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![[Portrait of Abraham Warshawsky]](images/Warshawsky.jpg) | by Mati Fridkin and |
Abraham joined our department in 1973, following his postdoctoral studies in South Africa. Being an expert in the field of hydrometallurgy, from the start he advocated and urged the development of novel polymeric-assisted technologies for metal ion extraction. His experience as a skilled organic chemist, coupled with high motivation and originality in both the design and execution of his ideas, soon led to his marked achievements, not only in relation to metallurgy but also to the development of most efficient methodologies of polymer impregnations and to a breakthrough in the preparation of polymeric reagents. In this regard, his contributions are of note in acylation reactions and peptide synthesis.
Abraham's work was always oriented in the direction of applied science. Being a member of the Israeli society, he felt that as a scientist he should contribute his skills and efforts to the benefit of the country. Not many at the institute shared this approach at that time, a fact that affected, to a certain extent, the advancement of his career. Eventually, and luckily, the attitude here towards applied sciences has gradually changed.
Along with his direct scientific activities, Abraham was the promoter and motivator of various most important international meetings in the field of Reactive Polymers. Among others, he was an organizer of the 3rd and 8th conferences on his subject, which were held in Israel. He was more recently the driving force behind the establishment of the Israel Society for Combinatorial Technologies (ISCT), and was elected to be its first President.
Abraham was a "father" to his students and post-doctoral fellows. Always open, friendly and with remarkable sensitivity, he listened and helped, and not necessarily in relation to scientific work. This was true with regard to his friends as well.
Yehi zikhro barukh/May his memory be blessed