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Table of Contents

- Hebrew University honors Greek President - Kol haKEHILA 2/4 online
- Greek Studies at Hebrew University - Kol haKEHILA 2/4 online
- Greek President Stephanopoulos receives a Honorary Degree from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem - by Elias Messinas, Jerusalem 16.5.00
- The text of the Honorary Degree scroll delived to the Greek President Stephanopoulos - 16.5.00
- Greek President Stephanopoulos receives Honorary Doctorate from Hebrew University received by Julio & Dolly Botton - 17.5.00
- The Hellenic House at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem - by Elias Messinas - 21.5.00

Kol haKEHILA editor and stuff do not necessarily share the views and opinions of the authors. To view the Greek texts below, please use encoding "Greek" mail to: KOL haKEHILA

Hebrew University honors Greek President Jerusalem, Israel

President Stephanopoulos (center) with Prof. Magidor (right) and Prof. Ben-Sasson (Hebrew U.)

President Stephanopoulos (left) with Jonathan Davis, director of Development and Public Relations of Hebrew U., and Prof. Magidor (center) (Hebrew U.)

On May 16, 2000 Greek President Constantinos Stephanopoulos called from the podium of the Litwinsky Senate Hall of the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, for the strengthening of academic cooperation between Greece and Israel.
President Stephanopolous made his remarks after receiving an honorary doctorate of philosophy from the Hebrew University in a ceremony on the Mount Scopus campus. President Stephanopoulos received the degree in the closing stages of his visit to Israel as the head of a large delegation of Greek public officials, educators and business leaders. He is the first Greek head of state ever to have made an official visit to Israel.

The President noted in his speech at the Hebrew University that this was the first time he had ever been awarded an honorary doctorate and that he was highly honored by the award. The degree was presented to him by Prof. Menachem Magidor, President of the Hebrew University, and Prof. Menahem Ben-Sasson, Rector.
President Stephanopoulos called attention to the great contributions that have been made to civilization by the Greek and Jewish peoples in the pursuit of knowledge and culture and in the establishment of democracy. He said that it was an "absolute necessity" that there be further cooperation between universities in Greece and Israel to further these values.
The President also made reference to the "two most important ancient languages in the world" – Greek and Hebrew – and the pride that the Greek and Jewish peoples have in those languages. He expressed satisfaction that Greek was taught at the Hebrew University and said that he would like to encourage the study of Hebrew in Greek universities.

Earlier in the day, representatives of Greek universities and Greek government ministries met with Prof. Ben-Sasson to discuss the possibility of establishing a Greek studies center to broaden scientific cooperation between Greece and Israel and particularly between Greek universities and the Hebrew University.

In his remarks at the ceremony, Hebrew University President Magidor spoke of the ancient ties between Hellenic and Jewish culture and of the importance of academia in building stronger ties between the peoples of Greece and Israel. He called for "renewal of the centuries-old dialogue between Athens and Jerusalem."
In the honorary degree scroll, the university states that President Stephanopoulos’ historic visit to Israel "gives expression to the importance he attributes to the strengthening of ties between the Hellenic Republic and Israel."
The scroll further cites the Greek president for his "warm friendship toward the Greek Jewish community and the State of Israel" and for "pursuing the creation of educational, cultural and scientific ties between the peoples of the Hellenic Republic and Israel."
The scroll presented to President Stephanopoulos was read in Greek by Prof. Robert Bonfil of the Department of the History of the Jewish People, who was born in Karditsa, Greece and who survived the war there by having been hidden by Greek partisans.

Greek Studies at Hebrew University Jerusalem, Israel

President Stephanopoulos (right) with Prof. Bonfil (left) and
Prof. Ben-Sasson (Hebrew U.)

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem proposes the establishment of an interdisciplinary Center for Greek Studies to facilitate joint academic research and exchange programs between scholars at the University and their peers at similar institutions in Greece. The Center would consolidate all ongoing and new research projects initiated by Hebrew University faculty and their colleagues in Greece in all fields of academic inquiry. State-to-state collaboration would also be conducted under the auspices of the Center. In short, this Center will serve as the principle hub for political, scientific, and academic interchange between the two countries at all levels. The Center will also encourage Greek students to study at the Hebrew University in existing frameworks.
For the past seventy-five years, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem has served as Israel’s premier institution of higher education and research. This world-class academic center has provided Israel with its academic "firsts": its first medical school, its first faculty of agriculture, its first school of law, and others. The University’s academic divisions now span a wide spectrum of human interest and inquiry. Over the years, this venerable institution has contributed immeasurably to the development of the State - not only intellectually, but culturally and socially as well. The success of its graduates in all fields of academic, business, and artistic enterprise has secured the University, and by extension, Israel, international recognition and appreciation of its manifold and far-reaching achievements.

By virtue of its geography, history, and culture, Israel forms an integral part of the Mediterranean region. A natural outgrowth of the country’s self-identification has been extensive cooperation between Hebrew University professors and their colleagues at Greek universities and research institutions in fields including agriculture, medicine, computational neuroscience and the earth sciences.

Notable achievements include:
- The implementation of joint projects between the University’s Faculty of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Quality Sciences and various Greek partners on issues related to water management and animal sciences.
- The initiation of a cooperative research project between a Hebrew University geologist and a Greek colleague that has the potential to expand into a major program focusing on the geological and geodynamic features of the Aegean region.
- The development of cooperative scientific relations between the Faculty of Medicine and several Greek institutions.
- Publications and joint programs between professors in the Department of Classics and other international institutions, including those in Greece; three principal topics of Greek Studies at the Hebrew University include classic Greece, the interaction between Judaism and Greek culture during the Hellenistic period, and the Jews of modern Greece.
- An introductory course on Greek archeology – the only such course offered at an Israeli university – attended by some 70 students annually, some of whom travel to Greece to participate in archeological excavations.
The proposed interdisciplinary Center for Greek Studies will strengthen and deepen the many existing cooperative projects of Hebrew University professors from all faculties and departments and colleagues at Greek institutions. On a more profound level, the Center will serve as the locus of interaction between Israel and Greece at all levels, from academic to governmental.

Greek President Stephanopoulos receives a Honorary Degree from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem by Elias Messinas, Jerusalem 16.5.00

Copyright E. Messinas 2000

Greek President Stephanopoulos delivering his speech at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem after having received the Doctor Juris Honoris Causa degree by Prof. Menachem Magidor, president of the Hebrew University, and Prof. Menahem Ben-Sasson, rector. The ceremony took place at the Senate hall of the Hebrew University in Mount Scopus on May 16, 2000.
The ceremony took place on the occasion of the establishment of a Center for Greek Studies at the Hebrew University, with the participation of Greek universities.
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The text of the Honorary Degree scroll delived to the Greek President Stephanopoulos Jerusalem 16.5.00

The Senate of
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
pays tribute to

Constantinos Stephanopoulos
President of the Hellenic Republic

A distinguished statesman who has served his country for nearly forty years, President Constantinos Stephanopoulos of the Hellenic Republic is an outstanding leader whose abiding concern for the welfare of his nation serves to unite all Greek citizens. He is the first Greek President to conduct a state visit to Israel and, in doing so, gives expression to the importance he attributes to the strengthening of ties between the Hellenic Republic and Israel.

Since first entering politics in 1964, Constantinos Stephanopoulos rose quickly in the Greek government, and served in four cabinet posts between 1974 and 1981. In 1995, he was elected President of the Hellenic Republic and, earlier this year, he was re-elected to a second term of office. Throughout his public career, Constantinos Stephanopoulos has displayed a profound understanding of his country and its citizens and has employed great wisdom in harnessing this insight. Indeed, his success in creating bridges between all Greeks, irrespective of political or ideological outlook, serves as a beacon for other nations.

Cognizant of the Hellenic Republic’s duty toward the victims of the Holocaust, Constantinos Stephanopoulos has strongly condemned the scourge of evil. He has demonstrated a warm friendship toward the Greek Jewish community and the State of Israel, and has actively promoted the strengthening of ties between the peoples of the Hellenic Republic and Israel and is pursuing the creation of educational, cultural and scientific ties between the peoples of the Hellenic Republic and Israel.

In recognition of his commitment to the advancement of human welfare, and in appreciation of his warm friendship for the Jewish people and the State of Israel, the Senate has resolved to confer on Constantinos Stephanopoulos the degree of

Doctor Juris Honoris Causa
of The Hebrew University of Jerusalem

and he is hereby invested with the rights and privileges
pertaining to the degree of Doctor.

Conferred in Jerusalem on this 16th day of May 2000, during the 75th Jubilee year of the Hebrew University

Menachem Magidor Menahem Ben-Sasson
President Rector

The Greek text of the scroll, translated by Yvette Nahmia-Messinas, was read to President Stephanopoulos by Greek-born Prof. Reuven Bonfil, from Kastoria, Greece, of the Hebrew University faculty.
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GREEK PRESIDENT STEPHANOPOULOS RECEIVES HONORARY DOCTORATE FROM HEBREW UNIVERSITY received by Julio & Dolly Botton - 17.5.00

Jerusalem, May 16, 2000 – Greek President Constantinos Stephanopoulos called today for the strengthening of academic cooperation between Greece and Israel. President Stephanopolous made his remarks after receiving an
honorary doctor of philosophy degree from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in a ceremony on the Mount Scopus campus of the university.
   President Stephanopoulos received the degree in the closing stages of his visit to Israel at the head of a large delegation of Greek public officials, educators and business leaders. He was the first Greek head of state ever
to have made an official visit to Israel.
The president noted in his speech at the Hebrew University that this was the first time he had ever been awarded an honorary doctorate and that he was highly honored by the award. The degree was presented to him by Prof. Menachem Magidor, president of the Hebrew University, and Prof. Menahem Ben-Sasson, rector.
   President Stephanopoulos called attention to the great contributions that have been made to civilization by the Greek and Jewish peoples in the pursuit of knowledge and culture and in the establishment of democracy. He said that it was an “absolute necessity” that there be further cooperation between universities in Greece and Israel to further these values.
   The president also made reference to the “two most important ancient languages in the world” – Greek and Hebrew -- and the pride that the Greek and Jewish peoples have in those languages. He expressed
satisfaction that Greek was taught at the Hebrew University and said that he would like to encourage the study of Hebrew in Greek universities. Earlier in the day, representatives of Greek universities and Greek government ministries met with Prof. Ben-Sasson to discuss the possibility of establishing a Greek studies center to broaden scientific cooperation between Greece and Israel and particularly between Greek universities and the Hebrew University.
   In his remarks at the ceremony, Hebrew University President Magidor spoke of the ancient ties between Hellenic and Jewish culture and of the importance of academia in building stronger ties between the peoples of
Greece and Israel. He called for “renewal of the centuries-old dialogue between Athens and Jerusalem.”
In the honorary degree scroll, the university states that President Stephanopoulos’ historic visit to Israel “gives expression to the importance he attributes to the strengthening of ties between the Hellenic Republic and Israel.”
The scroll further cites the Greek president for his “warm friendship toward the Greek Jewish community and the State of Israel” and for “pursuing the creation of educational, cultural and scientific ties between the peoples of the Hellenic Republic and Israel.”
Top

The Hellenic House at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem by Elias Messinas - 21.5.00

The Hellenic House was established in 1979 by the Faculty of Humanities at the Hebrew University campus at Mount Scopus in Jerusalem, Israel. The Hellenic House provides classrooms, seminar rooms and lecture halls for the teaching of classical and Hellenistic culture. Representatives of the Jewish community of Thessaloniki (Salonika), Greece, participated in 1984 in the inauguration of the Hellenic House.
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