Welcome
The Minerva Center on Intersectionality in Aging (MCIA) at the University of Haifa’s Faculty of Social Welfare and Health Sciences was founded in order to initiate an innovative, interdisciplinary, multi-method research and implementation project related to multiply marginalized old persons.
Such marginalization is a consequence of a socially constructed process including ageism, various social and health-related disadvantages, and a lack of balance between needs and rights of this population. Marginalization is manifested by intersectionality within and between, older adult immigrants, old persons with diverse sexual orientations, people with disability, experiencing lifelong abuse, and elderly criminals. The center aims to provide an evidence-based strategy utilizing research-based practice models, training programs, guidance and supervision, related to marginalized and socially excluded older populations.
The Center’s objectives are:
- To enable a better understanding of the unique aspects of social marginalization and ageism in old age and the multiple ways it is internalized by older population groups and social agencies and policy makers.
- To examine the lifelong effect of vulnerability and resilience in an intersectional context.
- To develop a comprehensive model of intersectionality for research and practice on individual, family and societal levels.
- To increase awareness, and develop and distribute knowledge, which can serve as the basis for future intervention models.
- To identify and develop a new generation of graduate students and young researchers with a broad intersectional orientation towards studying marginalization in old age.
- To examine cross-cultural similarities and differences, by adding a comparative component with German academic colleagues.
NEWS
27. 07. 2026
Prof. Tova Band-Winterstein presented a lecture exploring how Holocaust survivors perceive the finiteness of life and the enduring presence of death across the life course. The lecture was given to the professional staff of AMCHA, the Israeli Center for Mental Health and Social Support for Holocaust Survivors and the Second Generation.
Drawing on qualitative research, the presentation examined how experiences of loss and exposure to death during the Holocaust continue to shape survivors’ understanding of mortality in old age. Integrating existential, psychodynamic, and Terror Management Theory perspectives, the study highlighted the complex ways in which traumatic memories, resilience, and life meaning intersect in later life.
The findings suggest that awareness of mortality among Holocaust survivors is not solely associated with vulnerability, but also with remarkable psychological strength. While aging may reactivate traumatic memories and fears of loss, many survivors reconstruct meaning through family continuity, intergenerational legacy, Holocaust remembrance, and life review.
The research emphasizes that resilience emerges through the ongoing transformation of the self, acceptance of life’s finiteness, and the creation of enduring personal and collective meaning. These insights offer valuable implications for research and practice in gerontology, trauma, and psychosocial care for older adults.
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20. 07. 2026
Dr. Olga Solntseva presented findings from an ongoing qualitative study at the University of Haifa examining the experiences of older adults evacuated from northern Israel following the October 2023 war.
Based on in-depth interviews with older evacuees, the research explores how prolonged displacement and the return home reshaped participants’ sense of home, family relationships, resilience, and meaning in later life.
The presentation emphasized that returning home is a gradual process rather than a single event. The findings highlight the importance of daily routines, family and community support, and maintaining meaningful social roles in fostering resilience and recovery among older adults affected by prolonged displacement and armed conflict.
The study contributes to a deeper understanding of aging in the context of armed conflict and forced displacement, offering valuable insights for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers seeking to support older populations during crises and throughout the recovery process.
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30. 06. 2026
Alexandra Halbani delivered a presentation entitled “What Do We Do When There Is No Progress? Rethinking Rehabilitation in Progressive Illness and Chronic Disability” at the conference Rehabilitation for Healthy Aging: From Theory to Practice, hosted by the University of Haifa in collaboration with the Sephardic House on 30 June 2026.
Two days of rich academic content, featuring more than 20 speakers, hands-on workshops, and enriching networking opportunities—the conference, which has become an annual tradition, is dedicated this year to advancing effective rehabilitation and promoting the preservation of functional abilities and quality of life in older age.
The first day addressed a wide range of key topics, including: How much protein do older adults need? How can innovative technologies enhance rehabilitation processes? And how should professionals respond when there appears to be no progress in the management of chronic conditions?
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23. 02. 2026
Dr. Rahma Mahamid Selected to Represent Arab Academics at an Official Meeting at the President’s Residence
Dr. Rahma Mahamid was selected to represent Arab academics at an official meeting held at the President’s Residence on February 23, 2026.
During the event, Dr. Mahamid shared her personal and professional journey, highlighting her longstanding commitment to advancing the status of Arab women in academia and the public sphere. She emphasized the importance of expanding access to higher education, fostering women’s leadership, and strengthening institutional support systems that promote social mobility and help reduce social inequalities.
A central part of her presentation focused on her academic work at the Minerva Center for Research on Marginalized Populations in Old Age. She highlighted the Center’s interdisciplinary research on marginalized older populations and its contribution to advancing scientific knowledge, developing applied research infrastructure, and generating evidence-based policy recommendations that address the needs of vulnerable groups in later life.
Dr. Mahamid’s selection to represent Arab academics at this distinguished event reflects recognition of her academic excellence, public engagement, and sustained commitment to promoting inclusion, equality, and social impact through research and community leadership.
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The Minerva Center on Intersectionality in Aging (MCIA) is proud to present its two researchers: Dr. Ksenya Shulyaev and Dr. Reem Nashef-Hamuda who presented their topics at
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The Minerva Center on Intersectionality in Aging (MCIA) is glad to invite you to the conference
“Aging with Long-Term Disabilities in the Community”
- Join a day of learning, connections, and inspiration.
- Hear from leading experts about groundbreaking projects.
- Be partners in a vital and empowering discussion about the future of aging people with long term disabilities.
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The Minerva Center on Intersectionality in Aging (MCIA) is glad to invite you to the conference
“Older adults and war: Between knowledge and research, civil organizations and professional interventions”
Registration to the conference
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The Minerva Center on Intersectionality in Aging (MCIA) co-organized together with The Minerva Foundation and Goethe University of Frankfurt an international study group entitled “Older Women Living in Conflictual and War-Ridden Situations: An Intersectional Project” that was held on 9-10 December 2024 in Frankfurt, Germany.
The project is funded by the Minerva Foundation and hosted by Goethe University of Frankfurt.
The Workshop aimed to foster collaboration on future research projects and publications on this topic which emerges as significant worldwide. Participants, had the opportunity to present and discuss with colleagues their work focused on older women living in conflictual situations, explore potential collaborations, and write your contribution up in the form of a scientific article to be submitted and published as a special issue in a leading scientific journal focusing on the workshop themes.
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Call for research students
The Minerva Center on Intersectionality in Aging (MCIA) at the University of Haifa’s Faculty of Social Welfare and Health Sciences recruits degree students interested in writing a master’s thesis/doctoral thesis or in a post-doctoral track in the fields related to the health sciences, welfare and economics among the elderly, with an emphasis on the elderly who are on the margins of society, with a multi-system observation and an intersectional view. The center conducts both qualitative and quantitative studies.
Students who wish to receive more information are encouraged to send an orderly application together with an updated CV and a concise explanation of their scientific interests.
The application should be sent to the email: mcia@univ.haifa.ac.il
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We are happy to congratulate
MCIA Young Scientist
Ms. Nora Gnaim-Mwassi
On receiving the President’s Award for excellence and innovation in the field of research on “Mental Health and Resilience – Theory and Practice.”
Research Topic:
The experiences of Arab women caregivers, and the significance of caregiving at three different stages in life, with the guidance of Prof. Tova Band-Winterstein and Dr. Hila Avieli.
Prize amount: 150,000 NIS
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Announcement: Photography Exhibition Opening at The Sephardic Home for the Aged
We are delighted to invite you to the opening of a special photography exhibition titled “Granny, Tell Me a Story” at The Sephardic Home for the Aged on September 24, 2024, at 17:00. The event will take place in the Lobby “Mountain View” at Gdalyahu St 1, Haifa.
📅 Event Schedule:
- 17:00 – Exhibition Opening and Greetings
- 17:15 – Lecture: “Women Whose Voices Are Heard” by Prof. Tova Band-Winterstein, Head of the Minerva Center of Intersectionality in Aging at the University of Haifa.
We look forward to seeing you there!
On May 29-30, 2024 took place the conference “Narrative Gerontology through an intersectional lens: Research and Practice”
Conference was organized by MCIA in collaboration with Sephardic Home, Haifa
The conference examined the unique contributions of Narrative Gerontology as a paradigm for the study of aging processes and for enhancing the well-being of older adults, through systematic listening to the stories that they tell about themselves, others, and the world.
For more details visit MCIA Conferencies
MCIA Honors Seniours from Ethiopia at Sephardic House
On May 15th, the Minerva Center on Intersectionality in Aging (MCIA) hosted a celebratory event to honor a group of older adults repatriated to Israel from Ethiopia later in life. These remarkable seniors, now attending the Sephardi Home Day Center, received certificates and rewards in gratitude for their participation in MCIA’s research studies.
The MCIA extends heartfelt thanks to the administration of Sephardi House for their continuous support and collaboration. A special acknowledgment goes to Chana Gershman, head of the Day Center, whose dedication and leadership have fostered a nurturing and inclusive environment for all participants.
On March 26, 2024, a personal Board meeting took place at the Minerva Center on Intersectionality in Aging with the management of the Minerva Stiftung, dedicated to the center’s report on the work done from July 2022 to June 2023.
The meeting was attended by Dr. Lou Boulen and Prof. Ulman Lindenberger from the Minerva Stiftung, the PIs of the Minerva Center, under the direction of Prof. Tova Band-Winterstein, and the students of the Center, who talked about their current research projects.
The Center presented partial results of the research on “Visual representation of self among aging women: An intersectional perspective”.
Congratulations to Prof. Tova Band Winterstein, Prof. Zvi Eisikovits, Prof. Aviad Tur-Sinai, Prof. Israel Doron, and Dr. Ksenya Shulyaev, Dr. Abby King on receiving €30,000 to conduct an international workshop on the topic “Older Women Living in Conflictual and War-Ridden Situations: An Intersectional Project” from the Project Funds “European Research Area” of Minerva Centers.
The workshop is scheduled for December 2024 and aims to explore various research foci, including but not limited to:
- Perspectives of war and conflict across the life course of older women
- Impact of war on the physical, mental, and economic health of older women
- International humanitarian law and other legal defense modalities for older women
- Intergenerational dimensions related to war
- Media portrayal of older women in times of war
- Redefining aspects of life such as home, relationships, traditions, and belonging
A portion of this fund will be allocated to seed grants for five young scientists.
Congratulations to Prof Tova Band-Winterstein, Dr Ksenya Shulyaev and Prof. Zvi Eisikovits for acceptance their abstract for an oral presentation at the 2024 IARR conference on July 5-9, 2024 in Boston, MA, USA
https://iarrconferences.com/https://mcia.haifa.ac.il/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Flyer-Fin.jpg
On February 12,2024 MCIA research team had a fruitful meeting aimed at building collaboration with Kishorit – Home For People with Special Needs.
Kishorit was founded in 1997 on the land of Kibbutz Kishor, and it has become a vibrant, developing, and growing Galilean community.
Today, it is home to one hundred and eighty people with a variety of abilities, talents, and passions who have developmental, emotional, and mental health conditions and are defined as adults with special needs.
Together with the growing older population, the population of Kishorit become older and needs scientific support to solve practical problems.
We are happy to congratulate the winners of research grants as part of the The Faculty of Social Welfare and Health Sciences call for applied research on topics related to sword warfare.
Congratulations to Prof. Tova Band-Winterstein, Prof. Hadas Goldbalt, Dr. Pnina Dolberg, Dr. Gabriela Spector-Mersel, Reem Nashef – Hamuda
We are happy to announce that funding of 13,000 euros has been approved on behalf of the Minerva Stiftung Gesellschaft für die Forschung m.b.H for the benefit of the project:
“Visual representation of self among aging women: An intersectional perspective”.
Led by Prof. Tova Band-Winterstein, Prof. Zvi Izikowitz, Dr. Tal Dekal.
Warm congratulations to doctoral student Asmaa Msarwa, whose doctoral thesis on “Between role commitment and abusive behavior: unmarried girls caring for elderly parents in the Arab family – an intergenerational perspective” won the President’s Scholarship for Scientific Excellence and Innovation under guidance as part of the mission of the Minerva Center on Intersectionality in Ageing (MCIA).
* Call for proposals -DL June 1st
We are happy to announce the winning of a research grant for the purchase of 6 aging simulation suits and equipment
A loan on behalf of the Minerva Foundation.
As far as we know, there are no similar suits for research purposes in Israel, and we believe that these suits will make it possible to conduct innovative and advanced research.
We are happy to announce that the Minerva Center on Intersectionality in Aging has received funding of NIS 292,000 in cooperation with the Tramp Institute “Beit Izzi Shapira”.
Subject: Aging with a disability
Led by Prof. Tova Band- Winterstein, Prof. Issi Doron
The Department of Gerontology welcomes another graduate in the PhD program:
Dr. Rahma Mahamid – Rahma’s research work was on the topic: Growing old in the shadow of long-standing intimate violence in Arab society: a multigenerational female perspective.
Under the guidance of Prof. Tova Band-Winterstein
Naamat congratulates the doctoral students receiving the research grants for the year 2018.
Congratulations to our researcher Rahma Mahamid.
