Yair Shamir, Iris Haim Honored at Shalem’s Eighth Annual Commencement Ceremony
In a ceremony that was equal parts moving and uplifting, Shalem graduated its eighth academic class at its campus in Jerusalem on June 27th. Capping what President Russ Roberts called four uniquely challenging years, “starting with an unprecedented global pandemic, followed by a period of painful division in response to the proposed judicial reform, and ending in the throes of an existential war,” he praised students for showing, throughout it all, a deep commitment to each other, to their country, and to the study of great ideas—ideas, he pointed out, that are now more vital than ever before.
Opening the event with a reading of William Henley’s famous “Invictus,” a poem that expresses the human urge toward resilience in the face of adversity, moderator and senior lecturer of Western literature Dr. Ido Hevroni recognized the five members of the Shalem community who died on October 7th or in Israel’s ensuing war. Notably, they include the younger brother of the ceremony’s student speaker, Daniel Malka ’24, and now a sixth member, as well: the son of one of the evening’s two honorary degree recipients, Iris Haim.
Explaining, in a reference to a classic Israeli poem, that “in another world, we might never have heard of Iris Haim,” Shalem Director of Academic Administration Shira Birnbaum described how the accidental death of Haim’s hostage son Yotam z”l and his two friends, kidnapped by Hamas on October 7th and held captive in Gaza for 70 days, “tore at the delicate fabric of our nation…and threatened to bring it to its knees.” It was Haim’s public message of forgiveness and call for compassion, continued Birnbaum, that averted yet another tragedy: the defeat of Israel’s spirit and sense of unity, both of which are the keys to its victory.
Student speaker Daniel Malka ’24
Haim echoed this sentiment in her acceptance speech, explaining that until October 7th, her life in a small Gaza border town as a palliative-care nurse and founder of a nonprofit for families of the terminally ill had no place “for those who were different from me.” It was only after her son’s kidnapping turned her world upside down, she explained, that “I began to think in ways that I hadn’t been taught to think and to break free of the mold” in which Israelis so often place themselves. She then shared the story of meeting the mother of a religious soldier from Beit Shemesh who died on October 7th defending Kfar Aza—the very kibbutz from which Hamas kidnapped her secular son Yotam. “I realized that our enemies aren’t interested in our politics or… how many mitzvot we keep. To them, all that matters is that we’re Jews who live in the State of Israel.” Now, she said, she no longer pays attention to any such differences at all.
“You graduates of a liberal arts college,” she concluded, “can create a new discourse of mutual respect and free yourselves from the limitations of [sectoral] thinking.”
In attempting to describe the role Shalem played in his and his peers’ lives these past four years, Malka similarly spoke of a community that included—even actively encouraged—a diversity of ideas.
“Shalem is a home, a hothouse, a place that changed us and was changed by us, and is now sending us out into the word to act on what we’ve learned here,” he said. And act they will: Among the graduates are a parliamentary advisor to a member of Knesset, the manager of a progressive Zionist pre-military leadership academy, an incoming master’s student at Cambridge, and the director of the Shalom Hartman Beit Midrash for Israeli Rabbis.
He finished with words of encouragement for his fellow graduates: “Today, each of us is wondering how best to contribute to our society in its moment of need. Thankfully, there are as many different paths to contribute as there are beautiful human beings here tonight.”
The ceremony’s second honorary degree recipient, Chairman of the Executive Committee of Shalem’s International Board of Governors Yair Shamir, himself contributed to the success of the Jewish state in multiple and critical ways: first as a pilot and officer in Israel’s Air Force, for example, and later as visionary chairman of Israel Aerospace Industries, which transformed the country’s air force into one of the leading such warfare branches in the world. Realizing that Israel’s strength also depended in large part on the growth of its economy, he simultaneously trailblazed a private-sector career as a leading executive at some of Israel’s largest corporations and as a member of the boards of numerous high-tech companies; he also served, for two years, as a member of Knesset and as minister of agriculture.
Finally, Shamir is a dedicated public servant, serving in leadership roles and on the boards of the Shamir Medical Center, Gvahim, Ohalo College, and Shalem College, in whose founding he was a key partner.
The commencement processional, led by Dean of the Faculty Prof. Leon Kass and senior lecturer of Bible Dr. Orit Avnery.
“The Jewish state succeeded in achieving the impossible thanks to extraordinary citizens such as Yair Shamir,” explained Shalem Executive Vice President Dr. Daniel Polisar, who introduced Shamir at the event. He then noted that the same may be said of Shalem College, “which simply would not exist without him. Period.”
Polisar recalled how, when he and his colleagues first approached Shamir with the idea for a college, Shamir understood immediately that Israel’s future “depended on its ability to produce visionary leadership.” He recognized, Polisar continued, that for Israel to survive, it would need “men and women who are deeply familiar with the Jewish and Zionist traditions, love their people and their land, and demonstrate profound character and wisdom.” Precisely the kind of men and women, Polisar said, that are finishing their studies tonight at Shalem.
For his part, Shamir chose to use his time on stage to thank graduates for their service to their state and society since October 7th, expressing his belief that “as soldiers on the battlefield and in command centers, as volunteers on the home front, and as spokespeople on American campuses and social media, you showed selflessness, courage, and deep dedication to your people and country…. You showed that your generation has given rise to individuals every bit as capable, determined, and idealistic as the founders of our state. You showed that you are a generation that rose to the needs of the moment, and who in turn will re-found a stronger, more resilient, and more worthy Jewish state than ever before.”
Conceding that he knew, when first approached with the idea, that Shalem was a fairly risky investment, Shamir was also equally certain that it could be a game-changer for the Jewish state. “I knew that the risk was worth taking,” he concluded, looking out at a pool of eager new leaders, amidst the most dangerous period in Israel since its War of Independence. “Our world has shown that investing in leaders for Israel is an absolute necessity.”
In her own speech to graduates, lecturer of Hebrew Bible Dr. Orit Avneri noted that while every year, Shalem faculty encourage students to take up the mantle of leadership, and to go out into society and make it a better place—this year, she concluded, such words are superfluous. “We [faculty] taught you texts, values, theories, and ways of learning and thinking. And in return, you students taught us the meaning of profound sacrifice, heroism, courage, and strength of spirit.” And then, quoting the Talmudic sage Rabbi Chanina, Avneri closed with a sentiment that expresses how all Shalem faculty—and all of Israel—feel toward the generation currently fighting for Israel’s existence:
“I have learned much from my teachers, and more from my colleagues. And from my students, I learned most of all.”
