"The Jerusalem Prize is being granted to Shavei Israel for lending a hand to Jews and their descendants all over the world, educating them and assisting them in returning to Judaism," read the award. "Whether assisting crypto-Jews in Spain, Subbotnik Jews in Russia, B'nei Menashe in India, the Morrocan Jews living in Peru or those elsewhere, Shavei Israel - acting through determination and sensitivity, as well as with an overarching sense of humanity - welcomes these souls back to our people." The award plaque was presented to Freund by Gonen Ginat, Editor of HaTzofeh.
Recent Shavei Israel projects include providing a rabbi for the "Jungle Jews" of Peru, reaching out to the Chinese Jewish community of Kaifeng and establishing an outreach center in Brazil for the descendents of Anousim – Jews who hid their Judaism during the Spanish Inquisition whose descendants are rediscovering their Jewish roots. Another project reaches out to Subbotnik Jews in Russia, who are descendants of Russian peasants in the Voronezh region, located hundreds of miles south of Moscow, who converted to Judaism nearly two centuries ago and adhered to their faith despite continuous persecution. Several other projects are ongoing as well.
Additional information is available on Shavei Israel's web site, Shavei.org
An award for original Jewish creativity was also presented to the Maaleh School of Cinema, Television and the Arts. The Jerusalem-based film school caters to religious film students, exploring the role of film in the religious world and producing films free of profanity.
Several of Maaleh's films have received, awards and its graduates are playing increasingly prominent roles in Israeli film and television.
Israel's First Lady, Mrs. Gila Katzav was awarded the Jerusalem Award during the conference, for her "unique contribution to the weaker echelons of society." She currently spends much of her time dealing problems of youth at risk, troubled families, and orphans from terrorism-plagued families.
The Jerusalem Award was also granted to:
* Dr. Irving and Cherna Moskowitz, for their "large-heartedness, acts of generosity and kindness, and for building Jerusalem, the City of Holiness"
* Moshe Moskowitz, for his "vision and faith, Aliyah and construction, making the desert bloom, and for settlement and actualization"
* Dr. Mordechai Sobol, for his "unique contributions to hazanut in Israel, initiatives in the field of Jewish music, and composition of hundreds of musical creations based on traditional Jewish themes."