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.
Israel Prize winners from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
- 2010-2015
-
2015
Prof. Zvi Schiffrin, Scientific Research of the Far East
Prof. David Weisburd, Social Work and Criminological Research
2014
Prof. Marta Weinstock-Rosin, Medicine
Prof. Yaacov Katan, Agricultural & Environmental
2012
Prof. David Kazhdan, Mathematics & Computer Science
Prof. Shlomo Bentin, Psychology
Prof. David Milstein, Chemistry & Physics*
Prof. Ruth Katz, Musicology
Prof. Dalia Cohen, Musicology
Prof. Yoav Benjamini, Economics & Statistics*
Yaakov Ahimeir, Journalism*
2011
Prof. Ruth Gavison, Law
Prof. Noam Sheriff, Philosophy*
Prof. Michael Schwartz, Jewish and Arabic language & literature*
Prof. Yosef Shiloh, Human Genetics*
Eli Elaluf, Political Science*
2010
Prof. Aryeh Levin, Linguistics
Prof. Yehoshua Kolodny, Earth Sciences
Prof. Abraham Tal, Linguisitics*
Aryeh Sivan, Hebrew Poetry*
Hanoch Bartov, Literature*
Prof. Abraham Nitzan, Chemistry*
Prof. Avishai Margalit, Philosophy (former faculty)*
* = alumnus only
- 2000-2009
-
2009
Prof Emanuel Tov, Bible
Prof. Israel Levin, Hebrew Literature*
Prof. Reuven Tsur, Literature*
Prof. Mordechai Rotenberg, Social Work
Prof. Amihai Mazar, Archaeology
Prof. Zvi Laron, Medicine*
Prof. Itamar Procaccia, Physics*
Prof. Yehdua Judd Neeman, Cinema*
Prof. Mordechai Shani, Lifetime Achievement*
2008
Prof. Noga Alon, Mathematics*
Prof. Pinchas Cohen Gan, Art*
Prof. Zeev Sternhell, Political Science
2007
Nahum Barnea, Communications*
Prof. Amnon Cohen, Land of Israel Studies
Prof. Elisha Efrat, Geography*
Prof. Nissan Levitan, Economics
Prof. Shalom Schwartz, Psychology
Prof. Zvi Selinger, Biology
Prof. Alice Shalvi, Lifetime Achievement
2006
Prof. Chaim Adler, Education
Prof. Miriam Ben-Peretz*
Prof. Nachum Kedar, Agriculture
Prof. Ruth Lapidoth, Law
Prof. Zvi Rappoport, Chemistry
Prof. Amnon Rubinstein*
2005
Prof. Jacob Bekenstein, Physics
Prof. Yehezkel Dror, Political Science
Prof. Shaul Feldman, Medicine
Prof. Olga Kapeliuk, Linguistics
Prof. Jacob Landau, Middle Eastern Studies
Shabtai Teveth, Lifetime Achievement*
2004
Prof. Menachem Brinker, Literature
Prof. Abraham Doron, Social Work
Prof. Sara Japhet, Bible
Prof. Ziva Amishai-Maisels, Art History
Prof. Dov Noy, Hebrew & General Literature
Prof. Aharon Razin, Biochemistry
Prof. Ester Samuel-Cahn, Statistics
Lia Van Leer, Lifetime Achievement*
2003
Aharon Amir, Hebrew Translation*
Prof. Menachem Amir, Criminology
Geula Cohen, Lifetime Achievement*
Prof. Avraham Grossman, Jewish History
Prof. Israel Ta-Shma, Talmud
2000
Prof. Hillel M. Daleski, General Literature
Prof. Jonah Fraenkel, Talmudic Literature
Prof. Abraham Goldberg, Talmudic Literature
Prof. Menahem Haran, Bible
Prof. Raphael Mechoulam, Chemistry
Prof. Shaul Shaked, Linguistics
Prof. Yirmiyahu Yovel, General Philosophy
2002
Prof. Abraham H. Halevy, Agriculture
Eli Hurvitz, Lifetime Achievement*
Prof. Shmuel Safrai, Land of Israel Studies
Prof. Itamar Willner, Chemistry
2001
Prof. Marcel Eliakim, Medicine
Prof. Avi Ravitzky, Jewish Thought
Prof. Joshua Weisman, Law
* = alumnus only
- 1990-1999
-
1999
Prof. Yehoshua Ben-Arieh, Geography
Prof. Haim Cedar, Biology
Prof. Moshe Idel, Jewish Thought
Prof. Aharon Mirsky, Hebrew Literature
Prof. Shmuel Moreh, Middle Eastern Studies
Prof. Bezalel Narkiss, Art History
Prof. Arie S. Shachar, Geography
Prof. Avraham Steinberg, Rabbinic Literature
1998
Prof. Yehuda Bauer, History of the Jewish People
Prof. Yehudith Birk, Agriculture
Prof. Trude Dothan, Archaeology
Shlomo Hillel, Special Contribution to Society*
Ehud Manor, Hebrew Song*
Amos Oz, Literature*
Prof. Rami Rahamimoff, Medical Science
Prof. Yona Rozenfeld, Social Work
Prof. Saharon Shelah, Mathematics
1997
Prof. Joseph Dan, Jewish Thought
Prof. Izhak Englard, Law
Prof. Jacob Sussman, Talmud
Prof. Shemaryahu Talmon, Bible
Haim Yavin, Communications*
Prof. Itzhak Zamir, Law
1996
Prof. Shlomo Avineri, Political Science
Prof. Moshe Barasch, Art History
Prof. Ilan Chet, Agriculture
Prof. Marcel Dubois, Special Contribution to the State
Prof. Moshe Piamenta, Middle Eastern Studies
Prof. Shimon Sandbank, Hebrew Translation of Literature
Prof. Meir Shamgar, Special Contribution to the State
Prof. Chone Shmeruk, Jewish Languages
Prof. Yechezkiel Stein, Medicine
1995
Prof. Dov Nir, Geography
Prof. Michael Rabin, Computer Science
1994
Prof. Robert J. Aumann, Economics
Prof. Michael Bruno, Economics
Prof. Haim Z. Dimitrovsky, Talmud
Prof. Schneyour-Zalman Feller, Law
Prof. Moshe Greenberg, Bible
Prof. Avram Hershko, Biochemistry*
Prof. Eliezer Schweid, Jewish Thought
Prof. Nathan Sharon, Biochemistry*
Prof. Moshe Weinfeld, Bible
1993
Prof. Shlomo Alexander, Exact Sciences
Prof. Yehoshua Arieli, History
Prof. Moshe Bar-Asher, Hebrew Language & Jewish Languages
Prof. Hillel (Harry) Furstenberg, Exact Sciences
Prof. Gideon Goldenberg, Hebrew Language & General Linguistics
Prof. Yehoshafat Harkabi, Political Science
Prof. Hava Lazarus-Yafeh, History
Prof. Dan Miron, Hebrew Literature
Prof. Gershon Shaked, Hebrew Literature
1992
Prof. Moshe Lissak, Social Sciences
1991
Prof. Shmuel Agmon, Exact Sciences
Prof. Haim Beinart, Jewish Studies
Prof. Miriam Ben-Porat, Special Contribution to Society
Prof. Naomi Feinbrun-Dothan, Land of Israel Studies
Prof. Dov Frohman, Exact Sciences
Prof. Moshe Landau, Law
1990
Prof. Moshe Altbauer, Humanities
Prof. Alexander Levitzki, Life Sciences
Prof. Moshe Prywes, Life Sciences
Prof. Nathan Spiegel, Humanities
Prof. Meir Weiss, Jewish Studies
Prof. Zvi Yavetz, Humanities*
* = alumnus only
- 1980-1989
-
1989
Prof. Haim Harari, Exact Sciences*
Prof. Elihu Katz, Social Sciences
Prof. Samuel Werses, Hebrew Literature
Prof. Israel Yeivin, Hebrew Language
1988
Prof. Natan Goldblum, Life Sciences
Prof. Moshe Goshen-Gottstein, Jewish Studies
Haim Gouri, Hebrew Poetry*
1987
Prof. Ezra Zion Melamed, Bible Studies
Prof. Menahem Yaari, Economics
1986
Prof. Michael Evenari, Lifetime Achievement in Desert Research
1985
Prof. Joshua Blau, Hebrew Language & Linguistics
Prof. Henry N. Neufeld, Medicine
1984
Prof. Aron (Alfred) Bondi, Agriculture
Prof. Shlomo Ravikovitch, Agriculture
1983
Aharon Appelfeld, Literature*
Prof. Saul Friedlander, History
Dr. Zerach Warhaftig, Special Contribution to Society
1982
Yehuda Amichai, Hebrew Poetry
Prof. Ruth Amiran, Land of Israel Studies*
Prof. Roberto Bachi, Demography
Prof. Joshua Jortner, Chemistry*
1981
Prof. Meir J. Kister, Arabic Linguistics & Middle Eastern Studies
Prof. Joram Lindenstrauss, Mathematics
1980
Prof. Haim Cohn, Law
Prof. David Flusser, History of the Jewish People
Prof. Jacob Katz, History of the Jewish People
* = alumnus only
- 1970-1979
-
1979
Prof. Menachem Elon, Jewish Law
Prof. Isaiah Tishby, Jewish Studies
1978
Prof. Louis (Eliahu) Guttman, Social Sciences
Prof. Haiim Baruch Rosen, Linguistics
Prof. Nathan Saltz, Medicine
1977
Prof. David Amiran, Geography
Prof. Zvi Avidov, Agriculture
Prof. Nahman Avigad, Land of Israel Studies
Prof. Menahem Stern, History of the Jewish People
1976
Prof. Gabriel Baer, Arabic Language
1975
Prof. Aharon Barak, Law
Prof. Simon Leo Halkin, Literature
Dr. Helena Kagan, Special Contribution to Society
Prof. Yoel Sussman, Law
1974
Prof. Shraga Abramson, Jewish Studies
Prof. Hugo Shmuel Bergman, Special Contribution to the State
Prof. Raphael D. Levine, Exact Sciences
1973
Prof. Benzion Dinur, Education
Prof. Aryeh Dvoretzky, Exact Sciences
Prof. Samuel Noah Eisenstadt, Social Sciences
Prof. Haim Halperin, Agriculture
Prof. Dorothea Krook, Humanities
1972
Prof. David Ayalon, Humanities
1971
Prof. Isaac Arnon, Agriculture
Prof. Shaul Liberman, Jewish Studies*
1970
Prof. Andre De Vries, Medicine
Prof. Lea Goldberg, Literature
Prof. Don Patinkin, Social Sciences
Prof. Josef Tal, Musicology
* = alumnus only
- 1960-1969
-
1969
Prof. Shneior Lifson, Life Sciences*
Prof. Joshua Prawer, Humanities
1968
Prof. Simon Agranat, Law
Prof. Ernst David Bergmann, Life Sciences
Prof. Alexander Mordecai Dushkin, Education
Prof. Benjamin Mazar, Jewish Studies
Prof. Shlomo Pines, Humanities
Prof. Dov Sadan, Jewish Studies
Prof. Samuel Sambursky, Jewish Studies
1967
Prof. Benjamin Akzin, Law
Prof. Aryeh Leo Olitzki, Medicine
Prof. Ernst Akiva Simon, Education
1966
Prof. Shlomo Morag, Jewish Studies
Prof. Hans Jacob Polotsky, Humanities
1965
Prof. Carl Frankenstein, Education
Prof. Amos De Shalit, Exact Sciences*
Prof. Judith T. Shuval, Social Sciences
1964
Prof. Zeev Ben-Hayyim, Jewish Studies
Prof. Moshe Rachmilewitz, Medicine
Prof. Moshe Silberg, Law
1963
Prof. Abraham Fahn, Life Sciences
Prof. Nathan Rotenstreich, Humanities
1962
Prof. Joseph S. Bentwich, Education
Prof. Ze’ev Lev (William Low), Exact Sciences
Prof. Hanoch Yalon, Jewish Studies
1961
Prof. Aharon Katzir, Life Sciences*
Prof. Eduard Yechezkel Kutscher, Humanities
1960
Prof. Isaac Chesar Michaelson, Medicine
Prof. Abraham Schalit, Jewish Studies
* = alumnus only
- 1950-1959
-
1959
Prof. Ezra Fleischer, Literature
Prof. Ephraim Katchalski (Katzir), Life Sciences*
Prof. Leo Arye Mayer, Humanities
Prof. Heinz (Hillel) Oppenheimer, Agriculture
Prof. Michael Sela, Life Sciences*
Prof. Yizhar Smilansky (S. Yizhar), Literature
1958
Prof. Yitzhak Baer, Jewish Studies
Prof. Martin Buber, Humanities
Prof. Benzion Dinur, Jewish Studies
Prof. Joseph Klausner, Jewish Studies
Prof. Yehezkel Kaufman, Jewish Studies
Prof. Leo Picard, Life Sciences
Prof. Giulio Racah, Exact Sciences
Prof. Gershom Scholem, Jewish Studies
Prof. Bernard Zondek, Medicine
1957
Prof. Saul Adler, Medicine
Prof. Gad Avigad, Exact Sciences
Prof. David Feingold, Exact Sciences
Prof. Shlomo Hestrin, Exact Sciences
Prof. Shmuel Hurwitz, Agriculture
Prof. Hans-Johanan Lewy, Humanities
Prof. Hayyim Schirmann, Jewish Studies
1956
Prof. Manfred Aschner, Life Sciences
Prof. Avraham Halevi Fraenkel, Exact Sciences
Prof. Jacob Laib Talmon, Social Sciences
Prof. Naphtali Tur-Sinai, Jewish Studies
Prof. Haim Ernst Wertheimer, Medicine
Prof. Yigael Yadin, Jewish Studies
1955
Prof. Yaacov Bentor, Life Sciences
Prof. Michael Fekete, Exact Sciences
Prof. Sarah Hestrin-Lerner, Medical Sciences
Prof. Israel Reichert, Life Sciences
Prof. Binyamin Shapiro, Medical Sciences
Prof. Ephraim Elimelech Urbach, Jewish Studies
1954
Prof. Hugo Shmuel Bergman, Humanities
Prof. Frederick Simon Bodenheimer, Agriculture
Prof. Moses Hirsch Segal, Jewish Studies
Prof. Guido (Gad) Tedeschi, Law
Prof. Michael Zohary, Life Sciences
1953
Gedalia Allon, Jewish Studies
Prof. Shimshon Amitsur, Exact Sciences
Prof. Dina Feitelson, Education
Prof. Lipman Halpern, Medicine
Prof. Jacob Levitzki, Exact Sciences
* = alumnus only