Israel Prize
The Israel Prize is considered the highest honor awarded by the State of Israel. Since 1953 it has been presented to Israeli citizens or organizations that have broken new ground, displayed excellence in their field or contributed significantly to Israeli culture. The prize is presented every year on the eve of Israel's Independence Day, in the presence of the president, prime minister, speaker of the Knesset and Supreme Court president, among others. Of the almost 700 prizes awarded thus far, more than forty per cent have been awarded to faculty or alumni of the Hebrew University.