Dear friends, members of the worldwide Technion family,

This week, classes at the Technion begin, and a new academic year is upon us. This is always a time of excitement and anticipation for the Technion community – and above all, for our new students. Nearly 2,000 young women and men are taking their first steps in a great endeavor, whose intense demands are surpassed only by its tremendous promise.

Unfortunately, though, the natural optimism of this moment is tempered by the sobering reality of yet another round of murderous violence that has been launched against Israel and its Jewish citizens, fed by hateful lies and incitement, and taking the form of indiscriminate attacks on civilians and soldiers, women and men, young and old, in our capital Jerusalem and around the country. We mourn the victims of these outrages, and convey our sympathies to their families and to the wounded and traumatized.

In my annual welcoming address to new and returning students last week, I reminded them that since opening its doors 91 years ago, the Technion has always been a haven of tolerance and coexistence between Jews and Arabs, secular and religious, new immigrant and sabra. Technion’s 14,000 students come from all walks of Israeli life and from dozens of foreign countries, and they study, research and live shoulder-to-shoulder in our classrooms, labs and dormitories.

Israel is strong and resilient, and we will overcome, as we always have in the past, this latest attempt to disrupt, demoralize and destroy us.

And in the face of stormy seas around us, the Technion will remain unshakably committed to our culture of diversity, tolerance, and the pursuit – above all – of knowledge and excellence.

As always, and especially in times of crisis, your expressions of solidarity and support are a source of tremendous encouragement and strength for all of us here in Israel and the Technion.

With warm regards,