The Nefesh B’Nefesh Sylvan Adams

Bonei Zion Prize

recognizes the achievements of outstanding Anglo Olim and their contribution to the State of Israel.

The Nefesh B’Nefesh Sylvan Adams Bonei Zion Prize recognizes the achievements of outstanding Anglo Olim and their contribution to the State of Israel.

The Nefesh B’Nefesh Sylvan Adams

Bonei Zion Prize

recognizes the achievements of outstanding Anglo Olim and their contribution to the State of Israel.

Nominations for the
2026 Sylvan Adams
Nefesh B’Nefesh Bonei Zion Prize
are now open.

Nominations for the 12th Annual Sylvan Adams
Nefesh B’Nefesh Bonei Zion Prize are now open.

As Aliyah from western countries continues to increase, English-speaking Olim are making a remarkable impact on the Jewish State – economically, socially and culturally – contributing to Israeli society in all fields of endeavor, including education, global impact, medicine & science and the arts.

This award, established in 2013, is an expression of support for Olim whose contributions have helped better Israel in a meaningful way, and acknowledges those who encapsulate the spirit of modern-day Zionism by contributing towards developing the State of Israel.

Nefesh B’Nefesh is grateful to Sylvan Adams for his leadership and generosity in establishing, in 2016, The Sylvan Adams Nefesh B’Nefesh Bonei Zion Prize.

As Aliyah from western countries continues to increase, English-speaking Olim are making a remarkable impact on the Jewish State – economically, socially and culturally – contributing to Israeli society in all fields of endeavor, including education, global impact, medicine & science and the arts.

This award, established in 2013, is an expression of support for Olim whose contributions have helped better Israel in a meaningful way, and acknowledges those who encapsulate the spirit of modern-day Zionism by contributing towards developing the State of Israel.

Nefesh B’Nefesh is grateful to Sylvan Adams for his leadership and generosity in establishing, in 2016, the Sylvan Adams Nefesh B’Nefesh Bonei Zion Prize.
PRIZE CATEGORIES

Education

Science & Medicine

Community & Non-Profit

Culture, Arts & Sports

Global Impact

Young Leadership

Lifetime Achievement

PRIZE CATEGORIES

Education

Science & Medicine

Community & Non-Profit

Culture, Arts & Sports

Global Impact

Young Leadership

Lifetime Achievement

Meet the Recipients

  • 9th Annual

    Special Recognition

    MK Pnina Tamano Shata

    Minister of Aliyah & Integration

  • 9th Annual

    Lifetime Achievement Award

    Naomi Tsur

    Founder & Chair of the Jerusalem Green Fund and the Israel Urban Forum

  • 9th Annual

    Young Leadership

    Asher Fredman

    Director for Israel at the Abraham Accords Peace Institute

  • 9th Annual

    Culture, Arts & Sports

    Prof. Harry Ben Zion Brand

    Architect & Founder of the Israeli Planners Association

  • 9th Annual

    Global Impact

    Prof. Morris Hartstein, MD, FACS

    Founding Director of “Operation Ethiopia”

  • 9th Annual

    Community & Non-Profit

    Pamela & Aba Claman

    Co-founders of Thank Israeli Soldiers

  • 9th Annual

    Education

    Rabbi Prof. David Golinkin

    President, The Schechter Institutes & President Emeritus, The Schechter Institute of Jewish Studies

  • 9th Annual

    Science & Medicine

    Prof. Arthur I. Eidelman

    Founder of the Department of Neonatology, Shaare Zedek Medical Center

  • 8th Annual

    Lifetime Achievement Award

    Rabbi Dr. Daniel Tropper

    Founder & President Emeritus of Gesher

  • 8th Annual

    Culture, Arts & Sports

    Josie Katz

    Singer & Actress

  • 8th Annual

    Global Impact

    Micha Odenheimer

    Founding Director of Tevel B’Tzedek

  • 8th Annual

    Community & Non-Profit

    David Marcu

    CEO, Israel Elwyn

  • 8th Annual

    Science & Medicine

    Dr. Jonathan Rieck

    Director, Emergency Medicine at Barzilai Medical Center

  • 8th Annual

    Education

    Prof. Daniel Chamovitz

    President of Ben Gurion University

  • 8th Annual

    Special Recognition

    Moshe Lion

    Mayor of Jerusalem

  • 8th Annual

    Young Leadership

    Michal Berman

    Founder of Tel Aviv Art Studio

  • 8th Annual

    Community & Non-Profit

    Debbie Gross

    Founder & Director, Tahel

  • 7th Annual

    Education

    Reuven (Bob) Asch

    Chief Psychologist, Ministry of Education

  • 7th Annual

    Science & Medicine

    Prof. Deborah Rund

  • 7th Annual

    Global Impact

    Ambassador Dore Gold

    President, Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs

  • 7th Annual

    Culture, Arts & Sports

    David Blatt

  • 7th Annual

    Lifetime Achievement Award

    Avraham Infeld

    President Emeritus of Hillel – The Foundation for Jewish Campus Life

  • 7th Annual

    Young Leadership

    Zo Flamenbaum

    Founder of School of Shine

  • 6th Annual

    Science & Medicine

    Dr. Ora Paltiel

  • 6th Annual

    Community & Non-Profit

    Leah Abramowitz

  • 6th Annual

    Israel Advocacy

    Michael Dickson

    Executive Director of StandWithUs-Israel

  • 6th Annual

    Education

    Dr. Beverly Gribetz

  • 6th Annual

    Culture, Arts & Sports

    Danny Hakim

    Founder & Chairman of Budo for Peace

  • 6th Annual

    Lifetime Achievement Award

    Harold “Smoky” Simon

  • 6th Annual

    Young Leadership

    Miriam Ballin, z”l

    Director, Psychotrauma & Crisis Response Unit, United Hatzalah

  • 5th Annual

    Science & Medicine

    Marcia Javitt, MD, FACR, FSAR, FSRU

  • 5th Annual

    Community & Non-Profit

    Kalman Samuels

    Shalva Founder & Chairman

  • 5th Annual

    Education

    Rabbi Dr. Shlomo Riskin

    Founder & Rosh HaYeshiva of Ohr Torah Stone

  • 5th Annual

    Israel Advocacy

    Arsen Ostrovsky

    Intl. Human Rights Lawyer & Executive Director, The Israeli-Jewish Congress

  • 5th Annual

    Culture, Arts & Sports

    Linda Streit

    Founder, The Daniel Amichai Centre for Rowing and Nautical Studies

  • 5th Annual

    Lifetime Achievement Award

    Morris Kahn

  • 5th Annual

    Young Leadership

    Major Keren Hajioff

    Head of Public Diplomacy, IDF Spokesperson’s Unit

  • 4th Annual

    Science & Medicine

    Prof. Benjamin W. Corn

  • 4th Annual

    Community & Non-Profit

    Beth Steinberg

    Co-founder, Shutaf Inclusion Programs Jerusalem

  • 4th Annual

    Education

    Rabbi Chaim Brovender

  • 4th Annual

    Israel Advocacy

    Prof. Gerald Steinberg

  • 4th Annual

    Culture, Arts & Sports

    Yoram Raanan

    Artist

  • 4th Annual

    Lifetime Achievement Award

    Prof. Alice Shalvi

    Educator, Feminist Activist & Social Advocate

  • 4th Annual

    Lifetime Achievement Award

    Prof. Eliezer Jaffe, z”l,

    Emeritus Professor of Social Work and Philanthropy

  • 4th Annual

    Young Leadership

    Scott Neiss

    Founder, Israel Lacrosse Association

  • 4th Annual

    Young Leadership

    Capt. Libby Weiss

    Head of the Social Media Dept., IDF Spokesman Unit

  • 3rd Annual

    Science & Medicine

    Prof. Howard (Chaim) Cedar

    Safra Distinguished Professor Developmental Biology & Cancer Research, Hebrew University

  • 3rd Annual

    Entrepreneurship & Technology

    Scott R. Tobin

    General Partner Battery Ventures

  • 3rd Annual

    Community & Non-Profit

    Dr. Rachel Levmore

    Founder & Director The Agunah & Get-Refusal Prevention Project

  • 3rd Annual

    Education

    Barbara Levin

    Principal Emerita Frankel Community School

  • 3rd Annual

    Young Leadership

    Sahar Elbaz

    Staff Sgt. Givati Brigade

  • 3rd Annual

    Culture, Arts & Sports

    Estelle Friedman

    Director of Production Israel Educational TV

  • 3rd Annual

    Lifetime Achievement Award

    Moshe Arens

    Former Diplomat & Politician

  • 2nd Annual

    Community & Non-Profit

    Rabbi Dr. Seth Farber

    Founder & Executive Director ITIM

  • 2nd Annual

    Entrepreneurship & Technology

    Jon Medved

    Founder & CEO OurCrowd

  • 2nd Annual

    Science & Medicine

    Prof. Charles Sprung

    Director of General Intensive Care Unit Hadassah Medical Organization

  • 2nd Annual

    Young Leadership

    Asaf Stein, PhD.

    Staff Sgt. Reconnaissance Battalion (Gadsar) Golani Brigade

  • 2nd Annual

    Culture, Arts & Sports

    Asher Weill

    Consultant & Editor for all English publications for Limmud FSU

  • 2nd Annual

    Education

    Chana Reifman Zweiter

    Founding Director, Kaleidoscope - The Rosh Pina Mainstreaming Network

  • 2nd Annual

    Lifetime Achievement Award

    Tal Brody

    Ambassador of Goodwill

  • 1st Annual

    Entrepreneurship & Technology

    Yosef Abramowitz

    CEO & Founder Energiya Global Capital

  • 1st Annual

    Education

    Rabbanit Malke Bina

    Founder & Chancellor “Matan”

  • 1st Annual

    Community & Non-Profit

    Joseph Gitler

    Founder & Chairman Leket Israel

  • 1st Annual

    Science & Medicine

    Prof. Jeffrey Hausdorff

    Tel Aviv Univ. Director Neurodynamics & Gait Research Laboratory Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center

  • 1st Annual

    Culture, Arts & Sports

    Yaakov Kirschen

    Creator Dry Bones

  • 1st Annual

    Young Leadership

    Lt. Nira Lee

    Head of Hasbara Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT)

  • 1st Annual

    Lifetime Achievement Award

    Prof. Shimon Glick

    Professor & Dean Emeritus Faculty of Health Sciences at Ben Gurion University

  • 12th Annual

    Culture, Arts & Sports

    Ami Baran

    President of the Israel Athletics Association & CEO of the Israel Softball Association

  • 12th Annual

    Young Leadership

    Barak Swarttz

    YouTuber and Founder of GRIT for Good

  • 12th Annual

    Global Impact

    Danielle Abraham

    Executive Director, Volcani International Partnership; Director, ReGrow Israel

  • 12th Annual

    Science & Medicine

    Dr. Philip Klipstein

    Senior Principal Scientist in the R&D division at SCD

  • 12th Annual

    Education

    Rabbanit Chana Henkin

    Founder & Chancellor of Nishmat

  • 12th Annual

    Lifetime Achievement Award

    Professor Marta Weinstock-Rosin

    Neuropharmacologist, Inventor of Exelon

  • 12th Annual

    Community & Non-Profit

    Naomi Stuchiner

    Founder of Beit Issie Shapiro

  • 11th Annual

    Israel Advocacy

    Fleur Hassan-Nahoum

    Special Envoy for the Foreign Ministry

  • 11th Annual

    Special Recognition

    Natan Sharansky

    Human Rights Advocate, Former Soviet Dissident, Israeli Statesman

  • 11th Annual

    Global Impact

    Eylon Levy

    Head of Israeli Citizen Spokespersons’ Office

  • 11th Annual

    Community & Non-Profit

    Phyllis Heimowitz

    Co-Founder of A Partner Left Behind – The Partners of Fallen IDF Soldiers

  • 11th Annual

    Science & Medicine

    Dr. Debra Gershov-West

    Director of the Emergency Department at Samson Assuta Ashdod University Hospital

  • 10th Annual

    Lifetime Achievement Award

    Dr. Yehezkel Caine

    President of Herzog Medical Center

  • 10th Annual

    Community & Non-Profit

    Emily Schrader

    Journalist & Human Rights Activist

  • 10th Annual

    Culture, Arts & Sports

    Peter Kurz

    CEO, Israel Baseball Association & Gen. Manager of the National & Olympic Teams

  • 10th Annual

    Global Impact

    Lt. Col. (res.) Danny Grossman

    Chairman of CMBM-Israel

  • 10th Annual

    Community & Non-Profit

    Shari Mendes

    Founder & Director of Israel Lemonade Fund

  • 10th Annual

    Science & Medicine

    Prof. Carmi Z. Margolis

    Founding-Dean of Ben Gurion University Medical School for International Health

  • 10th Annual

    Education

    Sally Reidman

    Founder & President of Reidman College of Complementary & Integrative Medicine

  • MK Pnina Tamano Shata

    9th Annual

    Special Recognition

  • Naomi Tsur

    9th Annual

    Lifetime Achievement Award

  • Asher Fredman

    9th Annual

    Young Leadership

  • Prof. Harry Ben Zion Brand

    9th Annual

    Culture, Arts & Sports

  • Prof. Morris Hartstein, MD, FACS

    9th Annual

    Global Impact

  • Pamela & Aba Claman

    9th Annual

    Community & Non-Profit

  • Rabbi Prof. David Golinkin

    9th Annual

    Education

  • Prof. Arthur I. Eidelman

    9th Annual

    Science & Medicine

  • Rabbi Dr. Daniel Tropper

    8th Annual

    Lifetime Achievement Award

  • Josie Katz

    8th Annual

    Culture, Arts & Sports

  • Micha Odenheimer

    8th Annual

    Global Impact

  • David Marcu

    8th Annual

    Community & Non-Profit

  • Dr. Jonathan Rieck

    8th Annual

    Science & Medicine

  • Prof. Daniel Chamovitz

    8th Annual

    Education

  • Moshe Lion

    8th Annual

    Special Recognition

  • Michal Berman

    8th Annual

    Young Leadership

  • Debbie Gross

    8th Annual

    Community & Non-Profit

  • Reuven (Bob) Asch

    7th Annual

    Education

  • Prof. Deborah Rund

    7th Annual

    Science & Medicine

  • Ambassador Dore Gold

    7th Annual

    Global Impact

  • David Blatt

    7th Annual

    Culture, Arts & Sports

  • Avraham Infeld

    7th Annual

    Lifetime Achievement Award

  • Zo Flamenbaum

    7th Annual

    Young Leadership

  • Dr. Ora Paltiel

    6th Annual

    Science & Medicine

  • Leah Abramowitz

    6th Annual

    Community & Non-Profit

  • Michael Dickson

    6th Annual

    Israel Advocacy

  • Dr. Beverly Gribetz

    6th Annual

    Education

  • Danny Hakim

    6th Annual

    Culture, Arts & Sports

  • Harold “Smoky” Simon

    6th Annual

    Lifetime Achievement Award

  • Miriam Ballin, z”l

    6th Annual

    Young Leadership

  • Marcia Javitt, MD, FACR, FSAR, FSRU

    5th Annual

    Science & Medicine

  • Kalman Samuels

    5th Annual

    Community & Non-Profit

  • Rabbi Dr. Shlomo Riskin

    5th Annual

    Education

  • Arsen Ostrovsky

    5th Annual

    Israel Advocacy

  • Linda Streit

    5th Annual

    Culture, Arts & Sports

  • Morris Kahn

    5th Annual

    Lifetime Achievement Award

  • Major Keren Hajioff

    5th Annual

    Young Leadership

  • Prof. Benjamin W. Corn

    4th Annual

    Science & Medicine

  • Beth Steinberg

    4th Annual

    Community & Non-Profit

  • Rabbi Chaim Brovender

    4th Annual

    Education

  • Prof. Gerald Steinberg

    4th Annual

    Israel Advocacy

  • Yoram Raanan

    4th Annual

    Culture, Arts & Sports

  • Prof. Alice Shalvi

    4th Annual

    Lifetime Achievement Award

  • Prof. Eliezer Jaffe, z”l,

    4th Annual

    Lifetime Achievement Award

  • Scott Neiss

    4th Annual

    Young Leadership

  • Capt. Libby Weiss

    4th Annual

    Young Leadership

  • Prof. Howard (Chaim) Cedar

    3rd Annual

    Science & Medicine

  • Scott R. Tobin

    3rd Annual

    Entrepreneurship & Technology

  • Dr. Rachel Levmore

    3rd Annual

    Community & Non-Profit

  • Barbara Levin

    3rd Annual

    Education

  • Sahar Elbaz

    3rd Annual

    Young Leadership

  • Estelle Friedman

    3rd Annual

    Culture, Arts & Sports

  • Moshe Arens

    3rd Annual

    Lifetime Achievement Award

  • Rabbi Dr. Seth Farber

    2nd Annual

    Community & Non-Profit

  • Jon Medved

    2nd Annual

    Entrepreneurship & Technology

  • Prof. Charles Sprung

    2nd Annual

    Science & Medicine

  • Asaf Stein, PhD.

    2nd Annual

    Young Leadership

  • Asher Weill

    2nd Annual

    Culture, Arts & Sports

  • Chana Reifman Zweiter

    2nd Annual

    Education

  • Tal Brody

    2nd Annual

    Lifetime Achievement Award

  • Yosef Abramowitz

    1st Annual

    Entrepreneurship & Technology

  • Rabbanit Malke Bina

    1st Annual

    Education

  • Joseph Gitler

    1st Annual

    Community & Non-Profit

  • Prof. Jeffrey Hausdorff

    1st Annual

    Science & Medicine

  • Yaakov Kirschen

    1st Annual

    Culture, Arts & Sports

  • Lt. Nira Lee

    1st Annual

    Young Leadership

  • Prof. Shimon Glick

    1st Annual

    Lifetime Achievement Award

  • Ami Baran

    12th Annual

    Culture, Arts & Sports

  • Barak Swarttz

    12th Annual

    Young Leadership

  • Danielle Abraham

    12th Annual

    Global Impact

  • Dr. Philip Klipstein

    12th Annual

    Science & Medicine

  • Rabbanit Chana Henkin

    12th Annual

    Education

  • Professor Marta Weinstock-Rosin

    12th Annual

    Lifetime Achievement Award

  • Naomi Stuchiner

    12th Annual

    Community & Non-Profit

  • Fleur Hassan-Nahoum

    11th Annual

    Israel Advocacy

  • Natan Sharansky

    11th Annual

    Special Recognition

  • Eylon Levy

    11th Annual

    Global Impact

  • Phyllis Heimowitz

    11th Annual

    Community & Non-Profit

  • Dr. Debra Gershov-West

    11th Annual

    Science & Medicine

  • Dr. Yehezkel Caine

    10th Annual

    Lifetime Achievement Award

  • Emily Schrader

    10th Annual

    Community & Non-Profit

  • Peter Kurz

    10th Annual

    Culture, Arts & Sports

  • Lt. Col. (res.) Danny Grossman

    10th Annual

    Global Impact

  • Shari Mendes

    10th Annual

    Community & Non-Profit

  • Prof. Carmi Z. Margolis

    10th Annual

    Science & Medicine

  • Sally Reidman

    10th Annual

    Education