Reut's+I-Face+Project

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Professor Aumann
By: Reut Rosen

=** Rationale **=

The person who can represent Israel, in the best way, is somebody which is very much part of the country as will as part of the people who live here, mainly the Jews. The first person who I could think of, is my grandfather, Professor Aumann the Nobel prize laureate in Economics 2005 for his development of game theory.

I picked Professor Aumann because he really is a very interesting person, extremely intelligent, religious, friendly, caring, and fun to be with. When he was awarded the Nobel prize one of the most important things for him was to go to the ceremony in Sweden as a Jew and Israeli. The first thing the Professor checked when the phone call came from Stockholm was what to do about Shabbat & Koshrut. As in all Israel state functions for the Jewish State this too had to conform to our particular laws. In addition, the Professor made sure to identify himself as an Israeli with his flags, flying over the Grand Hotel and in his suit lapel.

It was very important to Professor Aumann to bring his whole family, including children and their spouses, grandchildren, and even great grandchildren to the ceremonies in Stockholm because Professor Aumann wanted the whole of Israel, well, as many as was practical to be part of the happiness. Israel as a whole is like one big family, when there is a national emergency, everyone is worried, so when there is happiness, according to Prof. Aumann, all can also take pride.

=** Profile: Professor Aumann**= Written by: Reut Rosen

Professor Aumann was born in Frankfurt Germany in 1930. He lived there until the age of 8, and then just a month before lel habdolch he escaped with his parents and brother to the U.S.A. In the U.S.A. my grandfather, Professor Aumann, got his PhD. in the University of M.I.T in mathematics at the age of 25. During this time my grandfather met my grandmother and they got marred in the U.S.A. Shortly thereafter my grandfather and grandmother made aliyah and came to Jerusalem, Israel. In Jerusalem my grandfather Professor Aumann started to work in the Hebrew University and my grandparents had five children. The oldest was killed in the Shalom for the Galilee war in 1982. The rest of his children are all married with families and live in Jerusalem; all within walking distance of my grandfather. Two years ago, in the year 2005, when the Professor was aged 75, he received the Nobel prize for his work in Game Theory a branch of Mathematical Economics. Today two years later Grandfather is 77 and still works everyday at the Hebrew University.

The Professor has 19 grandchildren and three great grandchildren. He loves hiking in Israel and all around the would and also skiing. For the past 25 years he didn't miss one winter of skiing.

My grandfather is very pro-Israel in fact two years ago when he received the Nobel prize it was a very outstanding Kiddush HaShem that he did. First of all my grandfather is a religious Jew and as result of that quite a few things were changed making sure everything was kosher and no violations of Shabbat or Shatnez. It was very important to Professor Aumann to bring his whole family, including children and their spouses, grandchildren, and even great grandchildren to the ceremonies in Stockholm because Professor Aumann wanted the whole of Israel, well, as many as was practical to be part of the happiness. Every meal and reception included kosher food for us and as you know it is not easy at all to find neither ingredients nor enough knowledgeable cooks. Even in the royal banquet we had kosher food (which was very tasty) served on new dishes, new gilded ware, and new crystal. They actually had waiters bring to the table for us to wash our hands before eating bread. All this was because it is very important for my grandfather that everything will be k'halacha no matter what it takes.

As I said it was very important for my grandfather to show that he is very Zionist and that the halacha is the most important thing for him. In grandfather's toast to the Swedish King at the Nobel banquet he gave the bracha “hatov vhamaitiv”. And explained all about it, in the end of his bracha we all loudly said “amen” and everyone could see how good and happy a family we are, and even more then that, how good and proper the nation of the Jews is.

Another very remarkable thing about my grandfather, which is somewhat unusual, is that even though his son was killed in action, grandfather still, very much, supports the IDF. My uncle, Shlomo, h”yd, was killed in the Shalom for the Galilee war in 1982. He was married, had a baby son, and his wife was pregnant 4 months. He said my whole platoon is going how can I not go with them. That sense of duty that the Professor impressed upon Shlomo, z”l, he has given over to all his children and grandchildren. Serving the nation in the IDF and Sherut Leumi without exception or doubt is the standard Aumann way; “Obviously your best and favorite knife in the kitchen is always the one to be nicked first -- precisely because it is your best and favorite tool; so too in life, but to sit in the back [of the drawer] and get rusty without ever being used only to be taken out to throw away is even worse.” That Israel is so important, my grandfather will commit to the nation his most prized possessions and no matter what it takes my grandfather is committed to do and/or use it.

I really think that Professor Aumman is one of the best people to show the face of Israel. Whichever way one looks at my grandfather he can only see and learn, good and interesting things. His knowledge of Torah, his vast experiences, and his straight forward manner shows one of the best faces of Israel. If it is in the small daily things as learning Torah or having discussions with someone about our beautiful country, or in the bigger things like giving lectures about, and for, Israel, Professor Aumann always does it in a Kiddush HaShem way. He has always been like that and during the Nobel Festivities week in Stockholm everybody saw. = = = Background Research: =

One of the reasons Prof. Aumann got the Nobel prize was his thinking about the problem of war and peace in the same way that people deal with cancer. If one has cancer, G-d forbid, what should she do? Surgery? Radiation? Chemotherapy? Which chemotherapy? How much radiation? Do you cut out the lymph nodes? A combination of the above three? etc. For these questions there are doctors that treat knowing the clinical tests and statistics; however there are other doctors in research that don't do any of that on the contrary they make cells have cancer and try to figure out what exactly makes the cancer happen and from studying that can build up a whole set of facts and actually see what exactly can be done to prevent the cancer. My grandfather believes that war should be studied like a researcher in cancer seeing what is it exactly that cause wars to happen and then prevent them. In the world today there are many wars: between India–Pakistan, North–South Ireland, various African wars, Balkan wars, Russia–Chechnya, Israel–Arab, etc. The diplomats try and treat these wars as doctors treat cancer, on a one-one basis but research should also look into how and why wars start, what are the incentives, the economic - rational factors that bring war. Once people really know the reasons for war, and until it is studied in depth people make all kinds of guesses often times guessing wrong and actually making a war continue longer than it would otherwise, there can be no rational, economic incentives against war. The subject has to be studied more in depth and using that information and plugging them in to my grandfather's repeated game principles wars can be shortened and even prevented! My grandfather's research into repeated games shows when people are over time continually interacting they come to certain predetermined outcomes. The “players” with the best information will get the best results and therefore everyone can win, that is, there will be no war worthwhile enough to fight and this can be known beforehand!

sources: [|http://www.answers.com/topic/aumann-disambiguation  [|http://www.answers.com/topic/robert-aumann<span] http://www.huji.ac.il/huji/nobel/linksE.htm http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/economics/laureates/2005/

= Literary Connection = Givat Hatachmoshet (Ammunition Hill)

It was the second morning of the war in Jerusalem. The darkness faded out in the east. We were deep in the battle over Givat Hatachmoshet. It was a fierce battle. The Jordanians were hard to crack. It was a well fortified bunker, in some stages of the battle I had only four soldiers with me. We came up there with two companies.

I never knew where the others were because the radio was with Dudik, the commander was cut off from the beginning of the battle, at that moment I was sure that everyone was killed.

It was 2:30 at night when we came through the rocks to the fields of fire and mines of Givat Hatachmoshet.

In front of fortified bunkers machine guns and cannons 100 and few guys in front of Givat Hatachmoshet.

The pillar of dawn didn’t rise yet When all the company was already covered with blood But we were there on Givat Hatachmoshet.

Because of the fences and mines we left the medics behind and we ran with no senses to Givat Hatachmoshet.

We came down to the tunnels to the holes to the cracks and to the death in the trenches of Givat Hatachmoshet.

There were no questions those who went first, just fell you really needed a lot of luck on Givat Hatachmoshet.

Those who fell were dragged to the back so they wouldn’t disturb the others passing until the next one fell on Givat Hatachmoshet.

Maybe we were lions but if you wanted to live you should not have been on Givat Hatachmoshet.

We decided to blow up their bunker with the bazooka it made a few scratches on the concrete. We then decided to blow it up with explosives. The guy at the back would throw me the packs and I would put them at the entrance to their bunker. They had a system, first they would throw a grenade, then they shot a few shots and then they would rest, so between the grenades and the shots I ran and put explosives down. I had only four meters to move because there were Jordanians all over the place. I do not know why I got the medal of honor, all I wanted was to go home quietly.

Smoke covered the hill the sun was rising in the east we were only seven, going back to the city from Givat Hatachmoshet.

And this is the story the story of trenches and bunkers the story of our brothers the men who remained twenty years old on Givat Hatachmoshet.

This song shows the beauty of Israel's people and the importance of land. This song takes place in Givat Hatachmoshet, in a war against the Jordanians. This was a very serious battle that they were fighting in. This song mentions the commander of the war, Dudik. He was separated from his troops at a very crucial time in the battle. The song conveys the soldiers' bravery and importance of defending the land of Israel. It describes the serious situation of war the soldiers were involved in. Many people were killed, and the sun didn't even rise, but yet they were still there fighting for the protection of Israel. At the end of the battle, it shows that only seven soldiers survived the war. This points out how the soldiers gave up their lives for the protection of Israel. One can see through this song that Israel's soldiers are together when they are fighting for the same goal, they are selfless and they take their duty seriously, even if it costs their lives. One can see clearly how the soldiers are together when it says, “all the company was already covered with blood
 * but we were there** on Givat Hatachmoshet.” No matter what happened in battle, the soldiers cared about each other and were together.

Through the line it shows their selflessness when it says, “and we ran with no senses to Givat Hatachmoshet.” They were ready to give up their lives, they were far from being selfish. The most important aspect for them was saving this piece of land for generations to come.

The soldiers were willing to give up their lives for the land, as it says, “we were only seven, going back to the city from Givat Hatachmoshet.” This really shows their love for the land, no matter what the cost, including death.

[| __http://www.hebrewsongs.com/?song=givathatachmoshet__] =Bibliography:=

Tehar Lev, Yoram. "Hebrewsongs.” Jewish Australia DOT COM Network, 2007. [| __http://www.hebrewsongs.com/?song=givathatachmoshet__]

"Aumann." __Wikipedia__. Wikipedia, 2007. // Answers.com // 08 Jan. 2008. [|http://www.answers.com/topic/aumann-disambiguation  

. "Robert Aumann." __AnswerNotes__. Answers Corporation, 2006. //Answers.com// 08 Jan. 2008. http://www.answers.com/topic/robert-aumann

“ Prof. Robert J. (Yisrael) Aumann Nobel Memorial Prize Winner in Economics, 2005.” The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 10 May 2006. http://www.huji.ac.il/huji/nobel/linksE.htm

“The Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel 2005.” Nobelprize.org, 06 Jan. 2008. http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/economics/laureates/2005/

= Appendix: =

**Brainstorming for your interview**
very friendly

very smart

loves going to trips

super ambitious

loves skiing -- for the last 25 years want skiing every year with some of his children

77 years old and still works at the Hebrew university

got the Nobel prize in the year 2005

made aliyah in the age of 26 1956

his son got killed in the first Lebanon war

widower and remarried

photogenic

excellent teacher

prod to live in Israel as a religious Jew

makes a wonderful Seder

great cook

Interview Questions
I left Germany at the age of eight which was only because we were lucky enough to have passports, one of the big problems was that one needed to get visas. I went with my mother to the U.S. Consulate in Frankfurt and they took us in one by one. I sat outside with my brother who was twelve and when my mother came out they called me in, alone. While I was not afraid I do look back and find it strange. First of all my command of English wasn't all that perfect although Mother did make a point of having us speak at least with her in that language but, really, what could the consul have wanted from a second grader? I guess the consul had a good humor because when he asked what I knew of the United States, specifically what was the President's name, I said Rosenfeld instead of Roosevelt!
 * What age did you leave Germany?**

It was 1955 after my 25th birthday after delivery of my Ph.D. thesis defense. I was already courting your grandmother Esther z”l, and I was going to meet the family in Jerusalem. I remember the round trip flight to Tel Aviv on EL AL cost an incredible fifteen hundred dollars which in today's terms is equivalent to about seven thousand dollars, a king's ransom, for a just starting out academic.
 * What age did you leave America?**

I think it was clear already in Frankfurt as a school boy that Israel was our ancestral home, destination of our hope and longing, and ultimately Israel, Zion, Jerusalem would be our home. The hope and prayers of our fathers was always to return to Israel and since the Roman conquest there was always a trickle of aliyah, in fact even in the parasha ha shavua of last week Yakov makes it clear even after his death his wish is to return to the land of Israel. In the original Pesach although we were destined to leave shortly after midnight, the Pharoah couldn't find Moshe to tell him to take Israel and go because Moshe was busy trying to locate Yosef's tomb and carry it also back to Eretz Yisrael.
 * When was it clear in your mind that you would make Aliyah?**

Yes and no, I really didn't have a position at the Hebrew University before I left the U.S. as a newlywed. What I had was a pretty solid feeling that my credentials and wish to work would find me a position somewhere. I had a letter in my hand granting me an interview but little else. In fact I had already thought I should come to Israel which was really on a very shaky economic footing with all the expenses of the war of Independence and the continuing huge expenditure for defense. There were new immigrants, really refugees, from the Arab countries that were still living in tent encampments along the coast and I did loose sleep over the thought of making aliyah with just a bare minimum. I had actually taken a job at the AT&T research labs in New Jersey which paid extremely well for a new graduate and I had given my word that I would start there in the autumn but all through the early summer my decision was troubling me, would I ever have enough to make aliyah? I called the recruiter with whom I had made the commitment and told him that the Jewish people had for two thousand years dreamed of returning to Israel and even if I worked there for a year or two my goal was to live in Israel, he graciously “let me off the hook.”
 * Did having a job at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem help in your decision?**

Again, yes and no. Having my wife's family there certainly was a plus but as I said the wish and hope to be in Israel was already a two thousand year dream and the destination of our prayers three times every day so aliyah was already a given.
 * Did getting married help in the Aliyah decision?**

Since I wanted to live in Zion, in Jerusalem, I suppose it really was my only choice although for many years I lectured also in Tel Aviv and even in Haifa, but I'm glad I settled in Jerusalem.
 * Was the Hebrew University your very first choice?**

Zion, Jerusalem, Eretz Yisrael is all one but if you have to physically be in only one place the heart is Jerusalem. Not only is it the place of my home rather it is the place of every Jew's home since it is the place chosen by G-d to make his home. The Temple stood here and here is it's holy remains, the Kotel being a manifestation of that holiness. From 1967 when we were able to go to the old city again and especially the Kotel area it became a weekly part of my routine. Every Friday night, for leil shabbat I would walk to the Kotel to daven there.
 * Jerusalem was very important for you to make your home?**

All my children were born, without exception, at Shaare Zedek Hospital.
 * Where were you children born, being that you had lots of overseas teaching posts as well?**

Being part of that two thousand year dream of returning to our ancestral home. Torah Yisrael, Eretz Yisrael, and Am Yisrael joined together here makes us Israel. Israel is the common demoninator in those equations. Although Torah can stand alone without the Am or the Land it is not whole, the Am without the Land is not whole and the Land without Torah is not whole; to be true we need all three: a Nation who knows where it comes from and knows how to live in it's land.
 * What is the most important part of being an Israeli?**

We have many enemies but we ourselves have to be clear what we want. Without a clear education of where we come from and how to behave we won't give clear signals to our enemies nor even our friends. This land is our home and while we respect the rights of all who live here we must be clear who is the baal ha bayit.
 * What do you think the political situation should be?**

Education is important, period. People need a basic understanding of math to get along in the grocery store and in day to day business. People need to live ethically and have an understanding of history and geography and be able to use the tools of science to think and reason clearly and communicate precisely. Higher education merely refines and probes those areas.
 * Is early education or university learning more important?**

I like to hike, period. Israel is beautiful and historic and everything is here from snow covered mountains to desert. G-d gave us a wonder and we have to experience it to love it. But we can also love the beauty G-d bestowed on other places and enjoy and protect the magnificence of the whole earth.
 * Do you like to hike more in Israel or in Europe or California or other places?**

My high school math teacher really inspired me as did some of Ramim.
 * Who amongst your teachers do you remember best?**

Rav Gustman, zt'l
 * Who amongst your rabbis do you remember best?**

More about [|Professor Aumann]. More about [|Nobel Prize]