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Last update - 11:39 27/03/2008 Israel Prize for the people of Israel By Haaretz Editorial Tags: Israel, Yuli Tamir  The announcement by Education Minister Yuli Tamir of this year's winners of the Israel Prize in the area of lifetime contribution to the state and society is a harsh blow to one of the most prestigious official projects in the country. The prize committee, headed by Prof. Yehoshua Shemer, decided that on the 60th anniversary of the state no fewer than eight organizations will receive the desired prize. This is an unprecedented cheapening of the prize and a mortal blow to its prestige. At least two of the organizations that will receive the prize this year - the Manufacturers' Association and the Jewish Agency - are large, established organizations with big budgets, which do their job more or less, but that's all. There is no reason to give them a prize. In 1968, when there was a proposal to give the Israel Prize to the first prime minister, David Ben-Gurion, he refused to accept it and informed the minister of education at the time, Zalman Aran: "I don't deserve a prize for fulfilling my duty to my country." These words are far truer of groups and institutions such as the Jewish Agency and the Manufacturers' Association. One can level considerable criticism at the behavior of these groups, one can perhaps even praise them, but what does their activity have to do with the Israel Prize? And why them, in place of similar institutions that also do their job in one way or another? Advertisement The other six organizations that will receive the prize this year - the Perah work-study mentoring program; Ezer Mizion; Naamat; Emunah; WIZO; and the Youth Movements Council - are worthy volunteer organizations, each in its own field, which have made a unique contribution to society, according to the requirements of the prize; but the inflation in distributing the prize to so many groups at once also contributes to a cheapening of the prize and its laureates. The awards ceremony for the Israel Prize, a project established in 1953 by then minister of education Prof. Ben Zion Dinur (who personally won the prize twice), along with the handing out of the prize in the field of contribution to society, which began in 1972, is the occasion that closes the Independence Day events each year. The entire leadership of the country comes to pay their respects to the laureates of the most important official prize awarded by the state. In the past the prize was won by groups and organizations that for the most part were deserving of it. Now, with the general cheapening that we are seeing in advance of the 60th jubilee celebrations, some of which are superfluous and extravagant, comes the cheapening of the major prize as well. Just as in the planned festivities, we should not assume that bigger is better, so the same holds true for the number of Israel Prize laureates. Awarding the prize to eight organizations makes it ridiculous. Perhaps it would have been preferable to award the prize to all the Jewish people and get it over with. After such a blow, it is hard to imagine how they will distribute the prize on the 61st anniversary of the state. The minister of education and culture bears ministerial responsibility for choosing the winners, even if she is not involved in the choice. What has been done cannot be retracted. The unfortunate decision has been made. It is essential that the minister do everything possible to restore the lost honor of the Israel Prize. If not, there is no point in continuing the tradition of awarding the prize. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Best served cold Safed chief rabbi calls on state to exact 'revenge' against Arabs. The Jewish hurdle Obama: I disagree with aide who blamed 'NY, Miami' for failed peace talks.   1.   Giving Sternhell the prize especially cheapens it 15:01  |  RA 27/03/08

Today Online Rights group: Deaths in IDF W. Bank raid were apparent executions Responses: 129 Top rabbis: Harvesting organs of the brain dead is `bloodshed` Responses: 44 Defense officials: Hezbollah rockets can reach almost all of Israel Responses: 25 Ari Shavit: Olmert doesn't belong in the prime minister's office Responses: 11 Shmuel Rosner: Bush is now behaving like a responsible adult Responses: 11 Meron Benvenisti: Israel's environmental plans do not include Palestinian needs Responses: 10 More Headlines 13:19 Defense officials: Hezbollah rockets can reach almost all of Israel 10:34 Rights group: Deaths in IDF Bethlehem raid were apparent executions 14:20 Egypt holds new talks with Hamas, Jihad over truce with Israel 14:39 Syria FM: Israel must show commitment to peace 11:51 Police seize 63 kilos of hashish, guns in Givat Shmuel apartment 14:45 MKs okay state-funded center commemorating Gaza settlers 10:53 Israel posts clips on YouTube of J'lem yeshiva terror attack 08:32 Barak confirms transfer of armored vehicles to PA 08:45 Top rabbis: Harvesting organs of the brain dead is `bloodshed` 05:10 State program to tackle problem of polygamy in Bedouin community 06:24 MKs advance bill calling for new Orthodox-secular school system 09:42 Netanyahu calls for treasury to cut taxes and state budget 05:19 Bible club founded by Ben-Gurion gets revived with a Peres twist Previous Editions Select Day 26 mar 25 mar 24 mar 23 mar 21 mar 20 mar 19 mar 18 mar 17 mar 16 mar 14 mar 13 mar

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