Genesis Prize

The Genesis Prize (Hebrew: פרס בראשית) is a $1 million annual prize awarded to Jewish people who have achieved significant professional success, in recognition of their accomplishments, contributions to humanity, and commitment to Jewish values.

Not to be confused with Genesis Awards.
The Genesis Prize
Awarded forOutstanding expression of Jewish values or service to the Jewish community and/or to the State of Israel.
Date2013 (2013)
First awarded2014
Websitewww.genesisprize.org

The prize was founded in 2012 with a $100 million endowment from five Russian philanthropists: Mikhail Fridman, Pyotr Aven, German Khan, Stan Polovets, and Alexander Knaster.[1][2] The prize was established under the administration of the Genesis Prize Foundation, in partnership with the Israeli Prime Minister's Office[3] and the Jewish Agency for Israel.[4] It has been referred to as the "Jewish Nobel Prize", causing some commentators to question the need for a "Jewish" Nobel Prize.[5][6]

In 2018, prize winner Natalie Portman declined to attend the prize ceremony because Israel's prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, was set to give a speech at the ceremony.[7] In 2019 Robert Kraft's award was also questioned because of his legal troubles.[8]

In 2021, Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks was awarded a posthumous Genesis Lifetime Achievement Award, presented to his wife by President of Israel, Isaac Herzog.[9]

Thus far, all laureates have opted to give the $1 million prize money to philanthropic causes of their choice.[10]

Laureate selection

Members of the committee that selects Genesis Prize laureates are chosen based on their leadership and support for Jewish causes.[11][12][13] Current and former committee members include Elie Wiesel, Meir Shamgar, Lawrence Summers, Yuli Edelstein, Jonathan Sacks, Isaac Herzog, and Nathan Sharansky.[13]

In 2020, the Foundation opened the selection process to online voting and invited the public to nominate and vote for the 2021 Genesis Prize Laureate.[14] Close to two hundred thousand Jews on six continents participated in the voting.[15] The final selection of the Laureate remains with the two committees.[16]

Laureates

Genesis Prize laureates
Year Laureate Main occupations Country Rationale
2014 Michael R. Bloomberg mayor of New York City, co-founder and CEO of Bloomberg L.P.  United States For his "track record of outstanding public service and his role as one of the world's greatest philanthropists".[1][17]
Bloomberg donated his award to a subsequent competition, the Genesis Generation Challenge, to fund young adults' ideas to solve major problems.[18] Nine projects were selected from submissions: Building Up, eNable 3D Printed Prosthetics, Friends of the Arava Institute, LAVAN, Prize4Life, Sanergy, Sesame, Spark, and the Vera Fellowship Program.[19]
2015 Michael Douglas actor, film producer  United States For "his body of work as an actor and producer; his passionate advocacy as a UN Messenger of Peace, focusing on human rights, gun violence prevention, and nuclear anti-proliferation work; and for his passion for his Jewish heritage".[20][21][22]
Douglas' award led to a program called "Avenues to Jewish Engagement for Intermarried Couples and their families," which dispersed $3.3 million in grants to organizations promoting the engagement of intermarried families in Jewish life.[20] A second set of grants were disbursed in 2016.[23]
2016 Itzhak Perlman violinist  Israel /
 United States		 For his "story of overcoming extraordinary personal challenges to excel as one of the world's great musicians and humanitarians".
The prize was doubled by a donation from Roman Abramovich to $2 million.[24][25] Perlman re-gifted the funds to fund grant programs to support initiatives for people with disabilities in North America and in Israel, and for arts and culture.[25]
2017 Anish Kapoor sculptor specializing in installation art and conceptual art  United Kingdom /  India As "one of the most influential and innovative artists of his generation".[26]
Kapoor said he would direct his $1 million award to helping alleviate the ongoing Syrian refugee crisis and focus on expanding the Jewish community's engagement in a global effort to support refugees.[26][27]
2018 Natalie Portman actress  Israel /
 United States		 "In recognition of her commitment to social causes and deep connection to her Jewish and Israeli roots."[28]
The prize was doubled by a donation from Morris Kahn to $2 million.[29] Portman said she would donate her award funds to philanthropic programs focused on women's equality, education, economic advancement, health, and political participation.[28][30]
2018[fn 1] Ruth Bader Ginsburg associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States  United States For her "contribution to the development of a fair and just society that provides equal opportunity for all."
The Genesis Prize Foundation announced that U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was selected as the inaugural recipient of the Genesis Lifetime Achievement Award. The Award coincides with the fifth anniversary of the Genesis Prize.[32]
2019 Robert Kraft CEO of the Kraft Group, owner of the New England Patriots  United States "In recognition of his philanthropy and commitment to combatting anti-Semitism." Kraft's prize money was donated to initiatives that combat anti-Semitism and prejudice.[33]
2020 Natan Sharansky Soviet dissident, Chairman of the Executive for the Jewish Agency  Israel In recognition, as a "legendary advocate for freedom, democracy and human rights."[34][35] His prize money was used to fund innovative solutions and interventions to the COVID-19 pandemic.[36][37]
2021 Steven Spielberg filmmaker, the most commercially successful director in history[38]  United States For "his contribution to cinema, his philanthropic works and his efforts to preserve the memory of the Holocaust."[39]
His prize money was donated to U.S. non-profits fighting for racial and economic justice.[40]
2021[fn 2] Sirjonathansacks_(headshot) Rabbi Lord Johnathan Sacks Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth  United Kingdom For "his extraordinary role in inspiring the next generation of Jews, and his illustrious life-long work as a teacher of Jewish values and an advocate of inter-religious and inter-cultural dialogue."[41]
2022 Albert_Bourla Albert Bourla veterinarian, CEO of Pfizer  Greece /
 United States		 For "leadership, determination, and willingness to assume great risk, which resulted in the Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine being ready in record time: months instead of years."[42]
2023 Jewish activists and NGOs supporting Ukraine For "working to uphold Ukraine's independence and alleviate the suffering of the people of Ukraine."[43]
2023 Barbra_Streisand_with_Francis_Collins_and_Anthony_Fauci_(27806589237) Barbra Streisand singer, actress, director  United States For "six decades of Streisand’s contributions to cinema and music and her commitment to improving the world."[44]

Controversies

The Prize came under scrutiny from the start for its "right-leaning, overwhelmingly male selection committee."[45]

According to Haaretz, Ruth Bader Ginsburg was initially the sole 2018 award recipient. But according to a committee source, when the Prime Minister's Office learned that a critic of Trump would be publicly given an award by Netanyahu, it was transferred to Portman. As consolation, Ginsburg was given a separate "Lifetime Achievement Award." Another committee source denied this was the reason the award was changed.[46]

On November 7, 2017, the Genesis Prize Foundation announced that actress Natalie Portman was the 2018 Genesis Prize Laureate, and that she would donate the $1 million Genesis Prize Award to philanthropic programs focused on women's equality, education, economic advancement, health, and political participation.[28][30] A month later, Israeli philanthropist Morris Kahn pledged another $1 million in Portman's honor, bringing the total gift to $2 million.[29] The prize ceremony was canceled in April 2018 after Portman's representatives told the press that "recent events in Israel have been extremely distressing to her and she does not feel comfortable participating in any public events in Israel." Portman later claimed that she was not boycotting Israel, but that she didn't want to "appear as endorsing" prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who was set to give a speech at the ceremony.[47][29][48]

In January 2020, partly as a result of the Portman controversy, the Genesis Prize Foundation and the Israeli Prime Minister's Office agreed to terminate their agreement[49] which required the Prime Minister to present the award to the Genesis Prize Laureate at a ceremony in Jerusalem.[50]

In 2019, Prize Laureate Robert Kraft was named as one of more than 200 people involved in a Florida solicitation sting operation.[51] Genesis Prize Foundation Chairman Stan Polovets said that the Prize to Kraft would not be rescinded, noting that in democratic countries “everyone is entitled to the presumption of innocence.”[52] All charges against Kraft were later dropped.[53]

Laureates per country

Below is a chart of all laureates per country (updated to 2023 laureates). Some laureates are counted more than once if have multiple citizenship.

Country Number of laureates
 United States 9
 Israel 3
 United Kingdom 2
 India 1
 Greece 1

Notes
  1. Lifetime achievement honoree[31]
  2. Lifetime achievement honoree

References
  1. Fitzsimmons, Emma G. (20 October 2013). "Bloomberg Is First to Receive a $1 Million Jewish Award". The New York Times. Retrieved 18 December 2016.
  2. Herszenhorn, David M. (26 June 2012). "Russians Establish $1 Million Jewish Prize With Israel". The New York Times. Retrieved 18 December 2016.
  3. Kershner, Isabel; Specia, Megan (2018-04-20). "Natalie Portman Backs Out of Israeli Award Ceremony". The New York Times. Retrieved 2022-08-16.
  4. "Elie Wiesel, Yuli Edelstein to help select Genesis Prize winner". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. 25 March 2013. Retrieved 18 December 2016.
  5. Dolsten, Josefin (February 22, 2019). "The Robert Kraft prostitute scandal is another PR headache for the 'Jewish Nobel' prize". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Retrieved September 1, 2020.
  6. "Do the Jews really need their own Nobel Prize?". Jewish Journal (in Latin). March 7, 2019. Retrieved September 1, 2020.
  7. "Natalie Portman says not boycotting Israel, but Netanyahu for 'atrocities'". Jerusalem Post. April 21, 2018. Retrieved April 21, 2018.
  8. Dolsten, Josefin (February 23, 2019). "Robert Kraft prostitute scandal another PR headache for the 'Jewish Nobel' prize". The Times of Israel. Retrieved September 1, 2020.
  9. Cohen, Justin (November 22, 2021). "Rabbi Sacks posthumously given lifetime achievement award at London dinner".
  10. "Natan Sharansky awarded the 2020 Genesis Prize". mfa.gov.il. December 24, 2020. Retrieved 2021-02-10.
  11. "Wayne Firestone Named President of Genesis Prize Foundation". ejewishphilanthropy.com. Retrieved 18 December 2016.
  12. "Eli Wiesel se unió al comité de personalidades que elige al ganador del Premio Nobel Judío". www.itongadol.com.ar (in Spanish). 24 March 2013. Retrieved 18 December 2016.
  13. "Elie Wiesel appointed to Genesis Prize Committee". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 18 December 2016.
  14. "Genesis Prize laureate online voting campaign is completed". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 2021-01-17.
  15. Lavie, Dan (2020-09-17). "Genesis Prize asks public to vote on nominees for 2021". JNS.org. Retrieved 2021-01-17.
  16. Candid. "Robert Kraft Launches Foundation to Combat Anti-Semitism". Philanthropy News Digest (PND). Retrieved 2021-01-17.
  17. "New York Mayor Bloomberg to be awarded the 'Jewish Nobel Prize'". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 18 December 2016.
  18. "Bloomberg to use inaugural Genesis Prize for new fellowship". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. 22 May 2014. Retrieved 18 December 2016.
  19. "Bloomberg's Genesis Prize money goes to work". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. 28 April 2015. Retrieved 18 December 2016.
  20. "Genesis Prize Foundation and Jewish Funders Network Launch Matching Grants Initiative in Honor of Michael Douglas". ejewishphilanthropy.com. Retrieved 18 December 2016.
  21. "Jay Leno Makes Comeback in Israel". US News. Archived from the original on 2015-03-10. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
  22. Fleishman, Jeffrey. "Michael Douglas to be honored by the Genesis Prize Foundation". latimes.com. Retrieved 18 December 2016.
  23. "Jewish Funders Network announces recipients of Matching Grants in honor of Genesis Prize Laureate Michael Douglas". ejewishphilanthropy.com. Retrieved 18 December 2016.
  24. "Helen Mirren to present Genesis Prize and appear at Jerusalem Cinematheque". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 18 December 2016.
  25. "With $1 million Genesis Prize, violinist Itzhak Perlman eyes a more inclusive world". JNS.org. Retrieved 18 December 2016.
  26. Linde, Steve. "Sir Anish Kapoor wins 2017 Genesis Prize". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 28 June 2017.
  27. Cohen, Rachel. "Genesis prize announces grant to fund breakthrough treatment for Syrian refugees". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 25 September 2017.
  28. "Natalie Portman honored in Israel with 'Jewish Nobel Prize'". USA Today. Associated Press. 7 November 2017. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
  29. Maltz, Judy (20 April 2018). "Natalie Portman to Keep $2m Genesis Prize Despite Boycotting Israel Ceremony, Source Says". Haaretz. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
  30. Sabur, Rozina (20 April 2018). "Natalie Portman pulls out of 'Jewish Nobel' over recent events in Israel". The Telegraph. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
  31. Shimron, Yonat. "Ruth Bader Ginsburg was passionate about Judaism's concern for justice". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2021-01-17.
  32. "Jewish group honors Ginsburg for lifetime achievement" Washington Post, November 15, 2017 AP
  33. "Israel Awards Patriots Owner Kraft the 'Jewish Nobel' Prize". The New York Times. 9 January 2019. Retrieved 14 January 2019.
  34. "Natan Sharansky, 2020 Genesis Prize Laureate". Genesisprize.org Post. 10 December 2019. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  35. Federman, Joseph (9 December 2019). "Natan Sharansky receives Israel's prestigious Genesis Prize". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 10 December 2019. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  36. "Sharansky Sponsors Firms Fighting COVID-19 With $1M Genesis Prize". NoCamels. 2020-12-24. Retrieved 2021-02-10.
  37. "Natan Sharansky gives to Weizmann COVID-19 research | Former Soviet refusenik donates his Genesis Prize money to pandemic needs worldwide". WeizmannCompass. 2020-06-17. Retrieved 2021-02-10.
  38. "Top Grossing Director at the Worldwide Box Office". The Numbers. Retrieved 2023-05-09.
  39. Federman, Josef (February 10, 2021). "Spielberg wins Genesis Prize for films, philanthropy". AP NEWS. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
  40. Associated Press. "Spielberg Donates Genesis Prize Money to Justice Nonprofits". US News. US News. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  41. Cohen, Justin. "Rabbi Sacks posthumously given lifetime achievement award at London dinner". www.jewishnews.co.uk.
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