Coming home to Israel upon the establishment of the State.

April 14, 2008 / 9 Nissan 5768

“In being named for the Israel Prize, we share this honor with the Jewish communities and federations around the world who have made the work of the Jewish Agency possible over the decades," said Jewish Agency Chairman Zeev Bielski, "and especially our founding partners, the United Jewish Communities and Keren Hayesod.”

“In granting the Israel Prize,” the Committee said of the Jewish Agency “the State of Israel recognizes the organization which helped realize the vision of the return to Zion and the establishment of political sovereignty for the Jewish People in its homeland; an organization which continues – along with the Jewish world and the government of Israel - to contribute daily in shaping Israeli society, in settling the land, in immigrant absorption, in education, in revitalization of neighborhoods and continuing to lay foundations for the State of Israel.”

"For thousands of years, Jews longed for the return to Zion, and through the Jewish Agency, we have been part of that amazing achievement,” said United Jewish Communities President and CEO Howard Rieger in a statement congratulating the Jewish Agency.

Bielski also thanked the Jewish Agency leadership over the years, its Board of Governors, employees and the World Zionist Organization, and noted the important contribution in more recent years of other Jewish Agency partners, including the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews and individual Israeli philanthropists.

In partnership with the Jewish Agency, and through the success of annual campaigns, Jewish communities around the world can be proud of the vital role they have played, and continue to play, in building the State of Israel.

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