(l-r) Dr. Sharon Nazarian, Soraya Nazarian, and President Gur Alroey.

The University of Haifa recently welcomed longstanding friends, Soraya and Sharon Nazarian, to inaugurate Hole in the Heart, a powerful memorial sculpture created and generously donated by Soraya, artist, philanthropist and cherished friend of the University. Installed in the University’s Memorial Plaza on the Mount Carmel campus, the sculpture honors the lives lost during the October 7th attacks and the Swords of Iron War. Nazarian’s Hole in the Heart now stands as a poignant tribute to resilience and remembrance.

At the recently held inauguration ceremony, Prof. Naomi Havron (School of Psychological Sciences) shared a moving testimony about her family’s devastating losses in Kibbutz Be’eri. Harel Shaked, a second-year law student and reservist, spoke of his combat experiences and the pain of losing three close friends. Huda Daxa, widow of fallen Colonel Ehsan Daxa (of blessed memory), a graduate of our elite military MA programs, attended the ceremony along with other family members. She shared her late husband’s beloved character, his legacy of values, and the special bond they shared.

Prof. Dana Vashdi, Head of the School of Political Science, announced the establishment of the Fallen Heroes Scholarship Program, named scholarships in memory of the sixteen fallen students and graduates from the School (DETAILS HERE).

Soraya Nazarian is an Iranian-born, Los Angeles-based artist renowned for her stone carvings exploring themes of family, spirituality, and culture. A longtime supporter of Jewish causes and the State of Israel, Soraya, together with her late husband Younes Nazarian, z”l, has been a cherished friend of the University, contributing through scholarships and the establishment of the Younes and Soraya Nazarian Library.