Life in the shadow of war

Since October 7, the Weizmann community, alongside all of Israel, has faced a new, complex reality. Our research presses on, though our lives are forever changed; our faculty and students continue to lead scientific discovery, while many also serve on the front lines. We are deeply proud of our country and community, and we mourn for the victims and long for the hostages. Despite these hardships, our strength and unity are resolute, and our commitment to pursuing exceptional science for the future welfare of humanity remains steadfast. Below are portraits of resilience from the Weizmann Institute of Science's diverse community:

Dr. Suraj Subramaniam | Postdoc, Department of Brain Sciences

"My wife and I were in India when we heard the shocking news about October 7. Having lived in Israel since 2016, we have many friends there and were deeply concerned for their safety. We couldn’t return until mid-November, and the time away severely disrupted our research. We received immense assistance from the Institute, including emotional and mental support from our supervisors. The trauma of the events left a lasting impact, but we remain hopeful and committed to our work."

Mor Friebroon-Yesharim | PhD student, Department of Science Teaching

"After the events of October 7, I felt the need to help and contribute to my country in any way possible. I discovered there was no need for additional reservists in my former unit, but soon received a call from the Operations Division and was transferred to serve as an officer there. As a mother of three, I faced challenges in balancing my reserve duty with my research and personal life. I received a lot of support from the Institute during my 110 days of reserve duty—both financially and personally—which enabled me to volunteer with a quiet mind."

Ahuva Odenheimer-Bergman | PhD student, Department of Immunology and Regenerative Biology 

"When the war started, I found myself—a full-time PhD student— with three young children and no schools or daycare available. I made the difficult decision to take my children to Canada to stay with family, ensuring their safety and well-being. My mentor was very supportive of my decision, and together we found a project that I could work on remotely. The support from the Weizmann Institute community—whether financial, logistical, or emotional— has been unwavering and has allowed me to continue my research while balancing family life."

Shlomi Ben Haim | Head of the Weizmann Institute’s Vehicle Moving Services Section 

"I served a total of 120 days in reserve duty. It was a very challenging period in many ways. My family at home, with three young children, provided me with an enormous amount of strength and support. The management and staff here at the Weizmann Institute also supported me and assisted in every way possible. I believe this is what helped me continue to serve the country as required."

Marharyta Skovorodka | MSc student, Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences

"As a refugee from Ukraine, I already had some trauma before the 7th of October. Only a month earlier a Russian rocket had struck my parents’ house. The many hours in the bomb shelter in Israel reminded me of the first days in Kyiv of full-scale invasion. I had a talk with my parents about what I should do and where I should go. In the end, I stayed in Israel because it was still safer than in Ukraine and I didn’t want to leave my entire life behind and start over again. I returned to the lab within the first week to distract myself. I struggled to focus at the beginning, but my research is now progressing nicely."

Tzlil Yair | PhD student, Department of Systems Immunology

"My partner was called up for reserve duty on the morning of October 7,and continued to serve for 148 long, complex, and difficult days as the war went on. It was hard to continue my experiments while worrying about my partner’s safety. Through all this pain, I found myself, a 28-year-old woman, alone. I had a great desire to continue my research, but at the same time I found it mentally difficult to disconnect from everything happening around me. What kept me going was the belief that this is a war for our very existence in our homeland, and that better days are ahead."

Little wheelsA few weeks after the residents of Kibbutz Sa’ad, located near the Gaza border, had been evacuated to a hotel at the Dead Sea, the Institute sent over portable cribs. “I wish the photos could convey just how beneficial it is for toddlers to return to the routine of daily outings,” members of the kibbutz wrote in appreciation. 

Scientists spreading hope

From volunteering on farms in the south, to working with hostage families to fight for the release of their loved ones, Weizmann researchers stepped up to help on the home front. Their efforts were recorded in a series of 90-second clips. 

Marking Tu B’shvatIn February, Ran Pauker (left), agronomist for Kibbutz Nir Oz by the Gaza border, explained how the kibbutz had years ago transformed itself into a water-efficient oasis. The event concluded with 140 trees being planted throughout the Weizmann campus.

Pop-up weddingThis couple’s plan took an unexpected turn when Weizmann PhD student Tamir Scherf was called up for reserve duty. Instead of cancelling their wedding, Tamir and Tal held it on an abandoned kibbutz in front of Tamir’s father and fellow soldiers, with friends and family watching on Zoom.

On the home frontThe Institute hosted a special Zoom series highlighting how the community has been coping during these challenging times. Each event was attended by hundreds of participants worldwide. 

Models of excellence

The Weizmann Institute of Science bestowed the Doctor of Philosophy honoris causa degrees upon six recipients this year, recognizing their extraordinary contributions to society. The conferment ceremony was initially scheduled for November 2023 as part of Weizmann’s 75th Annual General Meeting of the International Board, but was postponed following the October 7 invasion of Israel and ensuing Israel-Hamas war. The honorary PhDs were instead presented during a special ceremony at the 2024 meetings of the Executive Board in May. 

The esteemed honorees represent humanity at its very best: from Israel, Prof. Sarab Abu-Rabia-Queder, a leading sociologist of education, and Israel Makov, a founder of the Israeli pharma industry and close friend of the Institute; and from the United States, Prof. Elaine Fuchs, a trailblazing skin cell geneticist, Garry Kasparov, a legendary chess grandmaster, and Charles L. “Larry” Marks and Dr. Gladys Monroy, a couple who are scientists, philanthropists, and dear supporters of the Weizmann Institute. Mr. Kasparov delivered the keynote address.