Celebrating science and democracy at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, on Monday

 If the skies remain open, I'm on my way to Jerusalem, to participate in a twice-recheduled event at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.  (It was first scheduled for June 2025, to coincide with HUJI's 100th anniversary, but it was postponed to June 2026 on account of war with Iran.  The June 2026 event was again postponed, for the same reason...)

Now, a week before Israeli elections (and less than a month before American midterm elections), amidst all the political polarization in both countries, I'm reminded that universities are one of the bastions of democracy. I don't doubt that most of the other honorees gathering in Jerusalem feel the same way. (I note that three of the honorary doctorate recipients have received the Nobel memorial prize in economics.) 

 Honorary Doctorate Recipients:
Prof. Joshua D. Angrist
Danna Azrieli
Dr. Naomi Azrieli O.C.
Dr. Sharon R. Azrieli CQ 
Prof. Shafi Goldwasser
Steven H. Lavin
Marc O. Mayer
Prof. Joel Mokyr
Yehuda Leon Poliker
Prof. Alvin E. Roth
Prof. Sabine Schmidtke

Bublick Prize Recipient:
Prof. Eliezer Rabinovici  

Rothberg Prize Recipient:
Eshel Gat

Honorary Fellowship Recipients:
Ronen Barel
Florence de Botton
Jean-François de Clermont-Tonnerre
Benjamin Horwood 
Dr. John Lourie
Prof. Malcolm Shaw KC
Dr. Wallace N. Weber
Zvi Yekutiel 

Here's a blurry photo that appeared on the front page of the 16 October Haaretz, with the names and nationalities of the honorees (sent to me by Assaf Romm)