Today, on Tuesday, January 2nd, a delegation of leading researchers from the University of Pennsylvania visited Israel on a solidarity mission in the wake of the traumatic events of October 7th.

 

Headed by Prof. Michael J. Kahana and Prof. Peter Decherney, the delegation came to visit the academy at the initiative of Prof. Itzhak Fried, an Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities member. During their visit today, they met with Academy President Prof. David Harel and the entire Academy Council, including Vice President Prof. Margalit Finkelberg, Prof. Sergio Hart, and Prof. Yadin Dudai, to discuss ways of supporting Israeli academia in this challenging period.

 

Prof. Kahana stressed the apolitical purpose of the University of Pennsylvania delegation's visit, saying, "We have no political purpose, except that I suppose it's political nowadays, just to show up as a group of faculty in Israel, but it shouldn't be political."

 

He went on to describe the “painful and hurtful” lack of empathy Israeli researchers felt from many international colleagues after the traumatic events of October 7th. Kahana hoped that “out of this meeting today, we can come back to the United States and strengthen our resolve to support the Israeli academy going forward.”

 

At the gathering, Prof. Harel updated the visitors on the Academy’s work, especially initiatives related to the recent war. The University of Pennsylvania representatives also proposed several ways to promote Israeli research during this turbulent period.

 

Academy President Prof. David Harel addresses the delegation 

 

Form the left: Academy Member Prof. Itzhak Fried, delegation head Prof. Michael J. Kahana and Academy President Prof. David Harel