I'm pleased to announce that Ya'acov Ritov has accepted the position of ISDC chair. Ya'acov is replacing Yosi Rinott, who has served in this position over the last three years, during which we benefited from his wisdom and guidance.

Ya'acov Ritov is a professor at the Department of Statistics of the Hebrew University. He is an expert in Mathematical Statistics, specializing in asymptotic theory, and in particular in semi-parametric models. During the past 20 years, Prof. Ritov has published over 70 papers and monographs in statistics. He is a former chairman of the Department of Statistics and a fellow of the Institute of Mathematical Statistics. Although Ya'acov's scientific interests are somewhat remote from quantitative research of Israeli society and economy, he is indoubtly the right person to lead ISDC through this tough period of budgetary cuts. We hope that Ya'acov brings to this role considerable wisdom as well as appropriate qualities to help us fight for ISDC national institutionalization and budget, a goal I have failed to achieve so far.

Let's wish both Ya'acov and the ISDC a successful term.

A new ISDC web site was launched yesterday. As you may have noticed, it has undergone a remarkable functional improvement together with a graphical "face-lifting", making it clear-cut and even more friendly. Since the new site has the same URL as the old one, you don't have to change your [Favorites] link. However, rather than linking the decorative blue homepage which entails an extra click every time you enter the site, it is recommended to link to either the Hebrew or the English menu page.

The new site was designed by Halely Elazar, and was built by Natasha Volchkin. You are welcome to explore it and send your comments to Natasha.

Shana Tova,

Michal