Arison ESG Center launch event

The Arison Center for ESG (Environment, Social, Governance) is the first practical academic center of its kind in Israel, whose main role is to lead and integrate the discourse that tightens the relationship between "Company" and "Society" in Israel, and the role of the business sector as a central element in civil society, and in the restoration and building of a fairer society and culture.

Prof. Uriel Reichman, the Founding President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Reichman University: "As an academic avant-garde, we were always looking for new things. We created completely different models of academic education. Precisely today, when the State of Israel is facing difficult moments and political storms, we are working in the opposite direction, we are opening a path that speaks to optimism, faith, and the mission of social responsibility. I want to congratulate this initiative, it comes at a special time of faith, action, mutual responsibility, and joint action that has benefit for all of us."

Prof. Niron Hashai, Dean of the Arison School of Business Administration: "At the heart of the evening was the thesis that, as the capitalist system has caused many crises and problems in the world, it can and should be the one to fix them. Companies’ focus on maximizing short-term profits leads to a situation where many companies continue to make a profit, even though they harm the environment and cause social damage - this is true for polluting companies, but also for social media companies that contribute to social polarization, companies that sell unhealthy food, and much more."

Yair Avidan, Chairman of the Advisory Committee and Head of the Peer Forum, former supervisor of the banks: "We at the Center see great importance in maintaining an ongoing relationship with the industry, a relationship that will enable and contribute to the quality of its activities and the ability of the Center's influence and contribution, which hopefully will be a leader, contribute and bring value, at the level of the market, economy and society, will contribute and take part in aspects of research, teaching, innovation and practices for industry in the various sectors. Although the center is in the School of Business Administration, with the understanding that this is the initial and natural meeting point for dealing with the subject, the Center is committed to and deals with the subject in a multidisciplinary manner through the integration of all the disciplines relevant to the subject and represented at Reichman University.”

Prof. Eli Bukspan, Harry Radzyner School of Law and Joint Academic Director of the Center: “The Center is being launched the day after the 76th Independence Day of the State of Israel, during a year that has brought with it the most serious crises to Israel since its founding. The establishment of the Center at a critical juncture for Israeli society, a juncture after which there is no doubt that Israeli society is not the same as it was until now, especially sharpens the mission of the business sector, as a central element of civil society, in the restoration and building of a more decent and solidary society and culture.”

Additional speakers: David Arison, Director of Arison Investments and the Ted Arison Family Fund, Prof. Colin Mayer, Oxford University, Prof. Eli Bukspan, Harry Radzyner Law School, Julia Zohar, Founder of the Tchinat El Erez brand, Uri Levin, CEO of Tidhar Group and Dr. Michal Tzur Shalev, Co-founder and CEO.

Also participating: Shari Arison, businesswoman and philanthropist and owner of the Arison Group, Jason Arison, Chairman of the Arison Foundation, Prof. Uriel Reichman, Founding President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Reichman University, Prof. Varda Lieberman, Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Ayelet Ben Ezer Galbard, CEO and Vice President, Hanan Friedman, CEO of Leumi, Uri Waterman CEO of Shufersal, Avi Levy, CEO of Discount, Yair Levinstein, CEO of Altshuler Shaham Finances, Tamar Zandberg, former Minister for the Environment, Zvi Stepak, Meitav Dash, Ruti Russo and more.