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Reuven's Eyes

December 23, 2020
by Mihal Ronen
When Reuven spoke, I felt that he was speaking WITH me and not TO me, though he would certainly have had the prerogative.  Eye contact and deep listening connected to a true and real curiosity about me, my thoughts, wonderings, and aspirations.  It was clear that this was a habit of generosity that came naturally to him. Not to say that such listening doesn't take effort; we all know it does.  But it was an effort to understand and connect that was Reuven's natural way of communicating with others. Reuven's warmth was a model for us to emulate, in taking conversations slowly and never perfunctorily.  His eyes were not just shining and focused; they were mirrors to those on whom he gazed.  

When Erella passed

December 8, 2020
by Michal Lipson
I  wanted to share a personal memory of Reuven that, to me, seemed really representative of the kind of person he was.  I remember when your mother passed, a lot of us came to your house during the days of mourning (I'm not sure what the exact Jewish ritual was).  Even though he was clearly very upset about the passing of your mom, what struck me is that he was still overwhelmingly grateful to all of the people that came to comfort and support both of you.  He was especially accepting when I requested to join in one of the prayer hymn/songs.  I remember feeling very moved and inspired by his gratitude in the midst of personal suffering.
I know these must be difficult times for you, but many of the lives you have both touched are here for you.
Always wishing you the best,
   -Kevin Luke (alumni of Michal's group)

Death note of Professor Emeritus Reuven Opher - University of Sao Paulo

December 8, 2020
by Michal Lipson
Death note of Professor Emeritus Reuven Opher
Published on 28/11/2020 : Institutional
It is with great regret that we learned of the death of our colleague Prof. Reuven Opher this morning.
Prof. Opher graduated in Physics from City University in New York, USA, in 1953 and received his PhD in nuclear physics from Harvard University in 1958. After working for 20 years, between 1962 and 1982, as a professor at the prestigious Institute of Technology of Israel (Technion), where he came to the position of Full Professor, he transferred to the University of São Paulo, working at the IAG until his compulsory retirement in 2002. After retirement, Prof. Opher immediately joined the Senior Professor program and continued to work at IAG until 2014.
At IAG, Prof. Opher was the creator of the entire area of research in astrophysical plasmas, magnetohydrodynamics and turbulence, an area in which he supervised many postgraduate studies, as well as working in the fields of cosmology and studies of the early universe. Here at IAG, he supervised 13 doctoral theses and 3 master's dissertations. Its IAG alumni are currently dispersed in different institutions in Brazil (including the IAG itself) and abroad.
 In his long professional career of more than 60 uninterrupted years of activity, Prof. Opher published hundreds of articles. He was the creator of the conference series Nova Physics in Space (since 2002) and Challenges of New Physics in Space (since 2008), which have marked our community.
The enthusiasm of Prof. When Opher discussed science, proposing new and original ideas, he will always be remembered.

Reuven, my brother in-law

December 7, 2020
by Michal Lipson
I met Reuven when I was a little girl, aged 7 or 8. He would come to pick my sister up for a date, and, of course, he had to wait quite a while until she was ready. He would spend the time watching cartoons on television, totally absorbed and enjoying every minute. Later, when we were all in Israel, Dubi spoke with him more than I did. They would sit together making great plans to change the world of science. The first real conversations I had with him were during the past few years when he came to Israel and stayed with us. I found the same naïve, almost childlike, capacity to take pleasure in whatever he was doing, and an amazing enthusiasm to learn anything new, whatever the context or field, which is so unusual in people our age.

I hope it helps you a little to hear about the impression your father made on so many people.



Love and hugs,

Sara & Dubi

Our first meeting with Reuven

December 7, 2020
by Michal Lipson
Our first meeting with Reuven is a short story in and of itself.  Linda Cunningham, a sculptor who once taught at Franklin and Marshall College (of which I am an alumnus) spent time in Berlin on a Fulbright grant during the time that I headed the American Embassy Office there in the 1990s.   We became friendly and have remained in touch.  Linda invited us to an exhibition opening in Bushwick about four years ago and introduced Carol and me to Sarah, a former colleague at F and M, and Reuven.   We all clicked immediately and Reuven invited me to join the cosmology group he was then forming.   We met once a month over lunch in a private room in a midtown Irish bar.   Although I had no real scientific background, I was interested in the subject, but approached it with some trepidation.  Reuven assured me and several others that this was a class for amateurs, no math or science  required.
Sarah and several other poets did a delightful reading one evening at the Cornelia Street Cafe and we were so glad to meet them again.   Shortly thereafter we had dinner in each other's homes and  our friendship was cemented.   Reuven loved Sarah's poetry and even read one of her poems about cosmology to our group.   He was also very proud of you and Merav and occasionally gave us a glimpse into your work.  
I marveled at Reuven's endless curiosity,  enthusiasm and energy level.  He had a long and very distinguished career and could easily have rested on his laurels; but that was clearly not for him.   He loved teaching and was brilliant in explaining to non-scientists concepts and realities which are at the edge of the universe (and of our ability to fathom).    Reuven loved his students as much as the subject.  Each class began with introductions and catch up on what we had each been doing.  Then Reuven would launch into the daily subject with.  "Well, it just so happens that . . .  , "  and we were off.  He encouraged interruptions and questions, even  as he was a great lecturer.     He appreciated the difficulty of the material and often said he would repeat something 100 times, hoping we might finally then get it.   
He opened new vistas for me and I now read about subjects I had not previously considered - the big bang, time-space, Einstein, gravitational waves and related topics.   He cared about and deeply understood the big questions of the universe and got all of us, his students,  to think about them.
On a personal level, Reuven changed my life.   I retired shortly before we met, following a career in diplomacy and a second career in the non-profit world.  While so much was shut down during the time of covid, Reuven adapted and made his monthly session weekly.  With some technical assistance on zoom, his Friday class was a highlight of my week these past eight months.   
I loved him, miss him and talk about him every day. 
Joel Levy, NYC

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