Jerusalem—Michael Freund, founder and chairman of the Shavei Israel organization, received the Lion of Zion Award by the Moskowitz Prize for Zionism in a special ceremony that took place at the National Park at Emek Tzurim in Jerusalem. Other prize recipients included Rabbi Yosef Tzvi Rimon, founder of the NGO “Job Katif,” and Dr. Gabi Barkay, an Israeli archeologist who has led the Council against Destruction of the Antiquities of the Temple Mount.
The annual prize, totaling $100,000, was established by Dr. Irving and Cherna Moskowitz as an “expression of support for people who put Zionism into action” in modern Israeli society. Hundreds of candidates were fielded for this year’s prize, and the winners were selected after an in-depth process by a prize committee. The committee included Prof. Moshe Arens, Rabbi Yedidya Atlas, Amb. Yoram Ettinger, Rebbetzin Esther Jungreis, Brig. Gen. Avigdor Kahalani, Rabbi Pesach Lerner, and Rabbi Daniel Moskowitz.
Michael Freund founded the Shavei Israel organization in 2002 to strengthen the ties of the Jewish people with groups of Jewish origin and others who wish to become part of the Jewish people. Shavei Israel has been reaching out to the Bnei Menashe of India, “hidden Jews” of Poland and of Italy, the Bnei Anousim of Portugal, and others.
The immigrants, who hail from the northeastern Indian state of Manipur, were brought to Israel by Shavei Israel, which received permission from the Israeli government last October to bring 900 Bnei Menashe to the Jewish state by 2015.
Earlier this year, Shavei Israel brought the first group of 160 Bnei Menashe on aliyah from the Indian state of Mizoram. Today’s arrivals, some 40 individuals, are part of a second group that by the end of June will include 250 more of the “Lost Tribe.”
The Bnei Menashe are considered to be descendants of the tribe of Menashe (or Manasseh), one of the Ten Lost Tribes of Israel exiled by the Assyrian Empire after King Solomon’s death more than 2,700 years ago.
About Shavei Israel:
Shavei Israel is a non-profit organization founded by Michael Freund, who immigrated to Israel from the United States, with the aim of strengthening the ties between the Jewish people, the State of Israel, and the descendants of Jews around the world. The organization is currently active in nine countries and provides assistance to a variety of different communities such as the Bnei Menashe of India; the Bnei Anousim (referred to as the derogatory “Marranos” by historians) in Spain, Portugal, and South America; the Subbotnik Jews of Russia; the Jewish community of Kaifeng in China; descendants of Jews living in Poland; and others.
