BGU | PRESIDENT'S REPORT 2026

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PRESIDENT'S REPORT 2026

Mira Golomb

Ifat Banani

students doing reserve military service and the challenges facing the thousands of others who have been on the battlefield, have seen awful things, and then must adjust to campus and classrooms are enormous. As we have done in the last couple of years, we have put together a plan that provides help to bridge the gaps and make up materials, but it is not enough. Each of these students is an individual with a very different story and needs, and I wish we had the capability to put together unique packages for each one, but it is not possible or feasible. November 24, 2025 This evening, we had an event to thank faculty who went above and beyond to help our students called up for reserve duty over the last two years. Many of our faculty have themselves done reserve duty and many have had to deal with their partners, children or relatives being on the frontline, but throughout, they have gone out of their way to help our students. Together with our students, we chose forty of our administrative and academic faculty who have been exceptional in the aid and attention that they have provided our students. It was a moving evening, and I think that the gesture was much appreciated by all who attended. January 1, 2026 The position of Academic Secretary is probably one of the most important administrative posts for the running of the University. Mira Golomb , Academic Secretary for the past seven years, retired today, and her successor, Ifat Banani , has taken over. We wish her all the best. The Academic Secretary and her staff are part of the Rector’s Office, and basically make sure that everything to do with teaching in the University runs smoothly, that we abide by the byelaws of the University and the Council for Higher Education, and that the Senate and disciplinary

Close-up of the Bring Back the Color installation in the gallery of the Samuel and Milada Ayrton University Center

committees run smoothly. It is an enormous job that touches almost every aspect of University life. This is my opportunity to thank Mira for her dedication and professionalism during seven pretty challenging years. January 29, 2026 For the last two years, anyone entering the Senate Building from the parking lot could not help but see the Bring Back the Color exhibit and the screens counting off the days, hours, minutes, and seconds since October 7, 2023. The 251-chair exhibit was a daily reminder of the hostages and put everything else into perspective. The release of the body of Ran Gvili, the last remaining hostage in Gaza, finally allowed us to turn off the screens in a moving ceremony. With joy for the live hostages released whose chairs were colorfully painted, mixed with sadness for the grey chairs with black ribbons, after 843 days, together with the curator, Eli Revzin, we finally took the exhibit apart and removed the chairs.