Robert Kraft's Genesis Prize Ceremony

On June 20, 2019, Robert Kraft received the sixth Genesis Prize at a ceremony at the Jerusalem Theatre in Jerusalem, Israel. The ceremony was the culmination of four days of events focusing on the 2019 Genesis Prize philanthropic theme of combating anti-Semitism, BDS, and other efforts to delegitimize Israel. At the ceremony, he also announced the creation of The Foundation to Combat Antisemitism.

The event, which was hosted by actor and comedian Martin Short, featured appearances by New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman – the first Jewish Super Bowl Most Valuable Player – and legendary Ukrainian heavyweight boxing champion brothers Vitali and Wladimir Klitschko. They introduced a video chronicling Jewish achievement in sports throughout history.

Accepting the prize from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Mr. Kraft said:

“After my family, there is nothing I’m more passionate about than the State of Israel and my Jewish identity… Being Jewish was a core part of my identity from a young age and I was always very proud of it.”