It took three tries, but finally, in Itzhak Perlman, there is a worthy winner of the till now dubiously awarded Genesis Prize.
The $1 million award purports to recognize Jews who have achieved professional success and “inspires others through their engagement and dedication to the Jewish community and/or the State of Israel.” A worthy mandate, to be sure.
Yet, observe the previous winners: Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and actor Michael Douglas —exemplars of Jewish engagement?
Put aside for the moment that both of these men were already incredibly wealthy and had their own means to pursue philanthropic pursuits. Neither of these recipients, Jewish though they might be (in the case of Douglas, he only recently began identifying as such), were known for their overwhelming contributions to Jewish life in either America or the State of Israel.
Clearly, celebrity caché was a deciding factor for the Genesis Prize Foundation board.
For this year’s prize, however, Genesis managed to select a winner who is both a celebrity and also unambiguously a role model within the Jewish community, and to the world at large.
Mere months ago, on the occasion of his 70th birthday, we wrote an editorial praising Itzhak Perlman, the virtuoso violinist who battled against — and accepted his — physical disabilities to become one of the most renowned violinists on the international classical musical stage. Through the Perlman Music Program, founded by his wife Toby, the violinist has dedicated himself to teaching the next generation of musicians.
Through his craft, Perlman touches the deepest parts of the Jewish soul, while communicating and connecting with all of humanity. He is an ambassador for the Jewish nation. As such he is richly deserving of an award that “inspires others through their engagement and dedication to the Jewish community.”
Copyright © 2015 by the Intermountain Jewish News
