In a gala ceremony at the City of David amphitheater, below Jerusalem's Old City and Temple Mount, this year's Moskowitz Prize for Zionism was awarded to three winners. The prize was established by Dr. Irving and Cherna Moskowitz, benefactors of many prominent Jewish settlement enterprises in and around Jerusalem.
Parts of ceremony are in Hebrew, and parts are in English.
Why a Zionism Prize?
The prize is awarded in recognition of those who "actualize Zionism in today's Israeli society and work for the benefit of the community on behalf of the strength and fortitude of the Jewish national home." The need for this special prize arose, the benefactors explain, "because of the sense, shared by many, that the true heroes of Zionism in today's Israel - both those who are known to the public and those who distance themselves from the floodlights - are only infrequently recognized and receive the public admiration they deserve."
The event began with the dramatic sounding of ten shofars from the mountainside above the audience. MK Benny Elon began with greetings, and outlined briefly for the audience the "generosity and total dedication of Dr. Irving and Cherna Moskowitz, who even require 24-hour-a-day protection because of their support and love for Zion and Jerusalem."
In attendance were Rabbis Menachem Porush, Yehuda Amital, Aharon Lichtenstein, Shlomo Aviner, and many others; MKs Uri Ariel, Nissan Slomiansky, Eli Gabbai, and Michael Melchior; and hundreds of friends, relatives, colleagues and admirers of the three awardees.
Former Knesset Speaker MK Ruby Rivlin of the Likud delivered the keynote address. He decried the culture of dispute that has taken over our society. Though he hinted, tongue-in-cheek, his own preferences - "both sides - those on the right side, and those on the wrong, er, left, side, are motivated by Zionist ideals" - he said that both sides should be motivated by "pro" and not "con." Rivlin praised the three awardees for following this path in their contributions to Israeli society, and called upon public figures to emulate them.
Popular musician and composer Shlomo Gronich performed his musical show, "Journey to our Sources." The radical left-wing Peace Bloc, associated with Peace Now, had attacked Gronich for agreeing to appear at the event, and threatens to boycott his coming peformances.
The three awardees, about each of whom a film of several minutes was shown, were:
* Rabbi David Fendel, head of the Hesder yeshiva in Sderot, "for the values of community involvement and commitment to the nation and the Land that Rabbi Fendel has instilled in hundreds of his students; for his yeshiva serving as a source of strength for all of Sderot's residents especially in these most troubling of times; for his actions, which make him a role model and Zionism leader. He stepped up to receive the award accompanied by a child of Sderot. "
* Mr. Moshe 'Moshko' Moshkowitz, visionary and builder of Gush Etzion communities, "for over 60 years of activity and dedication in the areas of education and settlement; for his personal role in the establishment of communities [such as Efrat and Alon Shvut] and educational institutions throughout Israel, and particularly for his central role in establishing and making the communities of Gush Etzion prosper." He was accompanied when receiving the award by one of his several great-grandchildren.
* Brig.-Gen. (res.) Ran Pecker-Ronen, a highly decorated former Israel Air Force pilot and founder of the 'Tzahala' project, "for epitomizing bravery, self-sacrifice and leadership, for his outstanding approach to the educational and societal challenges facing Zionism today, and for his successful project "Tzahala", based on the volunteerism of former army officers at the forefront of social involvement with Israel's youth." He was accompanied when receiving the award by one of the many youths his Tzahala program has benefited.
Members of the Prize Committee who chose the winners were: Mrs. Cherna Moskowitz, Chairman; Brig.-Gen. (res.) Avigdor Kahalani, Prof. Moshe Arens, Dr. Uzi Landau, Mr. Yoram Ettinger, Rabbi Pesach Lerner, Rebetzin Esther Jungreis, Rabbi Yedidya Atlas, Rabbi Daniel Moskowitz.