HAIFA (Press Release)–The University of Haifa will award the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, honoris causa, to Shaykh Mowafak Tarif, the spiritual leader of the Druze community in Israel, 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 Shaykh Tarif in recognition of his contribution to strengthening equality and his commitment to the State of Israel.
The Senate of the University emphasized the personal example that Shaykh Tarif sets for the Druze community and for the entire Israeli society in upholding a world view that promotes understanding, love of peace and conflict resolution through mutual respect and dialogue; his activities and investment in creating a bridge between different ethnic groups; and the firm bond and neighborly relations that he has fostered between the University and the Druze community in Israel.
Shaykh Mowafak Tarif, born in Julis in 1963, is a descendent of the Tarif family that has been leading the Druze community in Israel since 1753. He inherited the position of spiritual leader from his later grandfather Shaykh Amin Tarif in October 1993 and as such took upon himself responsibility for the community’s holy sites.
Heading Israel’s Druze society in its efforts to achieve equal rights as well as recognition of the community’s duties – first and foremost to serve in the Israel Defense Forces, Shaykh Tarif believes that it is morally incumbent on all members of the Druze community to contribute to the safekeeping of Israel’s borders and citizens and therefore espouses compulsory service in the Israel Defense Forces for the Druze.
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Preceding provided by the University of Haifa
Shaykh Mowafak Tarif graduated the Al-Baida post-secondary school for Druze studies in Lebanon and has a B.A. in Law.