The Genesis Prize Foundation has announced that its 2024 “Jewish Nobel” prize will be awarded to Israeli organizations that advocate for hostages held in Gaza and support them and their families upon release. According to Stan Polovets, Genesis Prize co-founder and CEO, the $1 million prize aims to ensure the world does not forget the captives’ plight, provide additional aid to assisting organizations, and honor the selfless work of volunteers who emerged after the hostage crisis began on October 7th.
The award marks the Genesis Prize’s second group prize, following its 2023 recognition of Jewish groups aiding civilians in Ukraine. While not a political statement, Polovets said the Humanitarian 2024 prize seeks to recognize inspiring grassroots activists upholding Jewish values of life and freedom amid harrowing circumstances.
Among those activists are the parents of 26-year-old hostage Noa Argamani. Her father Yaakov expressed gratitude that the prestigious Jewish award would remind the world of all hostages’ suffering and support tireless advocacy for their release. The selection committee initially chose five Israeli non-profits for aid, with potential additions later per evolving needs.
The non-profits include the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, which assists families with medical, emotional, and professional support; the Jewish Agency for Israel’s Terror Victim Fund, which provides emergency aid to terror victims; Lev Echad, which aids abductees’ families with mental, financial, and logistical needs; NATAL, which offers trauma treatment to indirect terror victims; and OneFamily, which helps rehabilitate entire families of Israeli terror casualties.
Polovets said these groups and relatives of hostages like the Argamanis represent the resilient Jewish spirit, upholding core values amid trauma. As such, the 2024 prize also honors these families’ remarkable efforts to free hostages and support their rehabilitation. It continues the Genesis Prize’s mission of fostering Jewish unity and recognizing those who epitomize Jewish values through contributing to humanity.
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