BGU & YOU | Spring 2024

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CA

JUN 2023 Gala Main Event in Montreal BGU Canada’s Montreal Chapter held its annual fundraising Gala Main Event, also serving as a tribute to BGU Canada’s CEO, Mark Mendelson z”l, who passed away suddenly in November 2022. Three hundred friends of the University gathered to honor Mark’s memory and raise funds to dedicate the “Beit Mark” student residence in the Student Village on BGU’s North Campus. Attendees also enjoyed a “fire side chat” with i24News US correspondent Mike Wagenheim. JUN 2023 Eyes in the Sky: Monitoring of Earth and Israel's Space Assets Prof. Dan Blumberg, Vice President for Regional and Industrial Development, spoke in his capacity as Chairman of the Israel Space Agency at a partnership event between Ben Gurion University Foundation and South Hampstead Synagogue, London. By popular demand, Prof. Blumberg returned to speak again on “New Borders in our Digital Age: Space, Cyber & Beyond.” UK

Peggi Cohen-Rabinovitch, Montreal Regional President, addresses the Montreal Gala. Photo: Howard Kay

Olivier Abécassis (L) describes his Halutz experiences, interviewed by Michaël Darmon at a BGU France gathering. Photo: Sandrine Ohana Adda

FR

JUL 2023 New Members for BGU France A BGU France gathering to recruit new members featured President Danièle Bidermann, who spoke about the association’s history and Michaël Darmon, who talked about the crucial role of Ben Gurion University in the future development of the Negev and Israel. Olivier Abécassis shared his experiences of the Halutz program and Sandrine Ohana Adda, then BGU Director of Development for Western Europe, shared her family’s aliyah story and explained why BGU's values resonated with her personal commitment.

AR

AUG 2023 Promenade in Argentina named for David Ben-Gurion Thanks to an initiative of the Argentinian Friends of BGU, Israeli ambassador to Argentina, Eyal Sela, together with a delegation from the Argentinian Friends led by President Nava Rubinzadeh, and various officials, including the Governor of Entre Ríos, Gustavo Bordet, inaugurated a promenade named after David Ben-Gurion in the town of Villaguay.

Dedication of the David Ben-Gurion Promenade in Entre Ríos, Argentina in August. Photo: Secretaría de Comunicación, Gobierno de Entre Ríos