Israeli President Herzog Announces 2026 Presidential Medal Recipients for Outstanding National Contributions

Israeli President Isaac Herzog has announced the first group of recipients for the 2026 Presidential Medal, honoring individuals who have made exceptional contributions to the State of Israel and Israeli society. The award recognizes achievements across various fields including academia, culture, education, science, religion, law, and social activism. Additional honorees from Israel and the diaspora will be awarded later this year.

Among the notable recipients is actress and chairperson of the Israeli Artists Association, Yona Elian Keshet, recognized for her five-decade career in theater, film, and television, as well as her advocacy for artists' rights and cultural resilience. Professor Hossam Haick, a world-renowned nanotechnology and biomedical researcher at the Technion, was honored for pioneering early disease diagnosis technologies and fostering scientific innovation and education.

Psychologist Professor Mooli Lahad, founder of the International Center for Stress Prevention, was acknowledged for his expertise in trauma and emergency response, including his significant role in post-October 7 terror attack support. Professor Chafziba Lifshitz, a leader in special education at Bar-Ilan University, was recognized for groundbreaking research on cognitive diversity and inclusion of adults with intellectual disabilities in higher education.

Other recipients include ornithologist Professor Yossi Leshem, environmentalist and former CEO of the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel; Ivy Moses, a long-time advocate for terror victims and chair of the Victims of Hostilities Organization; social activist Ziva Makonen, founder of "Mothers on Guard" promoting Ethiopian-Israeli equality; and lawyer Moshe Nissim, former Knesset member and minister known for shaping Israeli legal and economic policy.

Rabbi Chaim Sabato, founder of the "Berkat Moshe" Hesder Yeshiva and acclaimed author, musician and educator Yehuda Adar, and legal scholar Professor Uriel Reichman, founder of Reichman University and advocate for higher education and constitutional ideas, were also honored.

Recipients expressed deep gratitude for the recognition, highlighting the importance of their work in strengthening Israeli society and culture. President Herzog emphasized that their stories reflect the diverse and beautiful facets of Israeli society.