We are proud to present the recipients of the
2023 Sylvan Adams Nefesh B’Nefesh Bonei Zion Prize.
“The annual Bonei Zion Prize serves as a reminder of the remarkable impact that Olim are making in every facet of Israeli life. This year’s prize recipients, and the hundreds of thousands of Olim who have chosen to make Israel their home, are true examples of how the Jewish state is thriving.”
– Rabbi Yehoshua Fass, Nefesh B’Nefesh Co-Founder & Executive Director.
EDUCATION
Sally Reidman
Founder & President of Reidman College of Complementary & Integrative Medicine
Sally Reidman is the founder of Reidman College, Israel’s largest institute for complementary and integrative medicine. Born in Pennsylvania in 1949 to Holocaust survivors, Sally was driven from a young age by a desire to explore spirituality, philosophy, and self-development.
While studying psychology at California State University, Sally encountered Dr. Ida Rolf’s approach to body psychotherapy, which releases repressed emotions through deep-tissue massage. This transformative experience inspired her to shift from traditional psychology to a holistic approach, integrating body, mind, emotions, and spirit.
Sally made Aliyah, initially living in an absorption center in Ashdod and working as a massage therapist. Recognizing a growing demand for holistic therapies, she founded Israel’s first Swedish massage course and expanded her vision into Reidman College, recruiting experts from around the world. Today, Reidman College educates over 3,500 students in 16 programs across five campuses, and its graduates provide complementary treatments in clinics, hospitals, and HMOs nationwide.
Sally’s work has helped position Israel as a global center for integrative medicine, guided by the belief that healing individuals contribute to healing the planet.
Sally made Aliyah from California in 1983.
SCIENCE & MEDICINE
Prof. Carmi Z. Margolis
Founding-Dean of Ben Gurion University Medical School for International Health
Prof. Carmi Zvi Margolis is a pioneering educator in medical education and global health. Born and raised in the Bronx, he earned his B.A. in English Literature from Columbia University and his M.D. from New York University Medical School. He trained and taught pediatrics at Yale, followed by a Fellowship in Medical Education at Michigan State University, where he also completed an M.A. in Educational Psychology. After serving two years of active duty in the U.S. Army, he made Aliyah with his family and joined the newly established Ben-Gurion University Faculty of Medicine in Be’er Sheva.
Prof. Margolis served as the founding Chairman of the Department of Health in the Community for 13 years and Vice Dean for Medical Education and Curriculum for eight years. In 1998, he became the founding Dean of the new Medical School for International Health, a unique collaboration with Columbia University Medical Center, serving until 2009.
Prof. Margolis’s research spans clinical decision-making, global health education, and educational outcomes. He has also strongly supported teaching Literature and Medicine jointly with colleagues in English Literature and other clinicians since 2000.
In his retirement, Prof. Margolis has returned to Pediatric consulting, teaching medical students on rounds and writing fiction. He spends as much time as possible with his partner-wife, Adinah, five amazing children and fourteen grandchildren.
Prof. Carmi Z. Margolis made Aliyah from New York in 1975.
COMMUNITY & NON-PROFIT
Shari Mendes
Founder & Director of Israel Lemonade Fund
Shari Mendes is the founder of the Israel Lemonade Fund, Israel’s first and only breast cancer emergency relief fund. Established in 2011, the fund provides financial support to breast cancer patients across Israel, helping them manage illness-related expenses.
Shari is originally from New Jersey and worked as an architect before making Aliyah with her husband, David, a physician, and their four children. Her experience surviving breast cancer inspired her to create the Lemonade Fund, turning her personal challenge into a source of hope for others.
Breast cancer, which affects one in every eight women in Israel, imposes a heavy burden on low-income patients and their families, who often struggle with additional expenses like childcare and transportation during treatment. The Lemonade Fund now operates nationwide, offering aid to all patients regardless of religion, ethnicity, or gender, enabling them to focus on recovery without the additional burden of financial stress.
Shari’s family has embraced life in Israel, with most members serving in reserve duty throughout the current war. Most recently, the Mendes family celebrated the birth of their first grandchild.
Shari Mendes made Aliyah in 2003 from New Jersey.
GLOBAL IMPACT
Lt. Colonel (res.)
Danny Grossman
Chairman of CMBM-Israel
Danny Grossman is a decorated fighter pilot who began his career winning a “Top Gun” competition in the U.S. Air Force. Upon making Aliyah, Danny joined the Israeli Air Force and flew over 200 combat missions. He received a medal for a strategic reconnaissance mission to Iraq. During his IAF career he also helped establish a U.S.-Israel Counter-Terrorism MOU.
Danny became Israel Director of the American Jewish Congress, organizing the Jerusalem Conference of Mayors, facilitating the U.S.-Israel Energy Cooperation Act, and producing a report during the 2006 Second Lebanon War, exposing Hezbollah’s use of civilians as human shields, which was featured on the front page of The New York Times.
Today, Danny is a strategic consultant for clients such as Professor Alan Dershowitz, for whom he hosted a weekly TV program, and has also produced two films for the History Channel. He mentored SpaceIL’s Beresheet Lunar Mission, helped develop Israel’s national baseball team, and worked with the Aleph Institute in helping to free Jewish and Israeli prisoners worldwide. Following Oct. 7, he serves as Chairman of CMBM-Israel (the Center for Mind-Body Medicine), leading efforts to alleviate PTSD.
Danny holds bachelor’s degrees from Columbia University and JTS, and a master’s degree from Harvard. He heads the Masorti Congregation in Kochav Yair and recently celebrated his 50th anniversary with his wife, Lisa, their four children, and eight grandchildren.
Danny Grossman made Aliyah from Florida in 1979.
CULTURE, ART & SPORTS
Peter Kurz
CEO of Israel Baseball Association and General Manager of the National & Olympic Teams
Peter Kurz has been a pivotal figure in the development of baseball in Israel. Over 25 years, he served as President, Secretary General, and now CEO of the Israel Association of Baseball (IAB). Under his leadership, the IAB expanded significantly, building ties with the American Jewish community and culminating in Israel’s participation in the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.
Peter’s passion was shaped by two formative events in his youth: visiting Israel shortly after the Six-Day War in 1967, and celebrating the New York Mets’ 1969 World Series victory.
Peter’s efforts have turned baseball in Israel from a niche activity into a national movement, with elite academies, little leagues, and over 1,000 players across the country. He continues to lead as General Manager of both Team Israel and the World Baseball Classic, with the goal of taking the team back to the Olympics in 2028 in Los Angeles.
In addition to his contributions to baseball, Peter is a Marketing and Export Consultant, working with Israeli and international companies. He previously served as Senior Vice President at the Hamat Group.
Peter resides in Givatayim with his wife, Ronit, close to their three children and three grandchildren.
Peter Kurz made Aliyah from New York in 1989.
Young Leadership
Emily Schrader
Journalist and Human Rights Activist
Emily Schrader is an American-Israeli journalist, political analyst, and expert on Iranian affairs, specializing in Tehran’s proxy terror groups and disinformation campaigns. Despite threats from the Iranian regime, Emily has become a leading voice on Iran-Israel relations. She sits on the executive board of the Institute for Voice of Liberty and has advised lawmakers globally on Iran policy and strategies to combat online hate speech and disinformation.
Emily has collaborated with social media companies to develop policies addressing harmful content online. Her forthcoming book, 10 Things Every Jew Should Know Before Going to College, is set for release in December 2024.
As a media personality, Emily hosts Viewpoint on ILTV and co-hosts The Quad on JNS, offering insights into Israeli politics and global affairs. Her work reflects a dedication to raising awareness about pressing geopolitical issues and advocating for human rights.
Emily’s expertise and resilience have made her a prominent figure in the fight against disinformation and extremism, both on and offline.
Emily Schrader made Aliyah from California in 2015.
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Dr. Yehezkel Caine
President of Herzog Medical Center
Dr. Yehezkel Geoffrey Caine is a distinguished leader in medicine and aviation with a career spanning over five decades. A graduate with a medical degree from the Hebrew University in 1973, he served as a physician during the Yom Kippur War. After completing the Israeli Air Force Flying School as an operational pilot, he later trained in Aerospace Medicine in the U.S. Air Force School of Aviation Medicine. He completed his surgical residency at Hadassah Medical Center, where he also conducted pioneering research in aviation medicine and eventually joined the senior staff as a surgeon.
Dr. Caine held numerous leadership roles in the Israeli Air Force, culminating in his appointment as Surgeon General in 1991. From 1995 to 2021, he served as Director General (CEO) of Herzog Medical Center in Jerusalem, where he currently serves as President.
Dr. Caine holds an M.Sc. in Business Administration and Industrial Management from Ben Gurion University and is a former Vice President of the Aerospace Medical Association. He was President of the International Academy of Aviation and Space Medicine and as Chairman of the National Aeromedical Appeals Board for the Israeli Ministry of Transportation. His distinguished career reflects a lifelong commitment to advancing medicine and aeromedicine on the global stage.
Dr. Yehezkel Geoffrey Caine made Aliyah from England in 1959.
