The Israel Awards ceremony for the year 2024 was held this evening (Tuesday) in the city of Sderot without the presence of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu. At the ceremony, Israel Awards for special contributions in various fields were awarded to 15 brides and grooms. The ceremony was held with the participation of the President of the State Yitzhak Herzog, the Minister of Education Yoav Kish, Speaker of the Knesset Amir Ohana, Supreme Court President Uzi Fogelman, Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Leon and Mayor of the host city Alon Davidi.
For the first time in the history of the award, the Israel Awards were given in the field of revival – a special recognition to the Israeli citizens who demonstrated exceptional courage and bravery, gave us hope, inspired us and made a significant contribution to the revival from the terrible disaster that befell us on October 7.
After the storms that preceded the ceremony, businessman Eyal Waldman received the Israel Prize in the field of entrepreneurship and technological news from the Minister of Education Kish. In the shadow of the fear of a protest at the ceremony, followed by Waldman’s clarification that he would not use the ceremony to express a protest, the two shook hands and even had a dense conversation lasting several seconds.
Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef, whose election caused outrage in the shadow of his statement during the war that if the ultra-orthodox were forced to enlist – they would fly abroad, received the Israel Prize in the field of Torah literature and Hebrew law. Petitions against his winning the prize were rejected by the judges of the High Court.
Kish spoke at the beginning of the ceremony and said: “In these complex days, it is difficult to give awards and celebrate. Therefore, we chose to focus this year on the Israel Prize for revival, civic heroism and mutual guarantee. The national strength of the State of Israel is not based only on tanks, planes and bombs. It is based on the spirit of heroism, The love of man and the country, for breakthrough inventions and research, for culture and art and for the life’s works of the individual for the sake of the nation.”
Kish added that “the Israel Prize ceremony is being hosted today here in the city of Sderot, under the heavy shadow of the events of October 7. The wounds of the massacre have not yet healed, tens of thousands have been evacuated from their homes, 132 abductees are still being held captive by Hamas, and at these very moments our soldiers are fighting and unfortunately some of them are also handing over the Their souls are for the defense of the homeland.
“Our nation has always seen education as a central foundation of its existence, which stands on two legs – education for excellence on the one hand, and education for values on the other. The winners of tonight’s awards embody these two legs, on which our education is founded – excellence and values. After such a polarized year, after that we almost degenerated into a civil war, since October 7 we have seen the people of Israel at their best.”
Kish added: “We saw manifestations of mutual guarantee, mutual help, people who went out to save their brothers, without checking whether they were wearing a kippah or a hat, whether they voted right or left, without asking whether they participated in a protest, whether they demonstrated for or against the government. Without any question They left the settlement, ran into the fire, risked their lives to save lives, to say ‘My brother I am asking for.’
15 brides and grooms of Israel Awards for the year 2018:
Israel Lifetime Achievement Awards
▪️ Winner of the Israel Lifetime Achievement Award: Moshe Adri
▪️ Israel Lifetime Achievement Award winner: the late Edna Soloder
The Israel Prize in the field of revival
▪️ Winners of the Israel Prize in the field of civil heroism (accomplishment partners): Menachem Clemanzon and Ithiel Zohar (“Elchanan Team”)
▪️ Israel Prize Winner in the field of mutual guarantee: Dr. Kochav Elkayam Levy
▪️ Winner of the Israel Prize in the field of mutual guarantee: Dr. Chen Kugel
▪️ Winner of the Israel Prize in Psychology Research: Prof. Gershon Ben Shahar
▪️ Winner of the Israel Prize in Life Sciences Research: Prof. Hagi Bergman
▪️ Winner of the Israel Prize for Entrepreneurship and Technological Innovation: Eyal Waldman
▪️ Winner of the Israel Prize in Torah Literature and Hebrew Law: the first to be awarded the Chief Rabbi of Israel, Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef
▪️ Winner of the Israel Prize in mathematics research, computer science, computer engineering: Prof. Vitali Milman
▪️ Winner of the Israel Prize in Economic Research, Statistics Research: Prof. Yaakov Ritov
▪️ Winner of the Israel Prize in the field of outstanding athletes: Mickey Berkovich
▪️ Winner of the Israel Prize in the field of communication and visual communication: Shlomo Nikadimon
▪️ Winner of the Israel Prize in the field of physics research: Professor Zvi Maza
Following the Iron Swords War, a new category was added this year: “The Israel Prize in the field of revival”. Initially, Education Minister Yoav Kish decided to reduce the ceremony this year and leave only the winners in the revival category, but after public pressure he withdrew. Also, a petition was submitted to the High Court against the intention to award the Peres Israel to the Chief Rabbi of Israel and the first Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef, but the Supreme Court rejected the petition.
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