Combating Anti-Semitism
2019 Philanthropic Theme
Laureate: Robert Kraft
Concerned by the rise of global anti-Semitism, Robert Kraft asked The Genesis Prize Foundation to use his $1 million award to launch “Speak Out for Israel,” a global campaign to promote a true narrative about Israel and counteract efforts to delegitimize the Jewish State. The campaign awarded grants to 26 organizations.
Mr. Kraft also launched a new foundation dedicated to fighting antisemitism – Together Beat Hate – with a personal contribution of $20 million and additional contributions from other donors.
When he announced the foundation at the Genesis Prize ceremony, Mr. Kraft declared:
“My vision is to work to end the violence against Jewish communities. To counter the normalization of anti-Semitic narratives that question Israel’s right to exist, disguised as part of legitimate debate on campuses and in the media. To educate, to inform, and to heal inter-communal relations. In combating the scourge of anti-Semitism, my solemn ambition is to counter all forms of intolerance in the spirit of the ancient Jewish value of tikkun olam – to heal and repair the world.”
The “Speak Out for Israel” grant recipients included:
- Act-IL Interdisciplinary Center in Herzliya
- ADL Israel
- THE AGUDA – The Association for LGBTQI Equality in Israel
- American Jewish Committee
- B’nai B’rith World Center Jerusalem
- Creative Community for Peace
- ELNET Europe-Israel
- Heroes for Life
- HonestReporting’s MediaCentral Project
- Innovation: Africa
- The Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism
- ISRAELis
- Jewish Agency for Israel
- Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs
- Maala – Business for Social Responsibility
- Jerusalem Press Club
- Music Port
- NGO-MONITOR
- ON THE MAP – The New Israeli Film & TV Fund
- The Peres Center for Peace and Innovation
- The Reut Group: From Vision to Reality
- StandWithUs
- Start-Up Nation Central
- Taglit Birthright Israel
- United with Israel
- Vibe Israel