An Update From BGU President Daniel Chamovitz
An Update From BGU President Daniel Chamovitz
February 21, 2025
Dear Friends,
I had hoped to share with you a different story this week—one about my return to the classroom at BGU, my first time teaching in six years as President. But the heartbreaking events of the past 24 hours leave little room for celebration.
The sight of the coffins. The confirmation that the Bibas children and Oded Lischitz were brutally killed in captivity. And then the shock of discovering that Shiri Bibas was not returned—all of this has left us numb.
The desire for revenge is understandable, and the pain is unbearable. But as the Bibas and Nir Oz families have cried out today, with all the pain and anger, our one goal must be to return the hostages. Nothing else can take precedence.
Last night, Shira and I stood in silence, together with thousands of others, in a moment of shared mourning. Next to me stood a tall, strong young man, tears slipping from the corners of his eyes. He was not alone. The silence was deafening.
Shira has recently become active in a group called “Come Together” (Bo’u – בוא”ו), an initiative of Israeli healthcare and mental health professionals advocating for the immediate release of all hostages through diplomatic channels. Their message is stark: Every passing day not only risks the lives of those still in captivity but erodes our most fundamental values—solidarity and compassion.
Bo’u works by conducting free lectures and providing insights based on medical research and testimony from released hostages. They explore the psychological toll of captivity—both on those still held and on Israeli society at large—addressing concepts such as bystander effect, learned helplessness, and moral injury. Most importantly, they emphasize the critical shift from passivity to action—from despair to hope.
Activity and hope. These values define the BGU spirit. Passivity and despair are antithetical to our mission in the Negev. As I wrote last week, we do not have the prerogative fall into despair, even in the darkest of times.
And so, on Thursday afternoon, amidst the palour, I walked into a classroom and thanked the 54 students who took my class What a Plant Knows. I wished them success in their exam, and they, in turn, expressed appreciation that the President took the time to teach.
Even in grief, we act. Even in mourning, we push forward.
Shabbat Shalom – awaiting the return of six more tomorrow,
Danny Chamovitz
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