BGU&U | SPRING 2022

Halutz fellows crossing the Jim and Liz Breslauer Bridge on their way to visit the BGU Faculty

of Health Sciences

No less important, they gained a deeper understanding of the Negev region through visits to the Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research - one of the world’s leading institutes for water research and research on drylands agriculture and sustainability, the Ben-Gurion Archives, and Ben-Gurion’s gravesite at Sde Boker. Sacerdoti summed up his experience: “It’s fascinating how so many interesting developments, scientific and otherwise, are coming out of Israel and specifically out of the Negev. Israel must make a success in the desert and here you are doing just that.” Jeff Kaye explains: “Halutz fellows see an Israel that visitors can’t, and gain knowledge they can translate into influence in their home communities.”

In Jerusalem, they visited the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for a series of briefings, and met with the Minister for Environmental Protection Tamar Zandberg. In Beer-Sheva, they toured labs on the Marcus Family Campus, met with researchers from multiple disiciplines and faculties and learned about the University’s innovation ecosystem and its commitment to the Negev and its residents. “This was a unique opportunity to meet people at the top of their fields, not just here in Israel, but across the world, doing groundbreaking research and to see the amazing facilities set up for that research,” said Halutz fellow Jonathan Sacerdoti of the UK. The fellows even visited the Israeli Air Force’s flight academy at the Hatzerim airbase.

“The driving force behind Halutz is David Ben-Gurion’s belief, borne out by BGU these last fifty years, that the Negev can be an engine for Israel, and ultimately for the world. By inspiring others to share that belief,” says Kaye, “Halutz fellows will be the pioneers that Israel needs now.” For questions about the Halutz Initiative for Global Leadership or to express interest in participating in a future cohort, please contact your local BGU association.

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