Los Angeles, California Feb 20, 2020 (Issuewire.com) - The Younes and Soraya Nazarian Center for Israel Studies presented its UCLA Israel Studies Award to the President of Israel, Reuven Rivlin. The award was presented by UCLA Chancellor Gene Block during an evening ceremony at the Chancellor’s residence on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2020. The chancellor was joined in the award presentation by Soraya Nazarian and Sharon Nazarian, chair of the center’s Advisory Board.
“UCLA is proud to have numerous relationships with Israeli educational and cultural institutions and we are honored to have President Rivlin visit our campus,” said Chancellor Block. “I am especially proud that the Nazarian Center is a vital presence at UCLA helping us all understand the depth and complexity of Israel’s history, society and culture.”
The UCLA Israel Studies Award recognizes individuals of extraordinary character and merit in their chosen fields, whether in academia, public service, business or the arts, who have contributed to a greater understanding of Israel and have made outstanding contributions to Israeli society or culture. The award was conferred on President Rivlin in recognition of his courageous leadership celebrating the mosaic of Israeli society and promoting the values of coexistence, tolerance, equality and civility. The UCLA Israel Studies Award has only been presented two times before, to the former Chief Justice of Israel's Supreme Court Aharon Barak (in 2007) and to Israeli author Amos Oz (in 2015).
"In a period when Israeli society is facing numerous challenges and Israeli democracy is under stress, President Rivlin is the leading voice in Israel calling for shared citizenship, social inclusion, civil discourse and respect for democratic norms," said Professor Dov Waxman, director of the UCLA Y&S Nazarian Center for Israel Studies and the Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Foundation Chair in Israel Studies at UCLA.
Rivlin was elected the 10th president of the State of Israel on June 10, 2014, after having served as speaker of the Knesset and as a cabinet minister. He was first elected to the Knesset in 1988 and served seven parliamentary terms. Rivlin was twice elected as speaker of the Knesset, serving from 2003 to 2006, and again from 2009 to 2013. He served as minister of communications from 2001 to 2003. A lawyer by training, he was born in Jerusalem into the extended Rivlin family, established in Jerusalem since 1809.
About the Y&S Nazarian Center
The Younes & Soraya Nazarian Center for Israel Studies promotes the study of modern Israel at UCLA and beyond. The center sponsors courses for UCLA students, supports research in the academic field of Israel Studies, and organizes frequent public programs, including conferences, lectures, discussions, performances, films and exhibits. The center also hosts visiting academics, and bring leading scholars, policymakers and artists to UCLA. Located in Los Angeles, which boasts the second-largest Jewish and Israeli communities in the United States, the Nazarian Center was established in 2010 as the first full-fledged Israel Studies center on the West Coast. Since then, the center has become an internationally known source of expertise and education about Israel and an intellectually vibrant home for Israel Studies at UCLA.
High-resolution photos available – click below:
https://ucla.box.com/s/vmhnpt72xwzrtzgyv2t0raqooy6r9u4h
Media Contact
UCLA Younes & Soraya Nazarian Center for Israel Studies israel@international.ucla.edu (310) 825-9646 10367 Bunche Hall, Los Angeles, CA https://www.international.ucla.edu/israel/
