Israeli President Moshe Katsav will receive an honorary doctorate of humane letters at Yeshiva's Chag HaSemicha on March 10th. The quadrennial event is the official graduation ceremony for Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary. Rabbi Bob Hirt, Vice President Emeritus, says that the choice of Katsav is expected to "express solidarity with the situation in Israel, strengthening students bonds [to the state]."

The first honorary doctorate to be delivered at a Chag Hasemicha, it will be conferred by Rabbi Dr. Norman Lamm, President and Rosh HaYeshiva of Yeshiva University, who will also be presiding over the graduation ceremony. Hirt indicates that Katsav is a particularly appropriate choice for the first honorary doctorate at a Chag HaSemicha because Katsav's, "own commitment to Jewish values is very distinctive, especially for a president of Israel."

Katsav will leave Israel next week for North America, visiting Mexico and Canada. On his return trip to Israel, Katsav will stop in New York, where, according to the Jewish Press, he is scheduled to meet with Kofi Annan, Secretary General of the United Nations, to discuss Iran's continued membership in the United Nations. While in New York, Katsav will appear at the Chag HaSemicha, which had been rescheduled a number of times in order to accomodate the president.

Hirt explained that Katsav's honoring will have a particular impact, as receiving a degree at the Chag HaSemicha will "not be the same as going to the graduation of an academic institution." Hirt further emphasized that he hopes that honoring Katsav will help others to "understand the contribution that [Semicha students, as] highly-trained individuals, can make...providing for a better recognition [of their value to the Jewish community]."

Over the course of his career, Katsav has served the State of Israel and the Jewish community in many capacities. After graduating from Hebrew University with a BA in economics and history, then a master's degree in education, Katsav began his career as a newspaper reporter for Yediot Aharonot. He was elected mayor of Kiryat Malachi at the age of twenty four. A member of varying committees and boards on education in the Knesset since his election to the parliamentary body in 1977, Katsav was elected president in 2000.