Eshel Gat, whose daughter Carmel was murdered in Hamas captivity in Gaza, joins Nobel Laureates and leading Jewish philanthropists receiving array of prestigious honors at university’s 89th Board of Governors in Jerusalem
Title image: The Hebrew University’s 2026 honorary doctorate recipients stand together after receiving their degrees, celebrating outstanding contributions to knowledge, society, and humanity. Photo Credit: David Salem and Maxim Dinshtein
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem has honoured leading figures from academia, public life, and the business community with honorary doctorates and other major awards at its 89th annual Board of Governors.
Ten distinguished individuals received honorary doctorates during a special ceremony held as part of the Board of Governors meeting. The degrees recognized their outstanding achievements and enduring contributions to science, society, and the University.
During the ceremony, the prestigious Bublick Award was presented to renowned physicist Prof. Eliezer Rabinovici, honoring his influential role in advancing scientific research and strengthening Israel’s scientific standing on the global stage.
The honorary degrees were conferred by Hebrew University President Prof. Tamir Sheafer and Rector Prof. Oron Shagrir at the ceremony held on the University’s Mount Scopus campus alongside faculty members and invited guests.
Prof Tamir Sheafer, President of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, said: “Our honorees represent the very best of human achievement. Through their vision, dedication, and leadership, they have made profound contributions to science, society, and public life, embodying the Hebrew University’s enduring commitment to excellence, intellectual courage, and knowledge in the service of humanity. It is especially meaningful to be able to gather here in Jerusalem this year and celebrate their remarkable accomplishments together.”
Recipients of the 2026 Honorary Doctorates:
- Steven H. Lavin – Prominent American business leader, philanthropist, and Chairman of OSI Group, one of the world’s largest privately held food-processing companies. As president of the Sheba Foundation, Lavin has demonstrated a deep and sustained commitment to medical research and healthcare, education, Jewish communal life, Holocaust remembrance, humanitarian causes, and strengthening ties between the United States and Israel. He is a dedicated supporter of the Hebrew University, including its work to advance safe, secure, and sustainable global food systems and advancing Medical Education. A lawyer by training, he received the America–Israel Chamber of Commerce Chicago’s Business Leadership Award in recognition of his leadership and contribution to U.S.–Israel relations.
- Prof Joshua Angrist – Nobel Laureate in Economics (2021), a pioneering scholar in causal analysis, and long-time affiliate of Hebrew University. Angrist immigrated to Israel from Ohio, served in the IDF, earned his master’s degree at Hebrew University, and has remained closely involved with the institution, including offering special courses for reserve soldiers following the October 7 attack.
- Prof Joel Mokyr – Nobel Laureate in Economics (2025) and one of the world’s foremost economic historians, recognized for identifying the conditions that allow technological innovation to generate sustained economic growth. Born in the Netherlands and raised in Israel, he earned his bachelor’s degree at Hebrew University.
- Prof Alvin Roth – Nobel Laureate in Economics (2012) and co-founder of market design theory. His research has led to practical systems for matching doctors with hospitals, students with schools, and organ donors with patients. He has maintained deep academic ties with Hebrew University.
- The Azrieli Foundation – Danna Azrieli, Dr. Naomi Azrieli and Dr. Sharon Azrieli are prominent leaders of influential philanthropic foundations in Israel and Canada that support transformative work in mental health, stem cell research and computational medicine. Collectively, they have a deep commitment to advancing higher education, alongside their individual contributions to access to quality healthcare and education, social cohesion in Israel, Jewish identity, music, leadership and social entrepreneurship.
- Prof Shafi Goldwasser – A world leader in computer science and cryptography, 2012 recipient of the Turing Award, computing’s highest distinction, and a former Hebrew University lecturer. Goldwasser is a pioneer of modern encryption whose theoretical and practical work helped establish the theoretical foundations of modern digital security
- Prof Sabine Schmidtke – An internationally distinguished scholar of Islamic intellectual history at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton and alumna of Hebrew University’s Arabic and Islamic Studies program. Her research has transformed understanding of intellectual exchange among Muslim, Jewish, and Christian scholars, while her manuscript-preservation projects have made endangered collections accessible worldwide
- Marc O. Mayer – A leader in the financial services industry and an active civic and philanthropic leader, Mayer has devoted many years to supporting educational, cultural, and charitable institutions in his community, alongside his longstanding commitment to the Hebrew University. He served as president of the Board of Directors of American Friends of the Hebrew University until 2019 and is a member of the University’s Board of Governors and Executive Committee. He is a recipient of the Maimonides Award, in recognition of his humanitarianism and leadership.
Recipients of the Rothberg Prize:
- Eshel Gat – Hebrew University alumnus from the Faculty of Agriculture, and a leading voice in the fight to return the hostages taken on October 7, after his wife Kinneret was killed in the initial onslaught, and his daughter Carmel was murdered by her captors in Gaza. His moral clarity and public activism have made him a model of civic responsibility.
Carmel Gat was among more than 250 hostages abducted to Gaza by Hamas on October 7, 2023. She was held captive for nearly 11 months—approximately 330 days—before being brutally murdered with five more Israeli hostages in a tunnel in Rafah in August 2024. The five other victims were Eden Yerushalmi (24), Ori Danino (25), Alexander Lobanov (33), Hersh Goldberg-Polin (23) and Almog Sarusi (27). All six are believed to have been executed by their Hamas captors just days before Israeli forces discovered their bodies on August 31, 2024.
Recipient of the 2026 Bublick Award:
- Prof Eliezer Rabinovici – An internationally respected Israeli physicist and former President of the CERN Council, the laboratory that discovered the Higgs boson. Former head of the Hebrew University’s Racah Institute of Physics, he has been instrumental in elevating Israel’s scientific research on the international stage.
The Rothberg Prize for Jewish Education is a prestigious annual award granted by the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Established in 1975 at the initiative of Mr. Sam Rothberg, former Chairman of the University’s Board of Trustees, the prize honors individuals whose contributions to Jewish education are especially distinguished.
The Bublick Prize, named after Shlomo Bublick, has been awarded biennially by the Hebrew University of Jerusalem since 1949. It recognizes significant contributions to the advancement and development of the State of Israel and is presented to a student, graduate, or member of the administrative or academic staff of the University who has carried out a study or research project of exceptional value.
