The Zusman-JDC Prize, the largest award in the field of social action in Israel, was presented last night to the following organizations: “Or LaMishpachot” (Light for Families), “Ethiopian Women Empower”, and the “Youth for Employment” team.
In the shadow of the “Swords of Iron” war and with the aim of strengthening Israeli resilience: The Zusman-JDC Prize, the largest award in the field of social action in Israel, was presented last night (10/9) in an impressive ceremony attended by members of the Zusman family at the JDC-Israel headquarters in Jerusalem. From among over 200 candidates, and against the backdrop of the consequences of the “October 7 events”, three groundbreaking social initiatives that made significant contributions to strengthening the resilience of Israeli society were chosen this year:
In the category of ‘Promoting Physical, Emotional, or Mental Functioning’: Irit Oren Gonders, Chairwoman of “Or LaMishpachot” (Light for Families) – assists bereaved families in returning to the circle of life after loss.
In the category of Promoting Community and Settlement Resilience: Racheli Tadesa Malkai, CEO of “Ethiopian Women Empower” – leads a community of Ethiopian-Israeli women towards economic, personal, and social empowerment.
In the category of ‘Promoting Economic Resilience of At-Risk Populations’: The “Youth for Employment” team – a unique collaboration between AJEEC, Tamar Association, and ‘Mona – Space for Change’, promoting employment among Arab youth.
The prizes were presented to the winners by: Marilyn Zusman, Francis Zusman, and Itamar Ben-Hur, Acting CEO of JDC-Israel.
This is the 21st year that the Zusman-JDC Prize has been awarded for excellence in the field of social service development in Israel. Each of the three winning teams will receive a prize of up to $25,000.
Itamar Ben-Hur, Acting CEO of JDC Israel: “In the shadow of the ‘Swords of Iron’ war, we see that the socio-economic challenges that existed before the war have only deepened. The prize categories we decided on this year reflect these challenges, and the critical role of the social sector in developing solutions adapted to the changing dynamic reality. The prize winners demonstrate entrepreneurial, innovative, and groundbreaking thinking, and the development of tailored social solutions for the most vulnerable populations in Israeli society. My thanks to the Zusman family for their long-standing cooperation both within the framework of the prize and in the framework of many social services developed with their assistance in general and with the JDC organization in particular.”
