Where Behavior and Brain Intersect

Leadership
EUROPEAN CONFERENCE
Unique Rome
Experience Captivates
Governors
Tel Aviv University’s 19 th European Conference was
held for the first time in Rome, home to one of the oldest
Jewish communities in the world. The program led
the 102 participants – board members and dear friends
of TAU – on a fascinating discovery tour of Rome’s rich
artistic and cultural heritage as well as of the history of
Roman Jewry.
The conference’s welcoming reception was held at the
historic Protomoteca Hall at the Rome City Council, hosted
by Mayor of Rome Gianni Alemanno, who received the
Chair of History
and Philosophy of
Science, took part
in a Christian-
Jewish dialogue;
Dr. Uzi Rabi,
Chairman of the
Department of
Middle Eastern
and African
From left:
organizing committee
members, Vittorio
Pavoncello, Mirella Petteni
Haggiag and Gabriela
David
TAU President Joseph
Klafter (left) and Mayor of
Rome Gianni Alemanno
Participants
enjoy a carriage
ride through
Rome
24
Dan David Prize last year at TAU on behalf of the city
of Rome. Greetings were delivered by Alemanno, Israeli
Ambassador to Italy Gideon Meir and TAU President
Prof. Joseph Klafter. TAU supporter and native Roman,
Ariel David, served as moderator of the event.
Conference participants toured the Jewish Quarter, the
Jewish Museum and the Great Synagogue, where they were
greeted by the Chief Rabbi of Rome Shmuel Riccardo Di
Segni and President of the Jewish Community Riccardo
Pacifici.
On Friday night participants attended a Kabbalat
Shabbat dinner, where Israeli Deputy Prime Minister
Dan Meridor reviewed current affairs and TAU benefactor
Gabriela David gave Scripture readings. Saturday
morning featured a stimulating program of lectures: Prof.
Menachem Fisch, who holds the Joseph and Ceil Mazer
History, spoke on the changing Middle East power structure;
and Prof. Martin Kupiec, incumbent of the Pasha
Gol Chair for Applied Microbiology and Genetics, spoke
on personalized medicine.
During the conference, TAU Rector Dany Leviatan
signed a historic cooperation agreement between TAU
and La Sapienza University in Rome for the exchange of
students and professors as well as joint research projects.
“This event was outstanding in every respect,” said
Prof. Klafter. “It afforded TAU’s most involved supporters
rare access to Italian personalities and places, as well
as to fascinating lectures. The weekend was impeccably
planned, and I would like to give special thanks to Vittorio
Pavoncello, Mirella Pettini Haggiag, Gabriela David and
the other members of the Organizing Committee for
making this event unforgettable.”