From the Liveblog of
Monday, December 2, 2024
12 English-speaking immigrants honored for exceptional contributions to Israeli society
Twelve immigrants from English-speaking countries have been recognized for exceptional contributions to Israeli society at the Sylvan Adams Nefesh B’Nefesh Bonei Zion Prize ceremony in Jerusalem.
The event celebrates the winners for both 2023 and 2024, after last year’s ceremony was canceled due to the war.
The 2023 recipients include: Sally Reidman, founder and president of the Reidman College of Complementary & Integrative Medicine, in the field of Education; Prof. Carmi Z. Margolis, founding-dean of Ben Gurion University Medical School for International Health, in the field of Science and Medicine; Shari Mendes, founder and director of the Israel Lemonade Fund, in the field of Community and Non-Profit; Peter Kurz, CEO of the Israel Baseball Association and general manager, National & Olympic Teams, in the field of Culture, Arts and Sports; Lt. Colonel (Res.) Danny Grossman, chairman of CMBM-Israel, in the field of Global Impact.
The Young Leadership Prize is awarded to Emily Schrader, for her impactful work as a journalist, content creator, and human rights activist.
The Lifetime Achievement Award is presented to Dr. Yehezkel Caine, president of the Herzog Medical Center, for his lifelong commitment to advancing medicine and aeromedicine on the global stage.
The 2024 recipients include: Phyllis Heimowitz, co-founder, A Partner Left Behind – The Partners of Fallen IDF Soldiers, in the field of Community and Non-Profit; Eylon Levy, head of Israeli Citizen Spokespersons’ Office, in the field of Global Impact; Dr. Debra Gershov-West, director, Emergency Department at Samson Assuta Ashdod University Hospital, in the field of Science and Medicine and Fleur Hassan-Nahoum, special envoy for the Foreign Ministry, in the field of Israel Advocacy.
In addition, a special recognition award is presented to Natan Sharansky, Soviet human rights activist and former head of the Jewish Agency, for his lifelong dedication to Israel and world Jewry.
“The Bonei Zion Prize is an important opportunity to express our gratitude to olim who contribute in extraordinary ways to Israeli society and have led significant changes in every field they have been involved in,” says Minister of Aliyah and Integration Ofir Sofer. “These olim, each of who represents an inspiring life story, embody the spirit of Zionism and demonstrate that making aliyah is not just a personal act, but an immense contribution to the resilience and future of the State of Israel.”
