Dr. Joseph Ciechanover 1933 – 2024
The Technion community joins with Distinguished Professor Aaron Ciechanover of the Technion Rappaport Faculty of Medicine in mourning the passing of his brother, Dr. Joseph Ciechanover.
In 2017, the Technion awarded Dr. Ciechanover an honorary doctorate “in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the international standing of the State of Israel; in recognition of his many and varied achievements as a jurist, economist and statesman; and as a sign of gratitude for his longstanding support for the Technion and its students as chair of the Dr Jacob Isler Foundation”. Distinguished Professor Aaron Ciechanover spoke at the honorary doctorate ceremony and said, “Words cannot describe my brother’s work on behalf of the State of Israel, and I too owe him so much. We lost our parents when I was a young boy, and Yossi [Joseph], who was 14 years my senior, supported me along every step of the way ever since. He brought me to where I am today. Without him, I would not be standing here before you.”
Dr Ciechanover was a diplomat, businessman and entrepreneur. He served as director general of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was part of the team that negotiated the peace accord with Egypt, worked as the defense establishment legal advisor, and was chair of the board of directors of El Al. In 2021 he was awarded the Israel Prize for Lifetime Achievement — special contribution to the state and Israeli society — “for his significant contribution to the State over many years in numerous areas of public life, the economy, security, diplomacy and jurisprudence — both within the public service and outside of it.”
May his memory be a blessing.