Cherna Moskowitz
Cherna MoskowitzItzik Nissim

Cherna Moskowitz, wife of the late Jewish philanthropist Irving Moskowitz, was honored Wednesday evening at an event hosted by Ateret Cohanim and the World Mizrachi Movement in Jerusalem for her half of century of support for projects across the Israeli capital following its liberation in 1967.

Together with Irving, Cherna Moskowitz supported Israeli projects and Jewish causes around the world since 1968 through the Moskowitz Foundation, and promoted pro-Israel activities with the Moskowitz Prize for Zionism.

After more than a decade of awarding grants and prizes for those who helped to build Israel, Moskowitz was finally recognized herself for her own contributions and those of her late husband on behalf of Jerusalem and the State of Israel.

The event, which also honored Koren Publishers owner Matthew Miller, was held at the Armon Hanatziv Promenade, which overlooks the Old City of Jerusalem, and coincided with the 50th anniversary of the liberation of the Old City and unification of Jerusalem.

"Fifty years have passed and now is the time to build - and build and build!" said Moskowitz during her acceptance speech.

Deputy Foreign Minister Tzipi Hotovely (Likud), Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat, and Chief Rabbis of Israel Yitzhak Yosef and David Lau addressed the gathering to express their appreciation for the decades of work by the Moskowitz family and their foundation in building and sustaining the Jewish capital city.

“Fifty years ago the paratroopers went into the Old City and [Lt. Gen.] Motta Gur was saying ‘Har Habayit [the Temple Mount] is in our hands’, but you make it real,” said Hotovely. “You make it real with daily work – with daily hard work that Jerusalem will actually be united.”

Chairman of American Friends of Ateret Cohanim Dr. Joe Frager opened the ceremony alongside Dr. Danny Lamm, leader of the Jewish community in Melbourne, Australia and a leader of the World Mizrachi Movement.

"There's probably only one person that competes with me in building the city of Jerusalem, and that is Cherna Moskowitz," joked Barkat.

"I'm here to thank you and honor you for the holy work you've been doing and funding."

For more details about Ateret Cohanim's activities and to join the “Building Jerusalem together” project, click here.