ISRAEL’S PRESIDENT RIVLIN EXPRESSES STRONG SUPPORT FOR RECENTLY LAUNCHED JERUSALEM UNITY PRIZE
Prize Founded in Memory of Eyal, Gilad and Naftali to Award Unity Initiatives in Israel and the Diaspora
JERUSALEM, Jan. 16 — Israel’s President Reuven Rivlin expressed strong support this week for the recent launch of the Jerusalem Unity Prize in memory of Eyal Yifrach, Gilad Shaer and Naftali Fraenkel, the Israeli teens kidnapped and murdered by Hamas in the West Bank last year. Rivlin met the families of the teens this week, in a ceremony with Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat, who was the main force behind the initiative.
The prize was conceived in partnership with the families of the three boys and the Jerusalem-based organization Gesher as a way to perpetuate the spirit of unity across Israel and around the world during the days following the boys’ kidnapping.
“In the shadow of the events of last summer, and inspired by that spirit of mutual responsibility which we witnessed, we must continue to encourage all those working to maintain and strengthen that sense, that feeling, of unity and commitment,” President Rivlin said at the ceremony. “The Jerusalem Unity Prize reminds us what is acceptable, what is desired, what is appropriate. In awarding this prize, we want to embolden and amplify the positive voices in our society, and focus on the good.”
Barkat added that “out of the intense pain of the boys’ tragic deaths came remarkable unity in large part due to the strength and leadership exhibited by these three families. We know that unity is a central value in our identity as a people and this prize will afford us the chance to advance these ideals across Israel and around the world.”
The fathers of the three boys also spoke at the event. Avi Fraenkel, father of Naftali, said that he recalled his previous visit to the president’s residence immediately following the kidnapping, when their fate remained unknown. “During those days we gained enormous strength from the knowledge that people all around the globe were with us,” he said. “Today we have returned here to ensure that that spirit of unity is preserved and we are confident this award will serve to accomplish that goal.
Uri Yifrach, father of Eyal, said that he had no doubt that the tragedies of the boys’ death brought a sense of common bonds within the Jewish people that hadn’t been felt in many years. Ofir Shear, father of Gilad, echoed that sentiment. “We feel an obligation to ensure that the personal pain that we have experienced be channeled for the betterment of people all over the world and that is what we all hope this prize will accomplish,” he said.
The Jerusalem Unity Prize will be presented in three separate categories, each with prizes of up to NIS100,000. Winners will be chosen from a committee chaired by the mayor, the parents of the three boys and dignitaries from Israel and the Diaspora.
The first category is Individuals or Organizations. This award will be presented to individuals, entities or organizations who prove that they have worked in an exemplary manner to advance Jewish unity over an extended period of time.
The second category is Social Initiatives. This award will be presented to individual visionaries or groups of visionaries who have advanced social programs that challenge the problem of dis-unity within the greater Jewish community.
The final category is Israel and the Diaspora. This award will be presented to individuals or groups who have successfully advanced programs that better unite the Diaspora with the land and people of Israel.
“Our goal is to transform the concept of unity from an abstract idea to real life action,” said Anat Schwarz Weil, director of the initiative. “Despite all that they have been through, these families have become the embodiment of the importance and strength of Jewish unity. This idealism rooted in action makes the families the perfect ambassadors to carry this message of unity to Israel and the world.”
In addition to the prize, a special Unity Day is being planned for June 3 in Jerusalem, where the awards will be presented alongside programming to promote unity initiatives. The event is being held on the first anniversary of the boys’ deaths. The Jerusalem Unity Prize and Unity Day are being made possible thanks to the support of Ira and Ingeborg Rennert, Jay and Jeanie Schottenstein, Robert andAmy Book, David and Sarena Koschitzky and the UJA-Federation of New York.
Eric. S. Goldstein, CEO, UJA-Federation of New York said: “UJA-Federation of New York is honored to support the Jerusalem Unity Prize, which seeks to harness and perpetuate the unprecedented level of unity expressed in Israel and in Jewish communities across the globe after the tragic events of last summer. This initiative is distinguished in its goal of promoting mutual respect to strengthen the bonds that unite us as a people.”
