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March 2022 Newsletter
Dear Friends, Supporters, Parents, and Alumni,

Please enjoy our March Newsletter. Most importantly, I would like to thank many of our American Friends of IDC Board members and supporters for contributing to the emergency Ukrainian scholarship campaign. We are very proud that so many stepped up to the plate to allow us to assist our current Ukrainian students as well as enable us to accept transfer and new students to Reichman University. Welcoming these young people to the Reichman University (RU) family is part of our Zionist mission and embodies the philosophy that our University was founded on.

We were thrilled to be able to host a US Alumni Family Purim Party here in New York City. It was great to see all of the smiling faces of new and old friends and celebrate the Purim holiday all together. We were eager to come together after so long and it was much needed to regather and connect. Please see pictures below.

If you are heading to Israel for Pesach, be sure to stop by campus. There is so much to see and we would love to host you for a tour. Our office would be happy to assist you in coordinating a visit should your schedule permit.


Warmest Wishes and wishing you all a Happy Spring!
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Leslie Skyba
Executive Director
American Friends of Reichman University
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Reichman University working to establish Israel’s first private medical school in conjunction with Sheba Medical Center
Professor Uriel Reichman, founder and chairman of Reichman University, Herzliya, is working to establish Israel’s first private medical school in conjunction with Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, where clinical training will take place. The goal is to enroll 70-100 students per year. In recent months, Reichman has been holding meetings to promote the initiative, and devoting most of his time to recruiting donors. “We are working hard to raise money from civil society, from the private sector and from donors,” he tells TheMarker. “I presume and hope that we’ll be able to raise the resources and as soon as we have the initial sum in hand, we’ll get underway to our full ability.”
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Professor Uriel Reichman at Reichman University, Herzliya
Photo Credit: Ofer Vaknin
Reichman University US Alumni Association Purim Party
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On Sunday, March 13, AFRU and the US Alumni Association hosted a Purim themed brunch for Alumni and families in New York City. Over 50 Reichman University graduates came out for the festive occasion. There was a face painter, costume contest, a special Purim performance by a beloved Israeli entertainer, and plenty of Mishloach Manot to go around.
Reichman University Delegation Trip to Poland 2022
Earlier this month, the 13th delegation from Reichman University set out on a trip to Poland. We would like to thank the Folkman and Stone families for their support of this trip. Here are some of the students' experiences:

From student Ofir: I was not sure what to expect from the Delegation to Poland. Having grown up in the American Public School System, all my holocaust education came from family stories or a brief reading assignment in High School. Joining the delegation was not an easy decision at first- not only because of the covid-19 pandemic, but also flying at a time of uncertainty and war within the region. It is hard to imagine what actually happened in the world only 75 years ago.
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How entire lives were flipped one day into a unimaginable reality. How from a vibrant Jewish life people were sent into the depths of an inconceivable sorrow. However, through our own testimonies and our incredible guide Amir, we were able to walk in the footsteps of past survivors. The streets of Warsaw, Krakow, and Lublin came alive again with the rich Jewish history of our ancestors. The Concentration Camps and Ghettos revealed not only horrific moments, but also the secret empowerment of the Jewish people and the hope they carried with them throughout the war. I come back to Israel proud of my Jewish heritage, my connection to the resilient Jewish community, and the strength of the state of Israel.
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From student Jeremy: We have seen, learned about, and felt the Holocaust in a way not possible from anywhere else. From centuries-old cemeteries and mass graves to concentration camps and ghettos, we have walked in the footsteps of the victims of Nazism. But within this darkness we also saw light. We heard stories of gentiles who hid Jews in exchange for nothing--the appropriately named Righteous Among the Nations. We also learned about our brave ancestors who, through their daring and conviction, escaped from the labor, concentration, and death camps. These experiences have not only bonded us as a group but reaffirmed our belief in and dedication to Zionism and the state of Israel.
 Reichman University Alumni Give Back 
Alumna: Michelle Spivak
Let’s take a moment to shine the spotlight on a Reichman University Alumna who is honoring her late mothers’ legacy by giving back to Reichman University. “IDC is more than a school, it’s a home. The people are more than just teachers and classmates, they’re family. And for someone born abroad, there is no better way to connect with Israel and belong." 

My mother was also born abroad, but not in Massachusetts like me, she was born in Baghdad. She and her family were forced to flee their beautiful home in Iraq to live amongst dirt and tents in the newly established Jewish state. Eventually she married and life and work took her to the U.S. However her bond to Israel remained a pillar of her life and therefor a pillar of my upbringing. Each year we would visit Israel for two whole months. She would take me to the beach, not to sunbathe, but rather to squeeze the sand in between my fingers and toes and she would say “Ze Shelanu,” which means “this is ours.” She would stop at every soldier and tell them they were a hero. 
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Michelle Spivak Rechnitz, currently lives in Washington, DC with her family and after her mother’s passing left her career on Wall Street and hedge funds to work in impact investing. She currently serves as a Senior Director at LISC Strategic Investments and helps manage over $800 Million dollars in client capital.
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The Naomi Spivak Garden, Reichman University Campus
So it’s not surprise I chose IDC for my MBA in 2012. Unfortunately, shortly after completing my studies, my mother, Naomi Spivak, was diagnosed with stage IV cancer. She never smoked, she worked out every day, she loved life, and was the most generous person this world has ever seen.  In her final days she asked to be buried and while my father was unable to fulfil this wish, I turned to IDC to commemorate her Zionism and love for Israel in a way that could also give back to the school that helps so many students feel “Ze Shelanu.” At Reichman University 1 in 7 students receives need-based financial aid. 
Since Naomi’s passing in 2015, Michelle has led three donation campaigns to IDC totaling $23,600. Each donation counts and the funds are used to provide scholarships to international financial aid students. The Naomi Spivak Garden in the center of campus is a place where flowers bloom and beautiful, brilliant, passionate students pass by each day.
Such is the legacy of Naomi Spivak, and the work of her daughter, so that even in Naomi’s passing, she is helping people grow, expand their minds, and connect with Israel.
If you would like to honor a loved one’s memory with a project on campus please contact the AFRU office. We would love to help you set this project in motion. 
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RU Alum of Month- Yoav Davis:
Promoting the ‘Jews of New York’ via Instagram
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Yoav Davis didn’t set out to amass 70K followers when he formed the Instagram page “Jews of NY” in 2017.

“It’s basically a side project gone wrong,” Davis told The Jerusalem Post. “It started as a hobby and good deed that I wanted to do something with no money involved, just based in giving back with the knowledge and experience I have. There was such a need for this kind of content that it really took over and became a bigger phenomenon than I could have imagined.”

“Because I had already been involved in content creation for the digital world in such an intense way, working with so many brands and companies, I thought to myself, I’m in New York, the city where so many amazing things are happening, one of the most Jewish cities in the world and I should just create a community where Jews can meet Jews and we can showcase the beautiful sides of Judaism, including Jewish artists, musicians and bloggers,” Davis, CEO of Davis Media, a New York City-based digital media content agency recalled.
Reichman University Conference launches the"Ariel Sharon Chair for National Leadership and Military Thought”
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On Sunday, February 13, a conference launching the Ariel Sharon Chair for National Leadership and Military Thought was held on the Reichman University campus, marking the 20th anniversary of Operation Defensive Shield. Operation Defensive Shield was the last military campaign in which the IDF claimed a clear, complete, and unequivocal victory. The Palestinian terrorism that raged in the early 2000s claimed the lives of more than a thousand Israelis. The prime minister at the time, Ariel Sharon, ordered the operation, which was the turning point in Israel’s war on terrorism. Ever since then, the IDF has resumed control in preventing terrorism in all of Judea and Samaria.
Reichman University Hosts Bahrain Ambassador
Reichman University continues to expand academic cooperations in the Middle East!
We were excited to host the first Bahrainian ambassador to Israel, His Excellency Khaled Yousif al-Jalahma, and his embassy staff here at Reichman University.
This was his first visit to our campus since he became an ambassador to Israel in August 2021. His visit and our new academic cooperation is a reaffirmation of our new diplomatic relations and peace thanks to the Abraham Accords.
From the beginning, Reichman University took on a leading role and is committed to promoting cooperations like this one between Bahrain and Israel and we’re looking forward to the moment when we will welcome our first students from Bahrain.
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Left to the right: Christian Jowers, Dr. Daphné Richemond-Barak, RU President Prof. Rafi Melnick, Bahrain’s Ambassador to Israel His Excellency Khaled Yousif al-Jalahma, founding President of RU and chair of the board of directors Prof. Uriel Reichman, and staff of the Bahrain embassy.
Reichman University hosts the German Ambassador,
Dr. Susanne Wasum-Rainer and distinguished guests
Last week Reichman University hosted the German Ambassador, Her Excellency Dr. Susanne Wasum-Rainer and other distinguished guests for the session, "Understanding democratic resilience and adaptation: Can democracy deliver again?" organized by the Lauder School of Government, Diplomacy and Strategy at Reichman University (IDC Herzliya) and Konrad Adenauer Stiftung. We discussed many topics which are especially relevant today, including the regression of stable democracies and is it possible to build resilient democracies and if so, how. It was wonderful that so many of our RRIS German students joined us for the session and discussion.
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Orientation Trip for 2nd Year RRIS Students
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Due to the situation two years ago, the 2nd year RRIS students could not go on the annual orientation trip and finally had an opportunity this week!
Joined by Jonathan Davis, they went on a little hike, ate lunch at a bedouin tent, went to a winery for some wine tasting, and finished the trip in Sde Boker at David Ben-Gurion's grave.
Reichman University congratulates Prof. Amir Amedi and Prof. Doron Friedman on winning a research grant
from the European FET Program
Congratulations to Prof. Doron Friedman of the Sammy Ofer School of Communications and Prof. Amir Amedi of the Baruch Ivcher School of Psychology on winning a grant from the European Future and Emerging Technologies (FET) program for their participation in the GuestXR project.
The GuestXR project comprises eight partners from academia and industry, from across Europe, two of whom are researchers from Reichman University. The Advanced Reality Lab, headed by Prof. Doron Friedman of the Sammy Ofer School of Communications, is responsible for developing the machine learning algorithms behind the “guest” agent. The lab is involved in a number of national and international research projects in the fields of virtual reality and telepresence, brain-computer interface, and human-machine interaction.
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MBA in Healthcare Innovation at Reichman University
Bringing benefits around the world
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The 2019 Graduation Class of the MBA Healthcare Innovation (Credit: IDC)
Entrepreneur Ariel Zylbersztejn, originally from Mexico, has spent years focusing on how best to take care of ill and elderly people at home. He developed a Startup in his native Mexico, called Paz Mental (“Peace of Mind” in Spanish), and also a platform called ANA that offers an artificial intelligence-driven management tool for companies that provide homecare services.

But not having come from a medical background, Zylbersztejn wanted to understand the world of healthcare professionals better, and when he learned about Reichman University’s MBA in Healthcare Innovation, he knew it was the ideal program for him.
Save the Date: April 1, 2022
Reichman University Upcoming ON CAMPUS Information Session
Plan to be in Israel in April? Join our ON CAMPUS information session and learn more about the degrees we offer at Reichman University. This is a great opportunity to learn more on site from our heads of the programs and registrars about the degrees and ask any specific questions you may have.
 
  • Date: Friday, April 1, 2022
  • Time: 9:00 AM Israel Time
  • Where: Reichman University Campus
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Save the Dates: March 9-April 3, 2022
Upcoming March/April Mini Series MA Virtual Information Session(s)
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We have a series of upcoming mini Virtual Information Session(s) with the Heads of the RRIS Graduate degrees we offer at Reichman University (IDC Herzliya). This is a great opportunity for your students and their parents to learn more directly from our heads of the programs about the MA & MBA degrees and ask any specific questions you may have LIVE.
 
Dates: March 9-April 3, 2022

US Times: 
19:00/7:00 PM Israel Time - 9:00 AM PST – 10:00 AM MDT – 11:00 AM CST - 12:00 PM EST
20:30/8:30 PM Israel Time - 10:30 AM PST – 11:30 AM MDT – 12:30 PM CST - 1:30 PM EST

Where: Online via Zoom

RSVP REQUIRED
(you may select more than one session to attend to learn more about the various graduate degrees we offer) 
*The Zoom Link will be shared with those that RSVP and one day prior to the session
RRIS Student of the Month: Ariela
Hey! My name is Ariela, I’m 23 years old and I’m from Guatemala. I’m a first year communications student and I’m planning to specialize in marketing. The first time I visited Israel was 5 years ago for my gap year. I did a kibbutz ulpan in Mishmar HaEmek and it was a really amazing experience. I got to meet some really cool people from all around the world and I also fell in love with Israel. This eventually lead me here to RU and it has been one of the best decisions I’ve made. So far I’ve been able to learn a lot from my classes and I’ve made amazing friends from so many different parts of the world. It surprised me how at home I feel here and I really love the international environment you find on campus.

I’ve also taken this opportunity to join the debate club, radio, and take the ulpan the university offers (slowly but surely working on my Hebrew). I hope to continue to learn a lot, have great experiences and a great time!
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Ariela, Guatemala
BA Communications, 2021-2024
Save the Date: May 31, 2022
Reichman University Class of 2021 Graduation
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