Genesis Prize

The Government of Israel, the Jewish Agency for Israel and the Genesis Philanthropy Group launched the annual international Genesis Prize. This was announced by the Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu, Natan Sharansky (Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Jewish Agency for Israel) and Mikhail Fridman (co-founder of Genesis Philanthropy Group).

The Genesis Prize will be awarded to individuals who have achieved international recognition in their professional field, the worlds of science and the arts. The Prize Laureate will be selected through a multi-tiered process, from a list of individuals nominated by a committee of distinguished independent experts. Each nominee will have demonstrated a strong connection to the Jewish people and/or to the State of Israel as well as being a role model for younger generations.

The objective of the Genesis Prize is to emphasize across the Jewish community and the world at large the importance of Jewish values to the fulfillment of human potential and to the betterment of the world. This, in turn, is intended to strengthen the Jewish identity of the millions of young Jews across the world, who are rapidly assimilating and losing connection to the Jewish people and their rich heritage.

Each year, the Genesis Prize Laureate will be awarded US$1,000,000. Funded by Genesis Philanthropy Group, the Prize will be presented annually by the Prime Minister of Israel at a ceremony in Jerusalem, on the threshold of Passover. Genesis Philanthropy Group is establishing an endowment in Israel to fund the Prize on a perpetual basis.

As agreed by the co-founders of the Genesis Prize, Natan Sharansky will serve as the Chairman of the Selection Committee. The selection process will also include retired members of the Supreme Court of Israel, leaders of Jewish communities in the Diaspora, as well as representatives of the Office of the Prime Minister of Israel, the Knesset, and Genesis Philanthropy Group.

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER OF ISRAEL

 

For further information please visit www.genesisprize.org