Afeka College believes that engineering is a passion: to explore, to discover, to think differently, and to enable future engineers to lead change for all of society.

As part of this philosophy, Afeka instituted a new tradition in 2015 marking 20 years of engineering: The Afeka Honorary Fellowship, granted to prominent leaders in their field who have made significant contributions to science, technological progress, the country, or society, and who empower and inspire the college and our students.

Honorary fellows are elected annually by the Afeka Honorary Titles Committee, chaired by the college president. The honor is granted each year at Afeka’s graduation ceremony.

This year, the Afeka Honorary Titles Committee chose to elect four IDF officers who made remarkable contributions to the security of Israel during their service in the "Iron Swords" war while demonstrating exceptional values of selflessness, loyalty, personal example and leadership:

  • Lt. Col. Revital Barzani Commander of the Israeli Air Force 66th Battalion

    In recognition of her pioneering and inspirational leadership as a commander of an air defense battalion during the Iron Swords War, for exemplifying exceptional initiative and guiding skilled operators in critical air defense missions while upholding the highest standards of excellence, and for her significant contribution to the security of the State of Israel.

    In recognition of her pioneering and inspirational leadership as a com…

  • Lt. Col. (res.) Erez Saadon, Commander of the 'Phoenix' Armored Unit

    In recognition of his exceptional work demonstrating innovative problem-solving skills and creative use of technologies, significantly enhancing armored combat capabilities, for his visionary leadership in establishing and commanding the ‘Phoenix’ reserve unit during the Iron Swords War, and for his invaluable contribution to the security of the State of Israel.

    In recognition of his exceptional work demonstrating innovative proble…

  • Lt. Col. Avishag Sabag Reuven, Head of the IDF Reserves Planning Division

    In recognition of her exemplary work during the Iron Swords War, demonstrating exceptional leadership and management skills in organizing the largest reserve mobilization in the country’s history, for being an inspiring motivator and leader during crisis, and for her outstanding contribution to the security of the State of Israel.

    In recognition of her exemplary work during the Iron Swords War, demon…

  • Col. Benny Aharon, Commander of the 401st Brigade

    In recognition of his extraordinary actions during the Iron Swords War - his unwavering fortitude, initiative, leadership, determination, and heroism, which exemplify the exceptional human spirit of our nation, for serving as a beacon of inspiration to the younger generation, and for his profound contribution to the security of the State of Israel.

    In recognition of his extraordinary actions during the Iron Swords War…

Afeka’s Honorary Fellows include

  • 2022 - Dr. Erel Margalit, founder and chairman of the JVP fund and Margalit Startup City

    In recognition of his work combining high tech, entrepreneurship, and active social involvement, his contribution to implementing this worldview among students in the education system, and serving as a source of empowerment and inspiration for engineering students.

    In recognition of his work combining high tech, entrepreneurship, and active social involvement, his contribution to implementing this worldview among students in the education system, and serving as a source of empowerment and inspiration for engineering students.

  • 2022 - Ms. Nina Weiner – Cofounder and honorary chairman of the ISEF foundation

    In recognition of her work providing thousands of academic scholarships to students across the country, guiding and supporting them during their studies in Israel and abroad, and her contribution to social mobility, promoting equal opportunity in education, and reducing social inequality in Israel.

    In recognition of her work providing thousands of academic scholarships to students across the country, guiding and supporting them during their studies in Israel and abroad, and her contribution to social mobility, promoting equal opportunity in education, and reducing social inequality in Israel.

  • 2021 - Mr. Dadi Perlmutter, social and technological entrepreneur, Chair of the government’s Committee on Human Capital in high-tech

    In recognition of his work as a pioneer in the Israeli high-tech industry, for inspiring the younger generation, and for his contribution to developing skilled human capital.

    In recognition of his work as a pioneer in the Israeli high-tech indus…

  • CPA Sami Saadi, founder and co-CEO of the Tsofen nonprofit

    In recognition of his work toward significantly increasing the number of Arab engineers in high tech, and his contribution to building a high-tech industry within Arab society.

    In recognition of his work toward significantly increasing the number…

  • 2020- Prof. Ran Balicer, Founding Director of the Clalit Research Institute, Chief Innovation Officer at Clalit Health Services, , and chair of the National Expert Advisory Team on Covid-19 response

    In recognition of his contribution to controlling the coronavirus pandemic in Israel.

    In recognition of his contribution to controlling the coronavirus pand…

  • 2019 - Prof. Yossi Matias, Vice President of Engineering at Google, Search & AI and Founding Managing Director of Google’s Israeli R&D Center

    In recognition of his contribution as a leading entrepreneur with a global vision and level of execution that promote multidisciplinary technological innovation and industry-academia relations.

    In recognition of his contribution as a leading entrepreneur with a gl…

  • 2018 - Unit 8200

    In recognition of its contribution to the training of exceptional human capital, and to the growth and positioning of the State of Israel as the start-up nation.

    In recognition of its contribution to the training of exceptional huma…

  • 2017 - Mr. Uri Levine, serial entrepreneur and a founder of Waze

    In recognition of his being a leading entrepreneur whose achievements have led to significant change and have affected the lives of many.

    In recognition of his being a leading entrepreneur whose achievements…

  • 2016 - Prof. Ruth Arnon, former President of the Israel Academy of Sciences and laureate of the Israel Prize in medicine

    In recognition of her accomplishments in the field of science and for her role as a leader and visionary in the application of science for the benefit of society.

    In recognition of her accomplishments in the field of science and for…

  • 2016 - Dr. Kira Radinsky, computer scientist and high-tech entrepreneur

    In recognition of her achievement as a leading and inspiring entrepreneur employing advanced technologies for the benefit of society.

    In recognition of her achievement as a leading and inspiring entrepren…

  • 2015 - Mr. Shimon Peres (OBM), ninth president of Israel

    In recognition of his longstanding contribution to our country and society, and his leadership in applying science and technology to the benefit of the State of Israel.

    In recognition of his longstanding contribution to our country and soc…