Prizes and Awards
Every year the Rector awards the Rector's Prize to excellent researchers, teachers and students.
Following is a link to pictures that were taken at the Rector's Prize Ceremony held on April 28th 2021:
Pictures: https://photos.app.goo.gl/TTc8b5rB6hCvabio6P
Video: https://www.facebook.com/thehebrewuniversity/videos/459192431833783/
Following is a link to pictures that were taken at the Rector's Prize Ceremony held on March 4th 2020:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/kcBPYfnuwahJ74738
Following is a link to pictures that were taken at the Rector's Prize Ceremony held on March 4th 2019:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/p1cJE6GAPrk3YMmj6
Following is a link to pictures that were taken at the Rector's Prize Ceremony held on March 13th 2018:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/tNILhiqBZWNvk6Yi2
Milken Prize for Excellent Teachers
The Rector awards the Milken Prize every year to teachers who have shown continued excellence in teaching.
Following are the names of this year's awardees for the 2020 academic year:
Dr. Roni Holler | The Paul Baerwald School of Social Work and Social Welfare
Dr. Ruth Mayo | Department of Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences
Dr. Noa Saka | The Seymour Fox School of Education
Prof. Oren Froy | The Institute of Biochemistry, Food and Nutrition
The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment
Dr. Orna Reichman | Faculty of Medicine (Hadassah Hospital)
Rector's Prize for Excellent Researchers
Every year the Rector awards a prize to excellent researchers for excellence is research, teaching and active participation in academic life at the University.
A call for candidates was sent to the Deans who submitted their recommendations to the Rector and the awardees were chosen from the list of nominees.
Following are the names of this year's awardees for the 2020 academic year and the reasons why they were selected:
Prof. Oded Milo | The Racah Institute of Physics, Faculty of Science
Prof. Inbal Arnon | Department of Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences
Prof. Avi-Hai Hovav | Faculty of Dental Medicine
Prof. Shalhevet Attar-Schwartz | The Paul Baerwald School of Social Work and Social Welfare
Prof. Gil Segev | The Rachel and Selim Benin School of Computer Science and Engineering
Awardees from previous years:
2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010
Rector's Prize for Excellent Students
The Flegg Award
The Flegg Lecture and Award for the Understanding and Acceptance within the Jewish World
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem announces the establishment of an annual Flegg Award and Lecture promoting understanding, acceptance and cooperation between different segments in the contemporary Jewish world. This prestigious award has been established to recognize outstanding achievements in the study and/or promotion of understanding between different factions within Judaism.
The choice of the recipient of the Flegg Award and all the arrangements related to the Lecture, like publicity, publication and related events will be administered by the Rector's office. The selection committee will be chaired by the Rector. Among its members will be the Head of the Mandel Institute of Jewish Studies and the Head of Scholion (a research institute devoted to the study of Jewish heritage).
The committee will actively solicit nominations for the recipient of the Flegg Award through international publicity and by requesting nominations from prominent academics and outstanding public figures in Israel and outside of Israel.
The individual chosen as the recipient of the Flegg Award will receive an honorarium of $5,000 and be the guest of the Hebrew University for a period of at least one week, during which time he/she will deliver a formal public lecture (open to the academic and non-academic communities) and will also offer at least one smaller academic lecture or seminar. The Flegg Public Lecture will be chaired by the Hebrew University's President or Rector (or a suitable replacement chosen by them) and, at this event, the Chair of the Lecture will read a statement of the reasons that led the committee to choose the recipient of the Flegg Award, including a brief summary of his/her achievements.
The Hebrew University will publicize the Flegg Public Lecture as widely as possible within the University, in the press and in electronic media. The same publicity will be given to the recipient of the Flegg Award.
The Hebrew University will cover the expenses to fly the Flegg Lecturer to Israel (if the recipient is not a resident of Israel) and will also provide hotel accommodation and a per diem for the Lecturer. A budget will also be made available to allow travel in Israel by the Flegg Lecturer during his/her stay in the country and to fund all the additional events.
Following the Flegg Public Lecture, the Hebrew University will hold a reception for the recipient and the attendees of the Lecture. In addition, during the Lecturers stay, at least one dinner will be held in his/her honor.
Shortly after the occasion of each years Flegg Public Lecture, a written copy and a video recording of the Lecture will be displayed and made available for downloading on the Hebrew University's website and on the internationally most popular websites (like Youtube, Hebrew University's site in Facebook, etc.). A bound printed version of every lecture will be disseminated among individuals and cultural and educational institutions throughout the Jewish world.
About Simon and Ethel Flegg
Simon Flegg, after graduating from the University of Heidelberg at the age of 21, entered the family tobacco business and became a successful businessman. In 1938, he escaped Germany because of Nazi tyranny and went to Canada. He established himself initially in the building business, later on setting up a vocational school for modern industry, which became one of the best in Canada
Together with his wife, Ethel, he became a steadfast supporter of the cultural and educational life in the Jewish community.
Simon Flegg was a man of extraordinary intelligence and strength of spirit. Towards the end of his life, he repeatedly expressed the view that those who have taken from life must give to life. This he accomplished by giving generously to worthy causes in Canada and in Israel. In his last will, he bequeathed a munificent contribution to the Hebrew University, which was a reflection of the intellectual scope of his life and of his love for Israel and the Jewish people.
This gift was, in his words, intended to “promote excellent research in all disciplines of academic activity with a special emphasis on the preservation of Jewish heritage and culture.” He believed that his contribution would have “a very important vitalizing effect on the academic, cultural and spiritual life of Israel and of Jerusalem.”
Ethel Flegg was a quiet, sensitive person who exemplified the finest attributes of a Jewish wife. Although she and Simon had no children, Ethel felt a strong kinship to Emunah (Mothers of Israel) and was an ardent supporter of the organization. Her friends and family recognized that Ethel, in her own quiet way, epitomized strength, dignity and a deep commitment to Jewish value.
Awardees from Previous Years
The 2019/2020 Simon and Ethel Flegg Award was awarded to "Limmud" – an international organization creating activities and conferences with Jewish educational content worldwide.
The ceremony took place on Sunday, November 22nd, 2020 at 17:00 in the Rector's Office, Mt. Scopus Campus via Zoom.
Among the participants were Ms. Andrea Hoffer (family representative), Ms. Danielle Nagler, Limmud Israel Chair, and Dr. Lindsey Taylor-Guthartz who delivered a short talk titled: Limmud-The Shared Journey.
The 2018/9 Simon and Ethel Flegg Award was awarded to the "Revivim" Program for Outstanding Jewish Educators for the 21st Century
The ceremony took place on Wednesday, June 26th, 2019 at 16:30 at Beit Maiersdorf (2nd Floor), Mt. Scopus Campus.
Lecture: The Power of Storytelling in the Jewish Tradition by Prof. (Emeritus) Yair Zakovitch.
The 2017 Simon and Ethel Flegg Award was awarded to Rabbi Dr. Daniel Tropper and Gesher – an Organization for the Promotion of Dialogue in Israel
The ceremony took place on Monday, October 22nd, 2018 at 16:30 at Beit Maiersdorf (2nd Floor), Mt. Scopus Campus.
Lecture: The Dialectic Between Halachic Commitment and the Religious Mandate to Respect the Other by Rabbi Dr. Daniel Tropper, Founder and President of Gesher.
The 2016 Simon and Ethel Flegg Award was awarded to Hannaton Educational Center
The ceremony took place on Wednesday, January 18th, 2017 at 16:30 at Beit Maiersdorf (2nd Floor), Mt. Scopus Campus.
Lecture: "These and These are the Words of the Living God”: Pluralism – an ideal in the Beit Midrash, but a threat in Israeli Society? by Rabbi Yaov Ende, Executive Director of the Hannaton Educational Center.
The 2015 Simon and Ethel Flegg Award was awarded to "Kehillot Sharot" - Singing Communities
The ceremony took place on Wednesday, January 20th 2016 at 16:30 at Beit Maiersdorf (2nd Floor), Mt. Scopus Campus.
Lecture: Piyutim in the Cultural Life of Moroccan Jews by Prof. Emeritus Moshe Bar-Asher.
Click here to view the ceremony
The 2014 Simon and Ethel Flegg Award was awarded to Dr. Yehuda Mamimaran
The ceremony took place on Tuesday, December 9th 2014 at 16:00 at the Litwinsky Senate Hall, Mt. Scopus Campus.
Lecture: Social Judaism as an Educational Identity Mutual Sphere: From Vision to Action.
Click here to view the ceremony
The 2012 Simon and Ethel Flegg Award was awarded to Ms. Bambi Sheleg
The ceremony took place on Wednesday, July 11th 2012 at 16:30 at the Litwinsky Senate Hall, Mt. Scopus Campus.
Lecture: Jewish sociology at this time: Do the existing denominations in the Jewish people reflect the situation toady?
The 2011 Simon and Ethel Flegg Award was awarded to Rabbi Micha Odenheimer
Lecture: Can global "Tikun Olam" bring the Jews together?
Click here to view the ceremony
Call for Candidates
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem announces the call for candidates for the annual Ethel & Simon Flegg Award promoting understanding, acceptance and cooperation between different segments in the contemporary Jewish world. This prestigious award has been established to recognize outstanding achievements in the study and/or promotion of understanding between different factions within Judaism.
The recipients of the award are selected every year by a committee chaired by the Rector of the Hebrew University. Proposals should include the candidate’s bio and a letter explaining the suitability of the candidate in the context of the terms of the Flegg Award. The proposals should be addressed to:
The Rector
Office of The Rector
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Mt. Scopus, Jerusalem 9190501, Israel
Proposals should arrive by Friday, February 28th, 2020.
The chosen individual will receive an honorarium of $5,000 and he/she will deliver a formal public lecture (open to the academic and non-academic communities).
The date of the Flegg Lecture will be coordinated with the chosen candidate.