Immigrants (olim) from North America arrived
Immigrants (olim) from North America arrivedFlash 90

Six immigrants from English-speaking countries who have made a major impact on the State of Israel were awarded the 2015 Nefesh B’Nefesh (NBN) Bonei Zion Prize, NBN announced Wednesday.

The honorees include:

  • Professor Charles Sprung, Director of the General Intensive Care Unit at Hadassah Medical Organization, who serves an intensivist and clinical-scientist and has published over 300 scholarly papers in a wide variety of medical journals; he also helped pass and implement the Dying Patient Act. Sprung made Aliyah in 1990 from the USA. 
  • Jon Medved, Founder and CEO of OurCrowd. Medved was dubbed by the New York Times as one of the top 10 most influential Americans who have impacted Israel; he has invested in over 100 Israeli startup companies, helping 12 of them to get to valuations in excess of $100 million USD. He was the co-founder and, until recently, the CEO of Vringo, a leader in mobile social applications which went public in June 2010. Prior to that, he was the founder and general partner of Israel Seed Partners (a $260 million Israeli venture capital fund). Jon made Aliyah in 1991 from the USA.
  • Rabbi Dr. Seth Farber, Founder and Executive Director of ITIM, which helps Israelis navigate the bureaucracy of religious authorities and has touched the lives of hundreds of thousands. It has over 40,000 monthly web visitors seeking information. More than 3,000 individuals are helped by its advocacy center annually and its educational programs have reached 65,000 students. Rabbi Farber made Aliyah in 1998 from the USA.
  • Chana Reifman Zweiter, Founding Director of Kaleidoscope/The Rosh Pina Mainstreaming Network, which focuses on promoting appreciation for diversity as exemplified in its Akko programming where it helps Arab and Jewish students develop understanding of one another. Chana, together with her team of specialists, has introduced the Kaleidoscope approach throughout Israel, on the early childhood, elementary and junior high school levels, helping religious, secular, Arab, native Israeli and new immigrant children to feel comfortable with one another. As the founder of the US-based Yachad program, Chana brings expertise in the field of multiculturalism and democracy, experience with many populations and interpersonal skills that include the openness to collaborate with and learn from others.  Chana made Aliyah in 1991 from the USA.
  • Asher Weill, Consultant and Editor of English publications for Limmud FSU. Weill has been at the forefront of Israel's cultural and literary life for some 55 years. He has published a wide cross-section of Israeli authors, statesmen and public figures in both Hebrew and English. He founded the Jerusalem International Book Fair in 1961 and been on its board ever since. Weill created the biennial “Anglo-Israel Colloquium” which gathers Israeli and British leaders on a wide variety of subjects, which has become one of the most influential regular meeting grounds between British and Israeli scholars, senior journalists and public figures. He also co-founded "Siah VaSig", the Israeli Debating society, which introduced the art of debate and public speaking into schools and universities in Israel and which sends teams to international debating competitions. Additionally, he was Editor in Chief of 'Ariel: The Israel Review of Arts and Literature', Director of the Press Division of the WZO and has edited and published multiple Israel/Jewish magazines. Asher made Aliyah in 1958 from the United Kingdom.
  • IDF Staff Sgt. Asaf Stein, PhD for the IDF and National Service Young Leadership Award. Asaf made Aliyah from Alabama at the age of 28, with a prestigious doctorate in hand, and blossoming future in the academic world of medical engineering, which he put on hold in order to become a combat soldier in the IDF’s Golani Brigade. Today, Asaf, now 30, is nearing the end of his army service. His friends and colleagues in Golani laud his positive attitude and his lack of aversion to jobs that others, 10 years his junior, might consider beneath them. 
  • An additional Lifetime Achievement Award was bestowed upon Tal Brody for his contribution to shaping and impacting Israel through sports and dedicated Hasbarah efforts on behalf of the State of Israel. He led Maccabi Tel Aviv Basketball to win the European championship in the late 70’s, demonstrating to the entire country that achieving dreams is possible for both a new immigrant and for anyone who tries hard. For a decade later, he captained Maccabi Tel Aviv to new records and championships, resulting in his number and jersey being officially retired and inducted into the Jewish Hall of Fames of America and Israel. Following his retirement, he founded the Bnei Herzliyah sports program which has over 9,000 participants and continued to train, inspire and coach two successive generations of athletes. In addition, he received the Israel Prize - Israel’s highest honor for his excellence in his field and contributing so greatly to Israeli culture. Today, Tal serves as Israel's first Ambassador of Goodwill and travels around the world sharing Zionistic values through his dedicated Hasbarah efforts. Tal made Aliyah in 1970 from the USA.

The prizes will be awarded at an official ceremony in the Knesset this May. 

Hundreds of immigrants from English-speaking countries – including Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, UK, and USA - were nominated for the prize. The prize recognizes outstanding Anglo immigrants who have helped Israel in a meaningful way by encapsulating the spirit of modern-day Zionism and contributing in significant ways towards the State of Israel.

Recipients were chosen by a prestigious panel of committee members in the following categories: Science & Medicine; Community & Non-Profit; Education; Entrepreneurship & Technology; Art, Culture & Sports; and IDF & National Service Young Leadership.

“It has been incredibly inspirational, for the second consecutive year, to see the remarkable number of Anglo Olim who are making a significant impact on the State of Israel. These Bonei Zion Prize recipients exemplify how Olim are making historic advancements and contributing, each in their own field, to the success of the country and our nation,” said Nefesh B’Nefesh Co-Founder and Executive Director Rabbi Yehoshua Fass. “We hope that highlighting the achievements of these Olim, in addition to expressing our gratitude to the recipients, will serve as a catalyst to inspire others to make Aliyah and follow in their footsteps."