The winners of this year's Israel Prize for Life's Work are three: Rabbi Yitzchak David Grossman, Lea Van Leer, and Moshe Shnitzer. Education Minister Limor Livnat made the announcement this morning.
Rabbi Grossman grew up in Meah She'arim in Jerusalem, but decided early on that it was not his destiny to remain within the four walls of his comfortable and traditional community, but rather to bring Torah to the wider public. He moved to the development town of Migdal HaEmek in the southern Galilee over 25 years ago, and started a nursery and day camp - institutions that later turned into the 28-school Migdal Ohr Educational Center. Over 6,000 students study in the nurseries, elementary schools, high schools, and yeshivot for religious students, irreligious students, and new Russian immigrants. Rabbi Grossman was long known as the "Disco Rabbi" for his frequent visits to places of entertainment, where he would talk with youth about Judaism.
Van Leer will receive the prize for her work over the past decades in promoting cultural and research projects in Jerusalem, such as the Van Leer Institute and the Jerusalem Cinemateque. Shnitzer established and presided for many years over the Israel Diamond Exchange.