Haviva Reik Peace Award to Ahinoam Nini & Mira Awad
November 15, 2009
The Haviva Reik Peace Award for 2009 was awarded to the renowned singers and musicians Ahinoam (Noa) Nini and Mira Awad, in recognition of their joint activities and performances as Jewish and Arab artists – in recognition of their courageous endeavors, separately and together, for peace and Israeli-Palestinian dialogue; their efforts to build, through music, bridges between people even in difficult times of violent conflict; their ability to prove that the spirit of humankind and free thought may overcome physical and mental boundaries to create a dialogue based on notes and words instead of guns and bombs; and their being partners in weaving personal contacts, creating dialogue and building together a better future for the Middle East. Through their endeavors they have together inspired tens of thousands of people in the spirit of possible cooperation and joint action, building a bridge over the differences of the societies in conflict. A letter in this regard was sent to Mrs. Nini and Mrs. Awad signed by Haggai Halevi, Executive Director of Givat Haviva.
Ahinoam (Noa) Nini and Mira Awad, by their participation in this year's Eurovision Song Contest, and in their interviews given to the media and during their joint performances on various stages in Israel and abroad, have shown the entire world that There Must Be Another Way.
The international repute of Ahinoam (Noa) Nini and of Mira Awad, made them together a team of ambassadors of peace and the spokeswomen of thousands of people on both sides of the divide who deal daily, as we do, in weaving personal contacts, in creating a dialogue and in joint construction of a better future in our tortured and troubled region.
The Haviva Reik Peace Award was established in 1994 by the Givat Haviva Educational Foundation USA and Givat Haviva Israel to honor people who are engaged in human rights, building mutual understanding and working for peace. In spite of its relatively short history, the list of the recipients shows that the Haviva Reik Peace Award has already found an honorable place among peace awards.
2009 marks 60 years since the founding of Givat Haviva. It was the award committee's special intention to honor, during this special year, a Jewish and an Arab woman together, citizens of Israel, acting in an exemplary way and representing the spirit of the joint Jewish-Arab projects we have implemented during all these decades.
The award, an original object of art from an Israeli (Jewish or Arab) artist, is bestowed each year on one or two persons who, in addition to their engagement in peace and understanding, have also contributed to the efforts of Givat Haviva.
The award ceremony will take place on November 19th, 17:00 hours at Givat Haviva, as the festive conclusion of an entire day of special activities celebrating 60 years of the existence of Givat Haviva.