian Foreign Minister Theodore Maleszkano.

She says she got her "social wake-up call" while volunteering at the Jerusalem R**e Crisis Center when she was a law student at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Prior to her IDF service, she volunteered at the Nitzana Educational Eco-Village in the western Negev, where she led desert tours for IDF soldiers and youth, and served as a counselor for immigrants from the former Soviet Union – "my first exposure to the diversity of Israeli society."

As an Israeli diplomat, BIU alumnus Hugler Livne sees her role as forging "a deep connection to Israeli society and values of leadership, love of humankind and contribution to the community." She believes that "a good diplomat is highly motivated and has a sense of mission since there are quite a few challenges confronting those representing Israel abroad. There's so much ignorance about Israel and we often have to deal with hostile elements. Moreover, there are personal and familial issues." Often diplomats are dispatched to countries with high rates of violence, poor medical services and diseases. "Raising children in these countries is not a simple decision. The family pays a price for uprooting itself every few years and being away from relatives and friends. On the other hand, we have the rare opportunity to become closely acquainted with different cultures, lifestyles and values."

For more info on BIU's Graduate Program in Conflict Resolution, Management and Negotiation (CRMN): https://pconfl.biu.ac.il/en





Photo credit: Avi Dodi

16/05/2019

Numerical Thinking

Numerical reasoning – one of the basic forms of mathematical thinking – enables flexible and reliable quantitative understanding, which is a vital need for every person in today's world. Numeracy Day, marked on May 15, seeks to raise awareness of the importance of mathematical abilities and skills - both among individuals and in the educational system.

In this context, Prof. U*i Vishne of the Department of Mathematics at Bar Ilan University notes that only in modern times has there been a human need to deal with very large numbers and very low probabilities. "In the past, the average person knew no more than a few hundred people, and generally did not move away from his hometown, which is why we have been able to cope with an intuitive understanding of relatively small numbers throughout history. Developments in science, electronic media and information networks have led to a proliferation of human interactions and to unprecedented exposure to rare events, which cause us to over evaluate risks. "

"People, as individuals, do not excel at numerical probability. We tend to think in absolute numbers, black or white, and it is hard for us to grasp the state of 'maybe'," adds Dr. Tali Vishne, a psychiatrist and lecturer at BIU's School of Education, who also happens to be the wife of Prof. Vishne quoted above.

Both believe that this has an impact on educated and rational decision-making. For example, the law requires a physician to present all the risks involved in treating the patient. However, even if only a remote possibility of death is mentioned, the patient may avoid treatment at all costs, though the consequences could certainly be harmful and even life-threatening. Another example is our difficulty in understanding the risks of foregoing vaccinations in a crowded city or comprehending the meaning of high management fees in pension funds.

At the same time we see an increase in the diagnosis of dyscalculia. Among children and adults with this learning disability, there's a significant gap between their ability to think numerically and their other cognitive skills, such as reading and writing. Those with dyscalculia are hard-pressed to make decisions when an arithmetic component is involved and this affects daily economic activity, for example, when choosing a product on sale or at its full cost.

Dr. Tali Vishne relays that she treated such a person, who was unable to manage his assets. "He was a wealthy and poor man at the same time. He almost became impoverished since he was unable to decide which house he should live in and which house to rent. In order to extricate himself from this situation, he now receives ongoing advice and assistance from an accountant in any decision involving arithmetic components".

In the past, says Dr. Vishne, such a person may have been able to function and manage in a simpler world, but people with dyscalculia, like all others today, must be able to navigate the complex and rapidly-changing economic world in which we live. This reality underscores the need to develop mathematical thinking and understanding at all levels of the educational system and in all sectors, and to lay the foundation for providing appropriate assistance to those who are numerically challenged.

For more on BIU’s Department of Mathematics: https://math.biu.ac.il/en/
And BIU’s School of Education: https://education.biu.ac.il/en