Endowed Annual Events
Each year, the Department of English and American Studies organizes and sponsors guest lectures, conferences, symposia, readings, and other events, open to the TAU community and to the public at large.
Below is information of events planned for this year. Please check this website for updated information on forthcoming events.
Annual Lecture in Memory of Talma Yzraely
The annal and lecture and Fund was established to commemorate Talma Yzraely, a greatly loved and respected teacher in the English Department, who passed away in January 2003. Talma Yzraely was the founder of the composition program, responsible for instilling fresh life into it every year, and for personally looking into every detail. An inspired teacher, she passionately cared about every student and knew how to elicit the best work from everyone. For those of us who were lucky enough to know her, her name is associated with the highest standards of excellence. The prize in her name would be a great honor for any student.
Annueal Lecture and scholarship ceremony in Memory of Nadav Vardi
The annal lecture and scholarship in memory of Nadav Vardi was endowed by Nadav's parents to commoerate and celebrate Nadav's life as a promising student in the department of English. Born in 1950, Nadav Vardi's life, like that of many young Israeli men, was cut abruptly short during the Yom Kippur War. Yet even in his brief life Nadav showed himself to be a boy of great sensitivity and promise. A Sabra, Nadav felt a great love for his country: even after having spent part of his high school years in New York City where his father did post-graduate studies, he insisted on entering the army here, despite his parents' suggestion that he complete his college education in the United States. Upon conclusion of his army service, Nadav's plan was to harness his obvious talent for writing to the field of journalism. He decided, however, to first get his B.A. in English literature at Tel Aviv University. Just before the start of what would have been his third year, Nadav was called up to his tank unit for reserve duty at the outbreak of the Yom Kippur War. He was killed in action on 16 October 1973. (Based on a text written by Reeva Goldberg).
The Sheila and Yossi Carmel Fund
The Sheila Carmel Fund was established in 1987 by her late husband, Colonel (Res.) Yossi Carmel, one of the founders of the Tel Aviv University and Vice Chairman of the Board of Governors for many years, to commemorate his wife, Sheila Carmel.
The lectures take place every May and are followed by a cocktail at the Sheila and Yossi Carmel Garden at the Tel Aviv University.
The Yael Levin Writer-In-Residence Program
The Program was established to commemorate Yael Levin and her love for English literature. The Program enables the English Department to host each yeara celebrated writer of the English speaking world. During his/her stay the author will give a public lecture, address University forums, teach student workshops and meet with interested circles to share his/her work. The visit can also provide an occasion for translating this writer's work into Hebrew.
An English graduate, Yael Levin taught English for some years before embarking on a long diplomatic career. As the English language was her passion her family felt this to be a most appropriate way to commemorate her.
The Bernice Schaffer Bessin Poetry Award
Annual prizes are awarded to the best poems written by a student in the English Department. Bernice Schaffer Bessin was born in New York City on June 3, 1914. She married George Bessin in 1940 and raised two daughters, Barbara Bessin Zucker and Margaret Bessin Peppercorn. She worked as an elementary school guidance counselor in the poor sections of New York City's lower east side.
After retirement she began writing poetry. In her late 70's and 80's she taught poetry at a senior citizen center in New York, had poems published, and taught poetry to inmates at a women's correctional institute. Her own poems dealt largely with issues of family, aging, and the life cycle. They expressed her great warmth, sensitivity to issues of change and aging, her energy, and her enthusiastic love of people and of life.
