JERUSALEM – West Hartford native Dore Gold is one of seven outstanding Olim (immigrants to Israel) to receive the 2020 Sylvan Adams Nefesh B’Nefesh Bonei Zion Prize, it was announced last week by Rabbi Yehoshua Fass, Nefesh B’Nefesh co-founder and executive director. 

Hundreds of Olim from English-speaking countries were nominated for the prize, which recognizes outstanding Anglo Olim who have made a major contribution to the State of Israel by encapsulating the spirit of modern-day Zionism.

Gold, who made aliyah in 1980 and currently resides in Jerusalem, is one of Israel’s most distinguished envoys. Among his prominent posts, he served as ambassador to the United Nations in 1997-1999 and director-general of Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 2015-2016. In that latter role, Gold was instrumental in expanding Israel’s ties with Africa, the Arab world, and Asia. He has also served as an advisor on international issues to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and as an envoy to the Palestinian Authority, Egypt, Jordan and the Gulf States. 

Today, Gold serves as the president of the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs, a leading independent research institute specializing in public diplomacy and foreign policy.

Other Bonei Zion honorees include: David Blatt, former basketball coach, Maccabi Tel Aviv; Debbie Gross, director of Tahel Crisis Center for Religious Women and Children; Professor Deborah Rund, director of Plasmapheresis Unit, Hadassah Medical Organization; and Reuven (Bob) Asch, former chief psychologist, Ministry of Education.

The Lifetime Achievement Award was awarded to Avraham Infeld.

“The individuals receiving this year’s Bonei Zion Prize are shining examples of the impact one can have on an entire field of study and practice, and they give us great hope for the State of Israel. Celebrating these honorees is a reminder that the Zionist dream is thriving,” said Fass.

Main Photo: Dore Gold (Courtesy Jared Bernstein)