Genesis Prize Honors Hadassah
Hadassah has been recognized with the 2023 Genesis Prize for their work supporting the Ukrainian people during the Russian invasion.
Hadassah is among the Jewish activists and NGOs honored with the 2023 Genesis Prize for their work supporting the Ukrainian people in the wake of a profound humanitarian crisis.
The Genesis Prize, considered the “Jewish Nobel,” is awarded annually to Jewish individuals and NGOs worldwide to honor accomplishment, impact on humanity and Jewish values. The Hadassah Medical Organization (HMO) quickly mobilized teams of primary-care and support personnel and shipped vital equipment to Poland’s border with Ukraine.
“The past 11 months have been unlike any previous period in the 10-year history of the Genesis Prize, with war, destruction, and human suffering on a scale unseen since World War II. But there has also been human kindness, compassion, and activism on an unprecedented scale,” said Stan Polovets, founder and chair of the Genesis Prize Foundation, and Trustee Natan Sharansky in a joint statement. “Across the world, thousands of individuals and organizations were moved to action — making a moral choice to volunteer, donate money, shelter refugees and engage in political advocacy.”
“Our Jewish values tell us that when there is a crisis and we can make an impact we need to act — and act we did,” said Hadassah CEO Naomi Adler. “We are grateful that the Genesis Prize Foundation recognized the efforts of not only Hadassah but also the entire Jewish community to help the Ukrainian people and alleviate suffering.
During the crisis, more than 100 Israeli doctors and nurses were flown in to set up the mission’s medical clinics in a team rotation over long months and at numerous locations. Accompanying the mission were support personnel, who organized collaborative efforts, made contact with the local authorities and other NGOs on the ground, and facilitated the needs of the HMO medical teams. HMO trauma experts shared protocols and experience with mass casualty events.
“We are so grateful to everyone who made this work possible, including generous donors, who together raised an important amount of money to make Hadassah’s humanitarian efforts possible, and volunteers, medical professionals and staff who helped bring these efforts to life,” said Hadassah National President Rhoda Smolow.
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