March 26, 2008 / 19 Adar II 5768

The prestigious 2008 Israel Prize for Lifetime Achievement and Special Contribution to Society and the State of Israel will be awarded to the Jewish Agency for Israel, the Israel Prize Committee and the Ministry of Education announced today in Jerusalem. The prize, Israel’s highest civilian honor to organizations and individuals, will be presented to the Jewish Agency on Israel’s 60th Independence Day.

In making the announcement, the Committee noted the Jewish Agency’s “tireless efforts” as a pioneering force in the establishment of the State of Israel and its continuing contributions in strengthening Israeli society, partnering the people of Israel with Jewish communities around the world, and deepening the connection of Jewish next generations throughout the world.

“Receiving the Israel Prize on Israel’s 60th anniversary is a symbolic expression of the central contribution of the Jewish Agency to the establishment of the State of Israel and to the strengthening of Israeli society for the last 80 years,” said Jewish Agency Chairman Zeev Bielski.

“In being named for the Israel Prize, we share this honor with the Jewish communities and federations around the world who have made the work of the Jewish Agency possible over the decades, and especially our founding partners, the United Jewish Communities and Keren Hayesod,” Bielski said.

Bielski also thanked the Jewish Agency leadership over the years, its Board of Governors, employees and the World Zionist Organization, and noted the important contribution in more recent years of other Jewish Agency partners, including the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews and individual Israeli philanthropists.

"For thousands of years, Jews longed for the return to Zion, and through the Jewish Agency, we have been part of that amazing achievement,” said United Jewish Communities President and CEO Howard Rieger in a statement congratulating the Jewish Agency. “On the 60th anniversary of the State of Israel, we salute the Jewish Agency and commend them for their decades-long effort to make the world a better place for Jews in need, and for Jews seeking a better Jewish future."

“In granting the Israel Prize,” the Committee said today of the Jewish Agency “the State of Israel recognizes the organization which helped realize the vision of the return to Zion and the establishment of political sovereignty for the Jewish People in its homeland; an organization which continues – along with Jewish world and the government of Israel -- to contribute daily in shaping Israeli society, in settling the land, in immigrant absorption, in education, in revitalization of neighborhoods and continuing to lay foundations for the State of Israel.”

The Israel Prize is awarded annually at the national ceremony marking the start of Independence Day at Mount Herzl in Jerusalem.

For more information please contact Jacob Dallal, director of public relations at 212-339-6064 or 646-644-1205 or via e-mail at jacobd@jafi.org.