The digital age carries us into a continual transformation of the human experience. The boundaries between the digital world and the tangible world are becoming more and more blurry, shaping a new and complex reality. This reality summons poignant questions about how we perceive the world, ourselves, and our relationships. The beach scene before us is a metaphor for this experience. The calm sea, the golden sand, and the people engaged in different activities create a calm and peaceful image. But beneath the surface lies a more complex world. We notice people who are physically on the beach, but also some who are present virtually, through a photo or a social media post. The blurring of the boundaries between the digital and the concrete presents us with many challenges. We have to learn how to navigate this new world, which introduces many questions about the future of humanity.

Itai Lifshitz (b. 1994) grew up in many places, a fact that he claims has led to a mixed sense of belonging and alienation in every new environment. In his works, he explores how everyday life imagery had developed and influenced society until the twenty-first century. He is particularly interested in the relationship between people and technology, employing diverse media to reflect the complexity of our social structure. 

 

Missing My Father 

My father had a strong connection to the sea and used to visit the beach almost every day. There, he would fish, alone or with friends. When he came would home with the bounty he had caught at sea, his eyes would gleam. Every Saturday, my father and I would go to the beach together. It was a beautiful and private time for us. 

Itai Lifshitz’s work brings back memories for me. I reflect on the path of my father, who was raised in a traditional Arab society, and grew up to be a man with liberal views. He believed in women’s rights and fully supported me and my sister. Today, when I walk through the hallways of the university, steering my professional, personal, and maternal life, I realize the strength that he has given me to dream and aspire to high places.

 

Mona Khoury 

Prof. Mona Khoury is a full professor and the vice president for strategy and diversity at the Hebrew University. In 2018–2021, Prof. Khoury served as dean of the Paul Baerwald School of Social Work and Social Welfare. She is an alumna of the Israel Young Academy and of the Global Young Academy. In recent years, her research focuses on youth violence and delinquency, political violence and its correlation with religiosity, and cyberbullying. Her studies in the field of cyberbullying are conducted in Israel and in Canada. In 2023 she received the Israeli Presidential Medal of Honor.