This year, on the occasion of the 75th year of the State of Israel, it was decided to award the prize to a wide variety of 13 people active in various fields in Israel and in the Diaspora. Among the recipients: eight men, five women, one organization, two leaders from the Diaspora. The ages of the recipients range from 35-102 and they embody the diverse and vibrant Israeli and Jewish mosaic.

“Having a shared foundation is what provides stability and strength for growth and prosperity. This idea, of prosperity based on great diversity but rooted in a common foundation – is a very central theme that has been woven into the Israeli presidency since its inception,” said Herzog. “Indeed it is guiding light in the daily activities of the President’s Residence today, which is manifested, among other things, in the ‘Dialogue in the Community’ initiative that we launched a few months ago.”

“In fact, this is an idea that has been with our people for thousands of years – since the twelve Tribes of Israel,’ said Herzog. “Even the biblical commentators who describe the splitting of the Red Sea refer to 12 separate paths within the sea – each tribe in its own path. But they also make sure to emphasize the interface between the paths and between the Tribes, the fundamental, infrastructural, unquestionable partnership. A partnership that is a deep and ancient alliance, an alliance of fate and an alliance of destiny. This Jewish idea – of connected diversity and partnership, an idea that has become a Zionist and Israeli ideal, to which all share the beliefs and lifestyles that are part of ‘Israeliness’ – lies at the root of our ability as a nation and as an Israeli society to develop and grow the wonderful country we have built here.”

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