The Jewish Agency is thrilled to announce that The Jewish Agency’s Partnership2Gether program has won a Jerusalem Unity Prize in the category of Diaspora Affairs.
This was one of five awards presented by President Isaac Herzog at a festive special ceremony at the President’s Residence in Jerusalem on Unity Day in Israel and around the world on Sunday, June 9.
The Jewish Community Federation of Richmond has been part of P2G for many years with its partner sister city of Hadera-Eiron.
In receiving the special award, P2G was recognized for its work to promote and develop deep connections to strengthen Jewish communities in Israel and worldwide by creating revitalized, ongoing, and meaningful engagement based on mutual endeavor and shared Jewish identity.
The award noted, “The unique infrastructure has been operating for decades to connect and strengthen Jewish communities in Israel and around the world. The program connects 165 communities through 43 partnerships and impacts over a million people each year through personal encounters and joint projects. Since October 7, the partnership network has connected an additional 25 communities in the Gaza envelope, strengthening community resilience and the bond between Israel and the Jewish communities.”
This year, due to the ongoing war, the ceremony was themed “Caring For One Another,” with the prizes distributed in five categories: Strengthening the South, Strengthening the North, Strengthening the Home Front, Reservists, and the Diaspora.
This prestigious award – the Jerusalem Unity Prize – was created in memory out of the sense of unity within the Israeli society and the Jewish communities after the kidnapping of the 3 boys in the summer of 2014.
The Jerusalem Unity Prize is a non-political initiative of the Yifrach, Shaer, and Frankel families, and the Minister of Economy, Nir Barkat.
It aims to honor organizations and individuals in Israel and around the world who contribute to the unity of Israeli society and to inspire others to initiate such actions, based on the belief in the importance of accepting others and the power of a united people and society.
Addressing the ceremony, President Herzog said, “We stand in the midst of a significant Israeli and Jewish moment. Facing a murderous enemy who thought Israeli society was fragmented and decided to rise up and kill us, Israeli society responded with a clear and decisive call: ‘Together we will win’ – and only together. The people of Israel do not regard this statement as merely a catchphrase, a billboard slogan, or a car sticker — but as a binding historical truism that brought hundreds of thousands of Israelis out of their homes. It brought out soldiers who were not even called to service, it brought out volunteers to the field, it brought out the very best in so many in Israel.”
Additionally, certificates of appreciation were awarded to artists and organizations who made an exceptional effort to strengthen national resilience during Operation Iron Swords.”
