HAIFA (Press Release)–The University of Haifa will award the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, honoris causa, to Paul Amir, businessman, philanthropist, and a leading figure in the Jewish community of Los Angeles, during the University’s 38th Meeting of the Board of Governors, which will take place on June 1-3.
The honorary doctorate will be conferred upon Amir in recognition of his contribution to the strengthening and empowerment of education and culture in Israel and for advancing academic excellence.
The Senate of the University emphasized Amir’s longstanding support of the University of Haifa and his commitment to the University as President of the American Society of the University of Haifa for many years and as an esteemed member of the University’s Board of Governors; his contribution to academic excellence through provision of scholarships for excellent doctoral students; and his generous support of and assistance in the physical and academic development of the University.
Born in Slovakia, where he survived the Holocaust as a young boy, Amir immigrated to Israel in 1946 with the “Youth Aliya” organization. With the outbreak of the War of Independence he was part of a group sent to Kibbutz Yechiam in the Galilee, where he lived until 1960, when he moved to the United States. There he married Herta and together they established Amir Development Company, a real estate company active in a number of U.S. states.
Amir founded an international foundation that provides significant support to educational and cultural institutions around the world, including the Tel Aviv Museum of Art and the Israel Museum. With the help of a donation by Mr. and Mrs. Amir, the University has established a scholarship program for excelling doctoral students in their name. Mr. Amir is presently active as a member of the Executive Committee of the Israel Museum and of Tel Aviv Museum, and Mrs. Amir is closely involved with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC).
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Preceding provided by the University of Haifa