We are proud to present the recipients of the
2024 Sylvan Adams Nefesh B’Nefesh Bonei Zion Prize.
The award recognizes outstanding Anglo Olim
– veteran and recent –
who embody the spirit of modern-day Zionism
by contributing in a significant way to the State of Israel.
The award recognizes outstanding Anglo Olim – veteran and recent –
who embody the spirit of modern-day Zionism by contributing in a significant way to the State of Israel.
“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.
SCIENCE & MEDICINE
Dr. Debra Gershov-West
Director of the Emergency Department at Samson Assuta Ashdod University Hospital
Dr. Debra Gershov-West is a pioneer in Emergency Medicine in Israel, known for her leadership and innovation, particularly in times of crisis. Originally from Australia, she made Aliyah and specialized in internal and emergency medicine. In 2017, she founded Israel’s first Emergency Department, staffed exclusively by Emergency Medicine physicians at Assuta Ashdod.
On October 7, Dr. Gershov-West led Assuta Ashdod’s Emergency Department through the mass casualty event treating 113 wounded soldiers and civilians, and since treating hundreds more. In response to the urgent need for frontline medical training, she established the Frontline Emergency Medicine (FEM) mobile simulation unit under the Health Research and Science NPO. With a team of over 50 international volunteers, specialists in trauma, emergency and tactical medicine, as well as support from widespread donations, FEM has conducted more than 100 workshops, training over 3,000 frontline medical professionals in critical lifesaving skills.
Dr. Gershov-West also developed the National Israeli Course in Emergency Medicine, chaired the Israeli Medical Association’s committee for evaluating Emergency Medicine practice, and co-founded a Health Ministry project to improve patient and caregiver experiences in Emergency Departments. Her contributions have significantly advanced emergency care in Israel.
Dr. Debra Gershov-West made Aliyah from Australia in 1994.
COMMUNITY & NON-PROFIT
Phyllis Heimowitz
Co-Founder of A Partner Left Behind
– The Partners of Fallen IDF Soldiers
Phyllis Heimowitz is the co-founder of the Non-Profit Organization for the Partners of Fallen IDF Soldiers (GFIDF), which supports unmarried partners of fallen IDF soldiers.
Born and raised in New York, Phyllis holds an MA in Education from City College. Active in the Betar Youth Movement, Phyllis met her husband Yitzhak, and they made Aliyah with their son, Daniel. In Israel they had two daughters, Tamar and Michal.
Phyllis began her career as a second-grade teacher and remedial reading specialist in public schools. In Israel, she taught English in the IDF, preparing officers for international roles. After the tragic loss of her daughter Michal’s boyfriend, Lt. Avi Book, in Lebanon in 1997, Phyllis and her elder daughter Tamar established GFIDF to advocate for the emotional support of grieving partners of fallen soldiers, historically unrecognized by the state.
GFIDF has since provided tailored therapeutic assistance and emotional support to over 720 partners of fallen soldiers, in collaboration with the IDF Casualty Division and Ministry of Defense. Following October 7, 2023, the organization has expanded its support as the need has grown exponentially. Phyllis’s volunteer-driven efforts have reshaped Israeli history, ensuring unmarried partners of the fallen are recognized as part of Israel’s bereaved community.
Phyllis Heimowitz made Aliyah from New York in 1968.
GLOBAL IMPACT
Eylon Levy
Head of Israeli Citizen Spokespersons’ Office
Eylon Levy is the former Israeli Government Spokesman who became one of the most prominent voices for Israel during the current war with Hamas following October 7. He previously served as international spokesman for President Isaac Herzog after having built a distinguished career as a television news anchor.
Eylon holds degrees from Oxford and Cambridge, specializing in global affairs and communication. After making Aliyah from England, he served as a lone soldier in the Israel Defense Forces.
Currently, Eylon heads the Israeli Citizen Spokespersons’ Office, a pioneering initiative to amplify Israel’s narrative worldwide. He also hosts State of a Nation, a popular show on YouTube and podcast platforms, providing insights into Israeli society, politics, and global perceptions.
Eylon’s work has made him a globally recognized figure in public diplomacy, leveraging his expertise in media and international relations to advocate for Israel on the global stage.
Eylon Levy made Aliyah from England in 2014
ISRAEL ADVOCACY
Fleur Hassan-Nahoum
Special Envoy for the Foreign Ministry
Fleur Hassan-Nahoum is an Israeli politician, policy maker, and devoted advocate for innovation and economic development in Israel. She grew up in Gibraltar and studied law at King’s College in London, qualifying as a barrister at Middle Temple in 1997. After practicing law in London, she made Aliyah and worked in the nonprofit sector, later founding a communications consulting firm.
Fleur entered politics in 2016, becoming a City Councilor in Jerusalem. Later, in 2018, she was reelected to the Jerusalem Municipal Council and appointed Deputy Mayor for foreign relations, economic development, and tourism. She co-founded the UAE-Israel Business Council and the Gulf Israel Women’s Forum in 2020. Since 2023, she has been serving as Israel’s special envoy for innovation, and she is also the first woman to serve as Secretary General of Kol Israel in the World Zionist Congress.
Fleur recently joined the Misgav Institute as a senior fellow and continues to champion for women’s rights and marginalized populations in Jerusalem. She completed her tenure as Deputy Mayor in 2024 but remains active in advocating for a pluralistic and economically vibrant city. Since Oct 7 th Fleur has been a tireless voice for Israel in the international media.
Fleur Hassan-Nahoum made Aliyah from Gibraltar in 2001.
Special Recognition
Natan Sharansky
Natan Sharansky is a prominent human rights advocate, former Soviet dissident, and Israeli statesman.
Born in Donetsk, Ukraine, he became a leading figure in the struggle for Soviet Jews’ right to immigrate to Israel. After applying to make Aliyah, he was falsely accused of treason and espionage, sentenced to nine years in the Soviet Gulag, and endured harsh imprisonment. Following international campaigns by Israel, world Jewry, and global leaders, Sharansky was released in 1986 and made Aliyah on the day of his release.
In Israel, Natan founded the Zionist Forum to aid Soviet Olim in their absorption. Later, he established the Yisrael B’Aliyah party, in order to accelerate the integration of Russian Jews into Israeli society. He served in four Israeli governments as a Minister and Deputy Prime Minister.
From 2009 to 2018, he served as Chairman of the Executive of the Jewish Agency for Israel, and he continues to lead initiatives, including as founder and Chairman of the Shlihut Institute, Chair of the Institute for the Study of Global Antisemitism and Policy, and the Advisory Board of CAM – Combat Antisemitism Movement.
Natan is a recipient of the Israel Prize, Congressional Medal of Honor, and Presidential Medal of Freedom, and he has authored four books.
Natan Sharansky made Aliyah from Ukraine in 1986.
