AUSTFHU Year book 2022/2023

A Tribute to

Harry Hoffman AM z”l

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the Australian Friends of the Hebrew University pay tribute to the memory and vision of prominent Perth community leader and benefactor, Harry Hoffman AM z”l who passed away in December 2022.

Harry Hoffman and his wife Sylvia have had a long and productive relationship with the Hebrew University. In 2006, the couple pioneered an amazing leadership and responsibility program for post graduate students at the University and in 2012, Harry was awarded an Honorary PhD by the University in recognition of his philanthropy both locally in Perth and of course in Israel. Sylvia has been honoured with an Honorary Fellowship.

In 2000, former Hebrew University President, Professor Hanoch Gutfreund visited Perth and presented Harry and Sylvia with copies of some 40 handwritten documents from the University’s famous Einstein Collection. It is a measure of the man that Harry then promptly gifted this collection to Carmel School where it is housed today as a resource for students.

In 2019, current Hebrew University President Profes-

sor Asher Cohen advised the Australian Friends of the University that he intended to visit Australia in late 2020 and that he wanted to stop over in Perth to pay his respects to Harry and Sylvia Hoffman for their amazing contributions to the Hebrew University.

Sadly, this visit had to be postponed twice due to Covid and the date was finally set for 1 December 2022 with two meetings planned with Harry and Sylvia on that date – a morning tea at their home and then a lunch that afternoon kindly hosted by Stuart Silbert OAM, a member of the Hebrew University Board of Governors and a good friend of the Hoffman’s.

Unfortunately, Harry took ill that morning and was taken to hospital where he passed away a few days later.

At the lunch hosted by Stuart Silbert in honour of Professor Cohen, Professor Cohen spoke movingly of the University’s relationship with Harry and Sylvia and expressed his sadness that having come especially to Perth to see Harry, this wasn’t to be.

All at the Hebrew University and the Australian

Friends are deeply saddened by the passing of this communal giant but we are grateful that the contributions that Harry made in his lifetime will be with all of us for many years to come, not least of which through the many students who benefitted from the Harry and Sylvia Hoffman Leadership and Responsibility Program at the Hebrew University.

Harry Hoffman AM z”l

L/R Harry Hoffman, Sylvia Hoffman, Christina Dullard (then Carmel School Principal) and Professor Hanoch Gutfreund (Director of the Einstein Archives at the Hebrew University and the University’s former President) in August 2000 when the facsimile Einstein collection was gifted to Carmel School.

Harry Hoffman together with his daughter Susan and Professor Hanoch Gutfreund and a cohort of students from the Harry and Sylvia Hoffman Leadership and Responsibility Program.

Harry, Sylvia and Sue Hoffman with the 2019 Graduates of the Harry and Sylvia Hoffman Leadership and Responsibility Program.

L/R Michael Dunkel (AUSTFHU President), Sylvia Hoffman AM, Harry Hoffman AM, Rob Schneider (AUSTFHU CEO), Peter Winterton AM (AUSTFHU WA State President) at a dinner in 2019 honouring Harry and Sylvia Hoffman for their contributions to the Hebrew University.

L/R Professor Menachem Magidor (then President of the Hebrew University) together with Harry and Sylvia Hoffman in 2007 when the launch of the Harry and Sylvia Hoffman Leadership and Responsibility Program took place.