187 In Memoriam Professor Michael Sela (1924-2022) In March of this year, 2023, Michael would have celebrated his 99th birthday. Although he did not make it (he passed away six months earlier), he did enjoy a rich and full life of rewarding work that left its impressive mark. A life of involvement and taking a stand, a life of desire for knowledge that went beyond his professional pursuits, a life of generosity and endless giving and a life in which he was privileged to take part and be a significant partner in scientific, cultural and artistic endeavors in the State of Israel. Michael's relationship with the Rubinstein Competition began almost from the first day he met Arthur Rubinstein on his visit to Israel. This meeting led to a warm and close friendship and each time they met, after a few sentences in English, the two of them slipped into speaking Polish, which instantly brought back childhood memories. At this point, I entered Michael's life "as the wife of the President of the Weizmann Institute" and I remember the occasions on which we hosted Arthur Rubinstein and his family at our home as well as our visit to Paris as guests of Arthur and Nela who specialized in fine Polish cooking. Later, Arthur left Paris and moved to Switzerland with his partner Annabelle and our friendship grew even stronger. Needless to say, Arthur was Michael's favorite pianist, with his performances of Chopin being one of the most thrilling and exciting experiences, of which he never had enough. Throughout these years, Michael accompanied the Competition: from the time of Jascha Bistrizky, through the years of Idith Zvi's tenure, till today under the management of Ariel Cohen, both as a board member, as an avid listener who did not miss a single concert or recital and as a philanthropist taking care to ensure the continued existence of the Competition and its establishment as one of the most important piano competitions in the world. It is a great privilege for me to dedicate to Michael’s memory the final concert of the Rubinstein Competition, to which he was attached with all his soul throughout the years of its existence. Sara Sela In Memoriam Prof. Michael Sela photo by Itai Belson Weizmann Institue
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