Donors

The Esther and Herbert  Hecht Sustainable Protein Research Center (HSPRC) was established thanks to a transformative gift made in memory of Esther and Herbert Hecht of Beverly Hills, California. Their sons, Barry Hecht and Myron Hecht, made the donation to honor their late parents’ legacy and commitment to science and innovation.

Herbert Hecht (1922–2020), born in Frankfurt, Germany, immigrated to the U.S., served in the U.S. Army, and received an education in engineering, eventually distinguishing himself as a world-leading expert in the areas of computer reliability and systems reliability. He also taught in the Technion’s Faculty of Industrial Engineering. Esther Hecht (1925–2023), born in Moscow, Russia, likewise immigrated to the U.S., pursued an education in social work, and enjoyed a career as a clinical social worker. Among her greatest achievements was bringing three generations of her family from the former Soviet Union to Los Angeles.

The Hechts’ extraordinary lives were marked by their vigorous dedication to the Jewish faith, their enduring belief in the importance of family, and their personal ethic of hard work and perseverance.

Alongside the Hecht family’s principal gift, significant contributions from the Estate of Stephen Grand and from Irwin and Sara Tauben played a vital role in boosting the Center’s activities.

In total, the Center has so far received nearly $11 million in philanthropic support. Together, our generous donors are helping to shape the future of sustainable protein research.

Their support enables the Center to acquire state-of-the-art equipment, sustain research activities, host international conferences, fund fellowships for students and postdoctoral researchers, and award seed grants that foster interdisciplinary collaboration across the Technion.