Professor Dina Porat Appointed Chief Historian of Yad Vashem

Professor Dina Porat has been appointed Chief Historian of Yad Vashem and will assume her duties on October 1, 2011.

Professor Porat was the ITF's Academic Advisor from 2005 to 2010.

Professor Porat is currently the head of the Kantor Center for the Study of Contemporary European Jewry and the Moshe Kantor unit for the Study of Contemporary Antisemitism and Racism.  She has also served as the head of the Chaim Rosenberg School for Jewish Studies, the Department of Jewish History, and of The Stephen Roth Institute for the Study of Contemporary Anti-Semitism and Racism.  Professor Porat is incumbent to the Alfred P. Slatner Chair for the Study of Racism and anti-Semitism at Tel Aviv University, and is also a member of  Yad Vashem's Scientific Advisory Board and the Board of the International Center for Holocaust Studies.

The position of Chief Historian was previously held by Professor Dan Michman, who will be taking over as head of Yad Vashem's international research institute.  Following this change, Professor Porat was chosen to serve as Chief Historian.

Professor Porat stated, "It is a great honor to serve as the Chief Historian of Yad Vashem, that has gained itself so much acclaim worldwide.  The task entails a heavy responsibility, especially nowadays, when the third generation of both survivors and perpetrators is already at center stage, when the Holocaust might turn into a distant chapter in history, when its memory is used and sometimes abused.  It will be a pleasure to work side by side with Avner Shalev, the leader of Yad Vashem, Professor Michman, and the other members of the staff - we have been friends for many years.  It certainly will be a pleasure to stay in touch with friends in the ITF, to keep abreast of new developments in its Plenaries and committees, and to give a hand if needed."