BOG 2021: TAU Awards Honorary Degrees to Israeli Recipients

In a festive ceremony held during the 2021 Board of Governors Meeting, Tel Aviv University bestowed its highest distinctions upon five individuals and an organization.

The honorary Doctor of Philosophy degree was conferred upon:

Haim Be’er, a renowned author and poet, whose work bridges between diverse groups in Israel and safeguards social cohesion;

Hanina Brandes, a visionary lawyer, whose foresight in recognizing the potential of the high-tech and biotech industries has enhanced Israel’s economic prosperity;

Shafrira “Shafi” Goldwasser, a mathematician and computer scientist who has laid the groundwork for modern cryptography and whose impact as teacher and mentor has inspired generations of young researchers; and

Hanna Zohar, the founder of Kav LaOved, a national hotline for disadvantaged workers, and a lifelong social activist whose work has helped safeguard civic and human rights throughout Israel.

Honorary fellowships were awarded to Joseph Bar-Natan, a community leader and philanthropist, and the Gesher Theater, a prominent Tel Aviv cultural institution founded by Russian immigrants.

Addressing the audience at the event, TAU’s newly elected Board of Governors Chairwoman Dafna Meitar-Nechmad said: “Tonight’s honorees are all passionate givers, whether in the areas of science, business, art or social leadership. They have, each in their own way, positively affected entire communities. Today we recognize and celebrate the power of giving — as individuals, as a University, as a nation and as part of global culture.”

Speaking on behalf of the honorees, Adv. Hanina Brandes thanked the University and praised the power of academic achievement. “Universities plant the seeds for the development of all disciplines of study in the world. They produce the researchers, who lay the ground for global development and human progress. Tel Aviv University, although relatively young, is at the cutting edge of this process.”

Watch the full ceremony here.

​Photo: Chen Galili

TAU President Prof. Ariel Porat said, “Tonight’s honorees are inspiring examples of what Tel Aviv University and academia uphold, which is a combination of knowledge and expertise, on the one hand, and the drive to better our society, on the other.”

The Honorary Degrees Conferment Ceremony is the central event of the annual Board of Government meeting which, this year, took place on the TAU campus on October 13-17. The ceremony was attended by more than 200 guests, among them senior TAU officials, academics, governors and friends, as well as by numerous participants online.