TAU Mourns Benefactor and Friend Miriam Smolarz

Tel Aviv University joins the Smolarz family in mourning the recent passing of 102-year-old Miriam Milberg de Smolarz, a TAU Governor, President’s Circle Member, and Honorary Doctor. 

Together with her husband Adolfo, Miriam was a leader in the Argentinian Jewish and Zionist communities, and an active member of the Argentinian Friends of TAU for over 40 years. Her work helped promote the academic, scientific and cultural standing of Tel Aviv University in Argentina and to advance the University itself through her and Adolfo’s involvement. 

Miriam and her family made possible numerous projects across the TAU campus including the Pablo J. Smolarz Memorial Floor in the Trubowicz Building (Law), and the Miriam and Adolfo Smolarz Auditorium –TAU’s premiere event hall. But perhaps their most profound campus relationship was with the Wise Faculty of Life Sciences. With the establishment of the Smolarz Family Graduate School of Life Sciences, Smolarz Family Building, and Gitter-Smolarz Library of Life Sciences and Medicine, students and researchers of the Faculty enjoy a rich and advanced academic environment. 

Thanks to the Smolarz family and TAU Argentinian Friends’ collective support, the Faculty of Life Sciences has blossomed into one of the world’s leading biological research institutions with more than 100 laboratories and over 500 graduate students. 

For her outstanding dedication to advancing the life sciences at TAU, Miriam was honored by the Argentinian contingent at the 2022 Board of Governors meeting with a scholarship in her name given to four exceptional Life Sciences graduate students.

Even before TAU was founded, Miriam along with Adolfo were committed to helping Israel grow. In 1948, during the War of Independence, the two lead an effort to support the state in its struggle. 

“To know Miriam and Adolfo Smolarz was an honor. Kind, warm and generous people, they were committed to promoting TAU and Israel in South America in the most heartfelt way. They leave an extraordinary legacy for coming generations both in Israel and Argentina,” says TAU President Ariel Porat.

Miriam is survived by her daughter Aida, grandchildren Tomas and Nicole, and great-grandchildren.