After Hamas militants attacked the farming areas near the Gaza border on October 7, they left destroyed buildings, broken equipment and crops left unharvested. Soon after, Danielle Abraham, born in London and now living in Israel with years of experience sharing Israeli farming knowledge in drought-prone nations, shifted focus to local needs and created ReGrow Israel to restore those farms.

The project has grown to include damaged sites in the North as well. This effort earned Abraham the Global Impact award at the 12th annual Nefesh B'Nefesh Sylvan Adams Bonei Zion Prize, and her work reflects the spirit of this year's honors.

The Bonei Zion Prize recognizes immigrants from English-speaking nations whose careers and community work have created lasting effects on Israeli life. The eight winners this year came from hundreds of candidates across Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States. They receive recognition while Israel continues recovery from war and as record numbers of North American Jews choose to join them.

A Record Year for Aliyah

The prize arrives in a year Nefesh B'Nefesh describes as one of its strongest since starting in 2002. Over 1,100 North Americans arrived through the group in August, setting a monthly high. Marc Rosenberg, the organization's vice president of Diaspora partnerships, shared this with The Jerusalem Post at Ben-Gurion Airport during the arrival of another 150 new residents.

Roughly 2,700 North Americans had settled by the end of August, and totals are expected to exceed 4,000 by December. Rosenberg noted that interest in moving has risen three to five percent each year lately.

Many newcomers are settling in areas hit hardest by the war, with about 650 of this summer's arrivals choosing the North and South. Sponsor Sylvan Adams, an immigrant himself from a decade ago, sees a direct link between the winners and these new arrivals.

In the wake of the major difficulties Israel and Jewish communities worldwide have faced recently, these examples of dedication, strength and service hold even deeper value, Adams said. As efforts continue to boost immigration and support Israel by aiming for one million new arrivals, these winners represent the finest qualities of what moving here means.

Builders Across Many Fields

Beside Abraham, this year's winners cover science, education, social services, athletics and diplomacy. In the Community and Non-Profit area, Naomi Stuchiner, who started Beit Issie Shapiro, one of Israel's top groups aiding people with disabilities and families, receives the prize. Its role has grown as Israel deals with the war's physical and mental effects.

Rabbanit Chana Henkin, founder and leader of Nishmat, earns recognition in Education for creating a top center for advanced Torah study for women. In Science and Medicine, Dr. Philip Klipstein, a senior scientist at SemiConductor Devices, is honored for advances in high-tech and defense work.

Ami Baran, head of the Israel Athletics Association, receives the Culture, Art and Sports award. Content creator Barak Swarttz, who founded GRIT for Good, is noted in Young Leadership as part of a newer group of immigrants using online tools for change.

The Lifetime Achievement Award goes to Prof. Marta Weinstock-Rosin, the neuropharmacologist who created the Alzheimer's treatment Exelon. Her work has influenced neuroscience and medicine worldwide.

The Special Recognition Award goes to Amb. Ron Dermer, former ambassador to the United States and former strategic affairs minister, for years of public service that strengthened US-Israel ties and supported the Abraham Accords.

Reasons They Remain

Rosenberg notes the larger immigration story focuses less on pressures from North America and more on attractions to Israel such as family, values, community and belonging. The Bonei Zion winners show the long-term results of that draw. Nefesh B'Nefesh, working with Israel's Ministry of Aliyah and Integration, the Jewish Agency for Israel, Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael and Jewish National Fund-USA, has assisted nearly 100,000 North American immigrants and reports a 90 percent retention rate.

Each recipient this year shows dedication, creativity and Zionism, and together they display the energy and power that immigration brings to Israel, said Rabbi Yehoshua Fass, Nefesh B'Nefesh co-founder and executive director.

For Adams, the message to the thousands arriving this year is clear. Each year the prize highlights one of Israel's greatest strengths, he said, the remarkable people who decide to build lives here and thereby help shape the future of the Jewish state.