Presidential Award for Volunteerism given to 19 individuals, organizations

Israel’s president presents the award to be able to foster volunteerism for the advantage of people, communities, and the entire of Israeli society.

At a time when unhappiness and psychological trauma have seeped into Israel’s spirit, there isn’t any simpler emotional balm than being surrounded by tons of of volunteers representing a large number of different volunteers giving of themselves to others.

The ceremony on the President’s Residence in Jerusalem earlier this month bestowing the Presidential Award for Volunteerism (previously the President’s Volunteer Prize) was such an event. The prize was established by Israel’s fourth president, Ephraim Katzir, and has been awarded to 12 individuals every year since 1974. This time, the variety of recipients – people and nonprofit organizations – was expanded to 19 due to the outpouring of help supplied by peculiar residents to others when the federal government froze after Oct. 7.

Israel’s president presents the award to be able to foster volunteerism for the advantage of people, communities, and the entire of Israeli society, and thus to contribute to Israel’s societal material and its social cohesion on humane and private grounds. It’s granted in cooperation with the Nationwide Council for Volunteerism in Israel, saluting younger and previous individuals, secular and non secular residents, and Jews, Muslims, Druze, Christians, and others in Israel.

It has served for example for overseas presidents desirous to encourage volunteerism in their very own international locations. Assistants of US president George H.W. Bush who realized concerning the Presidential Award for Volunteerism from the workplace of the President of Israel established the same award in America.

OPENING THE latest ceremony, President Isaac Herzog mentioned: “In a time of struggle, after we are so typically confronted with distressing information, it’s each a privilege and a pleasure for Michal and me to host this extraordinary group of volunteers – people and organizations – who deliver us satisfaction and are accountable for a lot excellent news.

“But even at this transferring second, we can not ignore our damaged hearts, our longing, our fear, and our craving for our brothers and sisters who stay in captivity by the hands of ruthless murderers. Their voices cry out from beneath the bottom, reminding us of our supreme human, Jewish, and Israeli obligation: to deliver them house. We should repay this sacred debt to the hostages, to their households, and to ourselves. We pray for his or her swift return.”

The president, who hosted the ceremony together with first woman Michal Herzog, confused that whereas the ceremony takes place on the President’s Residence, it’s firstly the individuals’s home, “simply because the President’s Volunteer Medal is really the individuals of Israel’s volunteer medal. Behind the salute we offer you right this moment stands a whole nation, so happy with your work, your spirit, and the extraordinary Israeli variety you characterize,” he mentioned.

“Now will not be a time for incitement, extremism, or battle. That is the vital second for moderation, compromise, and unity. Now could be the time for therapeutic.”

Nurit Dabush, chair of the President’s Advisory Committee, mentioned: “We within the committee met the gorgeous face of Israel in all its variety. These are individuals who didn’t look ahead to a name however rolled up their sleeves and took instant motion. Even right this moment, as my family mourns the lack of Idan Shtivi, my cousin’s grandson, I stand right here grateful for the spirit of giving, figuring out that the everlasting nation won’t ever be damaged.”

On a desk had been 19 awards, every comprised of gold-colored disks. On all sides, the Hebrew alphabet perforates the fabric, making it attainable for gentle to shine symbolically via the shapes. The gleam flowing via the letters runs just like the divine declaration. “And there was gentle” is etched on the medal.

The verdant President Residence grounds the place the ceremony was held was punctuated by 12 Golden Retrievers which are the emissaries of a volunteer particular person and group who had been amongst those that had been granted awards.

These honored

The honorees had been divided into two classes – organizations and people.

Group honorees:

• Belev Echad (One Coronary heart) was cited for connecting volunteers with farmers throughout the nation after they abruptly misplaced overseas staff and Israeli farmers who had been known as up for reserve obligation. In addition they helped households of reservists who had been left to deal with each day issues and keep their routines.

• Ofakim La’Atid (Horizons for the Future), a non-political group established by Assad Subeh, a former commander of the IDF’s Herev Battalion, is dedicated to selling the well-being of Israel’s Druze group whereas preserving its traditions and values.

• SOS Animals saves stray canine and cats from being put down because of the lack of area in animal shelters. It finds loving foster and endlessly properties for them.

• Beit Al HaYam (House on the Sea) is a nonprofit group that empowers at-risk youth, individuals with particular wants, and folks affected by psychotrauma and their households, utilizing the ocean. By way of accessible browsing and crusing, it offers life-changing experiences for its contributors.

• Ha’ahim Shelanu (Our Brothers Basis) was based to offer bereaved Israeli siblings who misplaced a brother or sister from the Conflict of Independence via right this moment a way of belonging. Help teams have been established all through the nation with workshops and commemoration actions, enabling them to inform the story of the fallen – the one who they had been, the moments shared, and each day life with out them, all via their brother’s and sister’s eyes.

• Haogen Le’mishpahot Ha’miluim (Anchor for Reservists’ Households) assists households the place one of many dad and mom has been drafted into reserve obligation. It was based on Oct. 7, 2023, with the deep understanding that when troopers exit to defend the nation, that is additionally a problem for his or her nuclear household. Its 20,000 volunteers help about 30,000 reservist households in 800 communities throughout the nation.

• Mehandesim Lelo Gvulot (Engineers With out Borders) makes the properties of tons of of wounded troopers acceptable to their disabilities, enabling them to maneuver freely inside.

• Ayelet HaShachar (Morning Star) is a nonprofit group working towards making a united society of Israeli non secular and non-religious Jews and works collectively to bridge the social hole dividing Israel and break the stereotypes at each ends of the spectrum.

Particular person honorees:

• Maj. Meitar Sela organizes homeowners of service canine and different well-trained Golden Retrievers to go to 1000’s of wounded individuals in hospitals and traumatized individuals, serving to to alleviate their ache, loneliness, and PTSD.

• Shamai Keinan, who has been the volunteer board chairman of Jerusalem’s Herzog Medical Middle for 25 years, labored to deal with nationwide crises, such because the coronavirus pandemic, and raised funds to significantly develop the hospital’s psychiatric, rehabilitation, and nursing providers.

• Janet Asido encourages the aged to volunteer all through the nation, serving to them to contribute to others in emergencies, resembling making blankets and scarves for troopers, and supporting bereaved households.

• Halabi Boutaynah is a Druze volunteer who promotes consciousness and appreciation of the Holocaust amongst Druze, Arab, and Jewish youth – stressing that struggling throughout the Nazi period has a common message and that everybody has the duty to recollect it.

• Dan Blorian, a retired police officer, has volunteered for a few years in oncology and psychiatric wards in hospitals.

• Louisa Bergman, a 91-year-old retired trainer, has organized workshops for most cancers sufferers, highway accident victims, and the disabled, and educated yoga lecturers.

• Amir Rahal Al-Heib has empowered Bedouin IDF troopers, officers, and veterans and lectured on the significance of them serving within the navy.

• Meir Marciano, a former longtime worker within the Kiryat Shmona Municipality, strengthened households who needed to go away their properties attributable to assaults on town.

• Tamar Richter-Haimovitz established a novel group that helps non-married companions of fallen troopers.

• Eden Shalev, who was wounded early in her IDF service, offers help to others wounded like herself, giving hope that there’s “gentle on the finish of the tunnel.”

• Amir Khodorov, a former Israel Air Power pilot, artist, and photographer, created a memorial for victims of the Hamas bloodbath on the Supernova music competition on Oct. 7. Chosen to talk on behalf of all 19 honorees, Khodorov mentioned, “I puzzled what unites all of us who’re standing right here right this moment. The reply is obvious: the shared function of main the individuals of Israel towards a way forward for hope.

“After Oct. 7, we stepped out of our consolation zones and took motion, day and night time, with out pause, in initiatives of which means and significance. Our frequent purpose is nothing lower than to construct a way forward for renewal and hope.” ■