Temple Israel of Great Neck Hosts Afeka College President Prof. Yossi Rosenwaks

On Monday, May 18, community members from across the tri-state area gathered at Temple Israel of Great Neck for a conversation with Professor Yossi Rosenwaks, the newly appointed president of Afeka Academic College of Engineering in Tel Aviv.

During the event, Rosenwaks discussed Israel’s technology and engineering sector, the resilience of Israeli higher education during wartime, and the critical role institutions like Afeka play in training the country’s next generation of engineers and innovators.

The conversation also highlighted Afeka’s unique student body, which includes one of the highest proportions of IDF reservists among Israeli academic institutions. At the height of the prolonged war following the October 7th attacks, as much as 42% of Afeka’s student body has been enlisted in reserve duty while continuing academic studies, reflecting the unique landscape of challenges that the college’s community has faced during the war.

“Israel’s technological strength begins in its classrooms and laboratories,” said Prof. Yossi Rosenwaks, president of Afeka Academic College of Engineering. “For nearly three years, many of our students have been defending the country while continuing to build its future through engineering, innovation, and research. Their resilience reflects the vital role Israeli higher education plays in strengthening both Israel’s economy and national resilience.”

Rosenwaks also discussed Afeka’s expanding focus on student mental health support and the proactive measures the college is taking to address these challenges, global academic partnerships, and the college’s new campus currently under development in south Tel Aviv. The new campus is expected to help address Israel’s growing shortage of engineers while contributing to the revitalization of an underserved area of the city.

The evening was hosted by Temple Israel of Great Neck and brought together local community leaders, supporters of Israel, and members of the technology and academic communities for a discussion on innovation, education, and Israel’s future.

In addition to his appearance at Temple Israel of Great Neck, Prof. Rosenwaks participated in a series of events across New York City during his visit to strengthen connections between Afeka, the American Jewish community, and the technology sector. His engagements included a tech founder roundtable hosted by American Friends of Afeka featuring leading entrepreneurs, investors, and alumni in the AI and engineering space; an alumni gathering at Alumni Ventures focused on Israel’s engineering challenges, the contributions of Afeka alumni abroad, and Afeka’s growing role in strengthening the country’s deep tech ecosystem; and participation in the Pioneering Israeli Science Conference alongside prominent Israeli scientists and academic leaders. Throughout the visit, Rosenwaks highlighted Afeka’s efforts to expand engineering education, foster innovation, strengthen Israel’s growing defense-tech ecosystem, and help shape the country’s next generation of technological leadership.