The annual Nefesh B'Nefesh Sylvan Adams Bonei Zion Prize ceremony to honor the English-speaking immigrants to Israel for their positive impact on Israeli society was held on Monday in Jerusalem, with some 500 people in attendance. Among the notable figures who were present: Co-Founders of Nefesh B'Nefesh Tony Gelbart and Rabbi Yehoshua Fass, as well as Margaret Adams, who represented the Adams family, the prize benefactors.
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The Lifetime Achievement Award was given to Naomi Tsur, Founder & Chair of the Jerusalem Green Fund and the Israel Urban Forum, for her exemplary work over multiple decades in promoting sustainability in Israel and throughout the world. In addition, Minister of Aliyah and Integration MK Pnina Tamano Shata received a special recognition award for her outstanding efforts and unwavering support for the entire olim community during her tenure as minister as well as throughout her public life to date.
While Sylvan Adams, a longtime benefactor of the Bonei Zion Prize, could not attend the event, he did issue a statement in which he congratulated the recipients. "These extraordinary individuals serve as leaders in their local communities, in the State of Israel, and in the worldwide Jewish community. The contributions they have made in their respective fields are truly inspiring, and it is my honor to give them the recognition they deserve. I am confident that current and future olim will continue making a positive impact on the Jewish state and the world," he said.
According to a press statement, "the 2022 recipients were chosen by a distinguished panel of committee members and represent excellence achieved in a variety of fields, including: Education; Science & Medicine; Community & Non-Profit; Global Impact; Culture, Art & Sports; Lifetime Achievement; and Young Leadership."
There is no better way to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Nefesh B'Nefesh than by recognizing the incredible olim who are continuously building the Jewish state," said Tony Gelbart, Co-Founder and Chairman of Nefesh B'Nefesh. "The Bonei Zion recipients, and all of our olim, are perfect examples of how the Zionist dream is thriving. These inspiring individuals serve as an excellent source of motivation to continue our work in facilitating Aliyah, advocating for olim, educating Jewish people around the world, and celebrating the incredible successes that the olim are continuing to achieve."
Sylvan Adams is a Canadian-born businessman, philanthropist, amateur cycling champion, and passionate Zionist Israeli. Since making Aliyah in 2015, Adams has devoted himself to serving his adopted country, as his calling card reads: "Self-appointed Ambassador at large for the State of Israel."
The 2022 Bonei Zion recipients are: Rabbi Prof. David Golinkin, President of The Schechter Institutes, Inc. and President Emeritus of The Schechter Institute of Jewish Studies, in the field of Education; Prof. Arthur I. Eidelman, Founder of the Department of Neonatology at Shaare Zedek Medical Center, in the field of Science and Medicine; Pamela and Aba Claman, Co-Founders of Thank Israeli Soldiers, in the field of Community & Non-Profit; Prof. Morris Hartstein, Founding Director of Operation Ethiopia, in the field of Global Impact; Prof. Harry Ben Zion Brand, Architect and Founder of the Israeli Planners Association, in the field of Culture, Arts, & Sports; Asher Fredman, Director for Israel at the Abraham Accords Peace Institute, for Young Leadership; Naomi Tsur, Founder & Chair of the Jerusalem Green Fund and the Israel Urban Forum, with the Lifetime Achievement Award; MK Pnina Tamano Shata, Former Minister of Aliyah and Integration, with the Special Recognition Award.
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