Throughout the history of humanity, there has always been a significant event that has ultimately brought people of an impacted community ever so close together. Regardless of the significant event, which could be anything from a natural disaster to a generationally inspiring sporting event, people committedly pull together to either celebrate the success or progress of one of their own joyously or mourn a tragic loss. These are the moments that define humanity and its highly versatile ability to be resilient during historically significant times. This is the background of the Jerusalem Unity Prize, which was established to acknowledge similarly significant moments and the people or institutions behind the successful enabling of growth and prosperity in the community.
Background
It has become common practice in numerous communities to have deliberate efforts towards improving the livelihoods of those in disadvantaged circumstances honored and acknowledged. Jewish people from Israel and across the world have in recent years established an award, the Jerusalem Unity Prize, handed to individuals, initiatives, and organizations alike to mark and celebrate their efforts in the community aimed at alleviating unfortunate social or economic circumstances such as extreme poverty and domestic violence as well as child abuse.
The families of Gil-ad Shaer, Eyal Iftrach, and Naftali Fraenkel Z”l, collaborated with the then Mayor of Jerusalem, Nir Barkat to establish the Jerusalem Unity Prize. This came after the tragic and traumatizing kidnapping and subsequent murders of Gil-ad Shaer, Eyal Iftrach, and Naftali Fraenkel Z”l. the horrifying ordeal that took place in the summer of 2014 plunged the entire Jewish community into shock, anguish, and despair led to the establishment of this prize which is issued on Unity Day to deserving parties carrying out selfless humanitarian activities not just in Israel but beyond as well.
The 18 days of excruciating uncertainty that hovered over the Jewish community due to what had befallen those innocent boys ultimately had a profoundly uniting impact. Different came together, joined their hands and set aside their differences and came together in support of the family as well as the community at large. While such horrific acts tend to destabilize and turn a whole community’s population against itself, this particular ordeal appealed to the empathic side of the Jewish people and culminated in the Jerusalem Unity Prize being established to further promote the progressive attitude of togetherness.
Given the significant presence of the Jewish population worldwide, celebrating Unity Day and awarding the Jerusalem Unity Prize has quickly caught on and is further being embraced due to its notable contributions towards having a more united people. Since its inception, Unity Day has impacted the lives of over 1.5 million people who celebrate this day across more than 25 countries in the world. A considerable number of institutions and organizations, such as youth groups, social movements, and schools, have been brought together to promote unity among individuals from different regions with diverse cultures. This globally renowned endeavor has served to not only unite the Jewish people but as well to bring down crime levels significantly by appealing to the community to shun crime-triggering stimuli such as extremist agenda peddling.