The Herzl Award is awarded annually by the Department for Zionist Activities of the
World Zionist Organization
The World Zionist Organization ( he, הַהִסְתַּדְּרוּת הַצִּיּוֹנִית הָעוֹלָמִית; ''HaHistadrut HaTzionit Ha'Olamit''), or WZO, is a non-governmental organization that promotes Zionism. It was founded as the ...
(WZO) to outstanding young men and women in recognition of their exceptional efforts on behalf of Israel and the Zionist cause. The award was first awarded in 1954 to Winston Churchill, on the centennial anniversary of
Theodore Herzl
Theodor Herzl; hu, Herzl Tivadar; Hebrew name given at his brit milah: Binyamin Ze'ev (2 May 1860 – 3 July 1904) was an Austro-Hungarian Jewish lawyer, journalist, playwright, political activist, and writer who was the father of modern p ...
's death.
Background
Herzl was the father of political
Zionism
Zionism ( he, צִיּוֹנוּת ''Tsiyyonut'' after '' Zion'') is a nationalist movement that espouses the establishment of, and support for a homeland for the Jewish people centered in the area roughly corresponding to what is known in Je ...
. Even though he died at the young age of 44, of which only 9 were dedicated to the Zionist cause, he was able to mobilize the forces and create the infrastructure that would revolutionize the Jewish world and bring about the realization of the Jewish people's age-old dream of returning to Zion.
Award requirements
According to the site of the WZO candidates are nominated by Zionist Federations around the world for achievement in one or more of several fields:
* Encouraging aliyah
* Promoting Zionist education (formal or informal)
* Fostering the study of Hebrew
* Advocating on behalf of Israel
* Furthering the development of Israel as an exemplary society
* Contributing to the advancement of Zionist thought
* Organizing on behalf of the Zionist movement
Nominees must be no older than 44, Herzl's age at the time of his death.
Recipients
All Herzl Award recipients receive a distinctive certificate and an engraved cast bronze trophy, as well as being inscribed in a special Herzl album in Jerusalem.
In addition, the Winner of the South African Zionist Federation's "Zionist Quiz" for schools is awarded a Herzl Prize (through 2009).
References
{{Reflist, refs=
[{{cite web, url=http://jafi.org/JewishAgency/English/Home/Jewish+Agency+Resources/JAFI+WZO+Related+Sites/WZO/HERZL/Herzl+Award+Recipients.htm, title=Herzl Award Recipients 2006, publisher=]Jewish Agency for Israel
The Jewish Agency for Israel ( he, הסוכנות היהודית לארץ ישראל, translit=HaSochnut HaYehudit L'Eretz Yisra'el) formerly known as The Jewish Agency for Palestine, is the largest Jewish non-profit organization in the world. ...
, date=May 7, 2006, accessdate=September 12, 2014
[{{cite web, url=https://diariojudio.com/comunidad-judia-mexico/por-primera-vez-una-mujer-recibe-el-premio-herzl-felicidades-a-rebeca-mischne/314603/, title=Por primera vez una mujer recibe el Premio Herzl, publisher= Diario Judio, date=Dec 5, 2019, accessdate=January 29, 2020]
External links
"Jewish Ledger"
Israeli awards
Lists of Israeli award winners
Politics awards
Zionism