Honorary doctorates for President Rivlin and Miriam Adelson
Israel’s Ariel University has conferred honorary doctorate degrees on the 10th President of the State of Israel, Reuven Rivlin and Dr Miriam Adelson.
President’s degree is in recognition of his lifelong work to strengthen the State of Israel, to foster bonds between secular, religious, ultra-orthodox Jewish and Arab communities, his long-standing leadership in cultivating the affinity between Judaism and Zionism, his dedication to ensuring the fortitude and prosperity of the Jewish people in the Land of Israel, his sincere friendship and widespread efforts for the development and advancement of Ariel University.
Dr Miriam Adelson received her doctorate in recognition of her outstanding Zionist and humanitarian contributions for promoting medicine, education and higher education in Israel and around the world; for her many years of devotion as a physician and researcher, and her dedication to developing new methods for treating addiction and withdrawal; for her tireless efforts in strengthening the bonds between Israel and Jews of the Diaspora; for her courageous and generous partnership with Ariel University in establishing a medical school for the benefit of the entire region; and for her steadfast support of medical students and cultivating a new generation of world-class physicians.
President Rivlin said: “I am standing here, in the halls of academe of Ariel University in Samaria and my heart is full of deep appreciation for the honour bestowed on me in your decision to award me an honorary doctorate. And, to be honest, my heart is pained that my late wife Nechama, may her memory be a blessing, who loved so much to learn, to understand and to educate, could not be here at my side. She, who worked in research her whole life and for whom every new development and article in the fields she loved sparked a new light in her, even long after she retired.”
He added, “Academia is a beacon of excellence, wisdom and knowledge in society. In just a few years, Ariel University has proved that it is in the ‘big league’, and attracts students who are Jewish and Arab, religious and secular, men and women, who come here on purpose because this is Ariel University. Israel’s youngest university is also 100% an Israeli university – Zionist, innovative, leading in research and most importantly open to all the tribes and sectors of Israeli society.”
The president of the university Professorreceived Yehuda Shoenfeld tod the ceremony: “Ariel University’s greatest supporters is Dr Miriam Adelson, who is herself a practising physician involved in the field of the treatment for addiction and withdrawal. Her help is invaluable, both in building the medical school and in establishing the up-and-coming medical centre, which will help President Rivlin’s vision to become a reality. I would like to note, however, that the addiction of our bright students and researchers to knowledge, research and development should be encouraged.
Ariel University integrates students from all sectors of the population – secular, religious, ultra-Orthodox, Arabs and Druze.”