Dr. Judith Heldman

1944-2023

The Department of Biomolecular Science regrets to announce the passing away of Dr. Judith Heldman - a former distinguished member of our department. We send our sincere condolences to the family.

Remembering my old and dear friend, Judith Heldman – David Mirelman

In her early days, Judith studied and was engaged in biochemical research with Professors Avram Hershko (Nobel Laureate) and Jacob Mager at the Hadassah Medical School in Jerusalem . She then spent two years at the NIH in the lab of Nobel Laureate, Julius Axelrod.

I got to know Judith after she arrived in 1978 at the Weizmann Institute to work with Dr. Avner Rotman. After a short period, she moved to work with Prof. Doron Lancet in the Ullman building on the identification of human receptors for smell molecules and was one of the co-authors in a number of important scientific publications which deciphered the molecular mechanisms of smell.

Judith’s husband, Dr. Eli Heldman, who was a leading scientist at the Israel Institute for Biological Research, took a sabbatical to work at the NIH. Judith and her children accompanied him and she also became engaged in research at the NIH in the lab of Prof. Harvey Pollard.

1989, Prof. Ephraim Katzir offered Judith a position to serve as his right hand in his lab. At his request, Judith helped him with the writing of his scientific publications and also endlessly researched and edited Prof. Katzir’s comprehensive autobiography. Prof. Katzir had a lot of appreciation for Judith’s contributions and he kindly acknowledged her in his book.

Judith’s office was in the Ullman building, in the same 2nd floor corridor as mine and since we both always came to work very early, we used to meet and have wonderful private conversations on scientific issues and shared stories. Judith was a human dynamo with lots of energy, there wasn’t a book she didn’t read, an art gallery she didn’t see and she never missed a music concert. Judith was also a great cook, always hosting unforgettable dinners for dozens of her close friends and with them, also regularly toured some of the most exotic places of the world. We will always remember the beautiful 2019 cruise we had together to cross the Panama Canal, which was one of her unfulfilled dreams.

In 2007 Judith was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent surgery and severe anti-cancer treatments. For over 10 years she remained symptom-free until it relapsed. She never flinched and with a lot of courage and with family and lots of friends support, she fought with all her might and at the same time, continued to fully enjoy her life. We all very much miss her.

Remembering Judith Heldman – Prof. Doron Lancet

Judith was unbelievably friendly. Not only within the group but also everywhere on campus. She knew a lot about many people and became a close friend to dozens of scientists and their families, She was fluent in all that relates to culture, books, theater, music, and art. Miriam recalled an occasion in which she had two tickets for a Mozart concert and could not find a partner. On this evening Judith landed from a trip abroad and traveled directly to the concert hall to join Miriam. This broad mindedness paved the way to her later employment at the Weizmann in the Levinson Visitors Center. When Judith’s disease was first diagnosed, she began to assist other afflicted families, e.g. Yoram and Daniela Salomon.  She also devoted time and effort to lone soldiers.  She never ceased nurturing friendship, even late into her illness. As Zvi Bentwich, Professor of Immunology and AIDS researcher, said in his lamentation, she fought like a lioness till the last days.

Papers that Judith participated in writing on deciphering the molecular mechanisms of smell »