Lucy Aharish receives honorary fellowship from Bezalel Academy for her contribution to social dialogue
At a festive ceremony held in Jerusalem marking the 120th anniversary of the Bezalel Academy, the Honorary Fellow award was presented to four distinguished figures from the worlds of culture, media, and academia for their significant social contributions.
The Bezalel Honorary Fellow award is the academy's highest honor, equivalent to an honorary doctorate. It is bestowed upon public figures in recognition of their unique contributions to Bezalel, their service to Israeli society, and their efforts to promote art, design, and culture both in Israel and abroad.
This year, the award was presented during the 120th-anniversary celebrations of the academy, at a ceremony held on Monday, July 27, 2026, at the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Campus in downtown Jerusalem.
The four recipients represent diverse fields of Israeli endeavor:
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David Grossman — Israel Prize laureate and International Man Booker Prize winner, one of the world's most esteemed Israeli writers, whose humanistic voice has influenced public discourse for over four decades.
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Lucy Aharish — the first Arab-Muslim news anchor on Israeli television, known for her direct, uncompromising journalism and her consistent advocacy for Jewish-Arab partnership. She was also chosen to light a torch at the 67th Independence Day ceremony.
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Prof. Haviva Pedaya — a poet, writer, and leading scholar of Kabbalah and Hasidism, whose work has deeply enriched the soundtrack and intellectual landscape of Israeli culture.
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Prof. Mike Turner — a pioneer in heritage conservation, head of the UNESCO Chair at Bezalel, who led the declaration of Israel's first World Heritage sites, including Masada, Acre, and Tel Aviv's White City.
Reasons for the award
David Grossman: For a profound, humane body of literary work and his long-standing commitment to civil equality, human dignity, and peace.
Lucy Aharish: For brave, groundbreaking media work and her firm stance against extremist polarization and incitement, while consistently promoting inter-community dialogue.
Prof. Haviva Pedaya: For research and creative thought that bridges tradition and innovation, expanding the boundaries of cultural discourse in Israel.
Prof. Mike Turner: For a lifetime of architectural and academic work that placed heritage conservation at the heart of planning, and for training generations of designers and architects.
