Nefesh B’Nefesh Announces Recipients
of Inaugural ‘Bonei Zion’ Prize
Prizes awarded to Anglo Olim who have made a significant contribution to the State of Israel
Jerusalem, Israel, January 13, 2014 - Nefesh B’Nefesh announced today the six recipients of its newly-launched Bonei Zion Prize (www.boneizion.org.il), an award recognizing outstanding Anglo Olim - veteran and recent - who encapsulate the spirit of modern-day Zionism by contributing in a significant way towards the State of Israel.
Over 200 Olim from English-speaking countries – including Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, UK, USA and Canada - were nominated for the Nefesh B’Nefesh Bonei Zion 2014 prize. The prize recipients were chosen by a prestigious panel of committee members in the following categories: Science & Medicine; Education; Community & Non-Profit; Entrepreneurship & Technology; Culture, Sports & Art; and IDF & National Service Young Leadership. Each of the winners will be awarded with $10,000 in a special dedicated ceremony that will take place in the next two months in Jerusalem.
“It was truly inspiring to see the remarkable number of Anglo Olim who are making a significant impact on the country. The fact that the prize committee had such great difficulty choosing the winners from so many impressive candidates, is a testament to the caliber of the nominees and the immeasurable impact that Anglo Olim are making in Israel”, Rabbi Fass added.
The recipients of the 2014 Nefesh B’Nefesh Bonei Zion Prize are:
Entrepreneurship and Technology: Yosef Abramowitz (USA, 2006), CEO and Co-Founder of Energiya Global Capital and Co-Founder of the Arava Power Company. Abramowitz is a Nobel Prize-nominated educator and activist-turned-solar energy entrepreneur and the founding father of Israel’s $20 billion solar market, along with his partners David Rosenblatt of New Jersey and Ed Hofland of Kibbutz Ketura. Abramowitz is Israel’s premier solar energy pioneer, who continues to develop Israel’s solar power market while also exporting his values of clean energy. Abramowitz embodies positive and powerful Hasbara as his effort showcase Israel – and by extension the Jewish people – as a compassionate driven provider of renewable energy development for the betterment of the world.
Community and Non-Profit: Joseph Gitler (USA, 2000), Founder and Chairman of Leket Israel, a national food bank which has made a profound impact on the State of Israel and its residents by collecting food soon to be discarded from farmers, manufacturers and caterers and distributes them to the needy.
Education: Rabbanit Malke Bina (USA, 1971), Founder and Chancellor of "Matan", a revolutionary women's learning center in Israel.
Science and Medicine: Professor Jefferey Hausdorff (USA, 2000), Professor at Tel Aviv University and Director of the Neurodynamics and Gait Research Laboratory at the Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center.
Culture, Sports and Arts: Yaakov Kirschen (USA, 1972), Creator of “Dry Bones.”
IDF and National Service Young Leadership: Lt. Nira Lee (USA, 2010), Head of Hasbara at the headquarters of the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT).
Lifetime Achievement: Professor Shimon Glick (USA, 1974), Professor and Dean Emeritus of the Faculty of Health Sciences at Ben Gurion University.
About Nefesh B’Nefesh (www.nbn.org.il):
Founded in 2002, Nefesh B’Nefesh in cooperation with the Israeli government and The Jewish Agency for Israel, is dedicated to revitalizing Aliyah from North America and the UK by removing or minimizing the financial, professional, logistical and social obstacles of Aliyah. To date, Nefesh B'Nefesh has assisted over 38,000 newcomers to Israel.
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