President Reuven (Ruvi) Rivlin received the Israel Studies Award this morning, Wednesday 19 February / 24 Shevat, from the Israel Studies Center at UCLA in Los Angeles, California.
The Younes and Soraya Nazarian Israel Studies Center was established at UCLA 10 years ago to promote the study of modern Israel by the tens of thousands of students at UCLA. The center supports research in the academic field of Israel Studies, and organizes frequent public programs, including hosting visiting Israeli academics, conferences, film screenings and other events around life in Israel. and bring leading scholars, policymakers and artists to UCLA. This is the third time the Nazarian Center has awarded the Israel Studies Award, following awards in 2015 to author Amos Oz ז"ל and former President of the Supreme Court Aharon Barak.
“The story of Younes and Soraya Nazarian, and of the Iranian-Jewish community, is inspiring, said the president. “In only a few decades, this community has made tremendous contributions to the city of Los Angeles, to the American Jewish community and to Israel and I am honored to receive this award on the Center’s ten-year anniversary, here at UCLA.”
The president added, “Israel is a success story, a miracle. In seventy-two years, we have gone from a developing country, to a world leader in innovation. But if we want to preserve this miracle, we must keep Israeli society united.”
“Now it is time, to create, together, a shared story and experience of what it is to be an Israeli. We still have a long road ahead of us, but I am truly convinced that we will succeed. We must succeed. This is the key to the prosperity and success of the State of Israel as a state that is both Jewish and democratic, democratic and Jewish at the same time.”
The president also noted, “We must work to ensure the unity of the Jewish people. We are one nation, one family. We must deepen our ties and sense of shared destiny. We in Israel are deeply concerned by the rise in anti-Semitic attacks against the fifth tribe - you, the Jewish communities. For you, rising antisemitism is not a theoretical issue. It is a real threat, from the attack on the Nessah synagogue to the terrible shooting in Poway.”
The president commented on BDS activities on college campuses in the United States and on the publication of the UN Human Rights Council’s blacklist, saying. “Fighting antisemitism does not mean silencing debate about Israel. However, on many campuses, those promoting academic boycotts seek not to encourage debate, but to shut it down. Along with the challenge of academic boycotts we are now facing the challenge of the UN blacklist which encourages economic boycotts. We thank the United States for standing with us against this shameful political decision.”
At the end of his remarks, the president said, “We are deeply grateful for the bi-partisan support for Israel’s security, prosperity and the US-Israel alliance. Maintaining bi-partisan support is critical to Israel’s national security. The US-Israel alliance is based on our deepest shared values and our most critical shared interests. This partnership has always been above party politics and so it must remain.”
Earlier in the day, Mayor of Beverly Hills John A Mirisch presented the president with the keys to the city in appreciation of the special relationship between the two countries.
President Reuven (Ruvi) Rivlin received the Israel Studies Award this morning, Wednesday 19 February / 24 Shevat, from the Israel Studies Center at UCLA in Los Angeles, California.
The Younes and Soraya Nazarian Israel Studies Center was established at UCLA 10 years ago to promote the study of modern Israel by the tens of thousands of students at UCLA. The center supports research in the academic field of Israel Studies, and organizes frequent public programs, including hosting visiting Israeli academics, conferences, film screenings and other events around life in Israel. and bring leading scholars, policymakers and artists to UCLA. This is the third time the Nazarian Center has awarded the Israel Studies Award, following awards in 2015 to author Amos Oz ז"ל and former President of the Supreme Court Aharon Barak.
“The story of Younes and Soraya Nazarian, and of the Iranian-Jewish community, is inspiring, said the president. “In only a few decades, this community has made tremendous contributions to the city of Los Angeles, to the American Jewish community and to Israel and I am honored to receive this award on the Center’s ten-year anniversary, here at UCLA.”
The president added, “Israel is a success story, a miracle. In seventy-two years, we have gone from a developing country, to a world leader in innovation. But if we want to preserve this miracle, we must keep Israeli society united.”
“Now it is time, to create, together, a shared story and experience of what it is to be an Israeli. We still have a long road ahead of us, but I am truly convinced that we will succeed. We must succeed. This is the key to the prosperity and success of the State of Israel as a state that is both Jewish and democratic, democratic and Jewish at the same time.”
The president also noted, “We must work to ensure the unity of the Jewish people. We are one nation, one family. We must deepen our ties and sense of shared destiny. We in Israel are deeply concerned by the rise in anti-Semitic attacks against the fifth tribe - you, the Jewish communities. For you, rising antisemitism is not a theoretical issue. It is a real threat, from the attack on the Nessah synagogue to the terrible shooting in Poway.”
The president commented on BDS activities on college campuses in the United States and on the publication of the UN Human Rights Council’s blacklist, saying. “Fighting antisemitism does not mean silencing debate about Israel. However, on many campuses, those promoting academic boycotts seek not to encourage debate, but to shut it down. Along with the challenge of academic boycotts we are now facing the challenge of the UN blacklist which encourages economic boycotts. We thank the United States for standing with us against this shameful political decision.”
At the end of his remarks, the president said, “We are deeply grateful for the bi-partisan support for Israel’s security, prosperity and the US-Israel alliance. Maintaining bi-partisan support is critical to Israel’s national security. The US-Israel alliance is based on our deepest shared values and our most critical shared interests. This partnership has always been above party politics and so it must remain.”
Earlier in the day, Mayor of Beverly Hills John A Mirisch presented the president with the keys to the city in appreciation of the special relationship between the two countries.
