Mathematicians do not work in isolation. They stand in a long and time honored tradition. They write papers and (sometimes) books, they read the publications of fellow workers in the ?eld, and they meet other mathematicians at conferences all over the world. In this way, in contact with colleagues far away and nearby, from the past (via their writings) and from the present, scienti?c results are obtained whicharerecognizedasvalid.Andthat–remarkablyenough–regardlessofethnic background, political inclination or religion. In this process, some distinguished individuals play a special and striking role. They assume a position of leadership. They guide the people working with them through uncharted territory, thereby making a lasting imprint on the ?eld. So- thing which can only be accomplished through a combination of rare talents: - usually broad knowledge, unfailing intuition and a certain kind of charisma that binds people together. AllofthisispresentinIsraelGohberg,themantowhomthisbookisdedicated,on theoccasionof his 80thbirthday.This comes to the foregroundunmistakably from the contributions from those who worked with him or whose life was a?ected by him. Gohberg’sexceptionalqualitiesarealsoapparentfromthe articleswritten by himself, sometimes jointly with others, that are reproduced in this book. Among these are stories of his life, some dealing with mathematical aspects, others of a more general nature. Also included are reminiscences paying tribute to a close colleaguewho isnotamongusanymore,speechesorreviewshighlightingthework and personality of a friend or esteemed colleague, and responses to the laudatio’s connected with the several honorary degrees that were bestowed upon him.
