By: Chaya Abecassis

In a landmark announcement on Tuesday that has drawn worldwide attention, the Genesis Prize Foundation (GPF), led by its Co-Founder and Chairman Stan Polovets, declared Israeli actress and producer Gal Gadot as the recipient of the 2026 Genesis Prize, an honor often referred to as “the Jewish Nobel” by TIME Magazine. According to a report on PR Newswire, the annual $1 million award recognizes individuals of exceptional professional excellence whose influence, moral leadership, and embodiment of Jewish values have made a transformative impact on society.

Gadot’s selection marks a deeply symbolic moment for global Jewry and Israel, arriving in the wake of a year of profound trauma following the October 7 Hamas massacre and its aftermath. As PR Newswire reported, Gadot was chosen not only for her artistic accomplishments and global influence but for her “moral clarity and unwavering love for Israel” at a time when many in the entertainment world hesitated to speak out.

The Genesis Prize, established in 2013, has become one of the most prestigious awards in global Jewish life. The $1 million honor is conferred annually to celebrate individuals whose professional achievements and personal values reflect the rich tradition of Jewish contribution to humanity. PR Newswire notes that past laureates have included luminaries such as Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, former New York City Mayor and philanthropist Michael Bloomberg, human rights activist and Soviet dissident Natan Sharansky, Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla, legendary performer Barbra Streisand, filmmaker Steven Spielberg, and New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, founder of the Blue Square Alliance Against Hate.

The 2025 laureate, Argentina’s President Javier Milei, was honored for his steadfast support of Israel and his courageous stand against antisemitism amid a challenging year for the Jewish state. In this lineage of extraordinary honorees, PR Newswire highlighted Gadot’s selection as uniquely poignant—representing a new generation of Jewish leadership defined not by politics or scholarship, but by global cultural influence and moral conviction.

For Gadot, the award is as personal as it is public. “I am humbled to receive the Genesis Prize and to stand alongside the amazing laureates who came before me,” she said in a statement published by PR Newswire. “I am a proud Jew and a proud Israeli. I love my country and dedicate this award to the organizations who will help Israel heal and to those incredible people who serve on the front lines of compassion. Israel has endured unimaginable pain. Now we must begin to heal—to rebuild hearts, families, and communities.”

As the PR Newswire report emphasized, Gadot’s philanthropic vision for the Genesis Prize will focus on organizations dedicated to rebuilding Israeli communities, providing trauma relief for victims of terror, and supporting the rehabilitation of hostages and their families—initiatives deeply intertwined with the emotional fabric of post–October 7 Israel.

In the weeks following Hamas’s attack, Gadot distinguished herself as one of the first global celebrities to unequivocally condemn the terrorist atrocities and advocate for the hostages still held in Gaza. Using her enormous social media platform and her influence in Hollywood, she organized private screenings of October 7 footage for industry executives—a controversial but courageous act of conscience in an entertainment landscape often reluctant to engage publicly with Israel’s struggles.

Her efforts sparked international discussion about truth, empathy, and moral responsibility in an era of viral disinformation. As PR Newswire reported, “Gadot’s decision to confront denial with truth embodied the very essence of the Genesis Prize—to turn influence into action, and achievement into moral leadership.”

Announcing the 2026 laureate, Stan Polovets, Co-Founder and Chairman of the Genesis Prize Foundation, praised Gadot’s courage and humanity. “Gal Gadot’s moral clarity and unwavering love for Israel have inspired millions,” Polovets told PR Newswire. “The award recognizes her bravery and moral courage—her steadfast defense of Israel at great personal and professional risk, her advocacy for the hostages, her compassion for victims of terror, and her empathy for all innocent victims of this terrible war unleashed by Hamas. Her decision to turn the Genesis Prize honor into a mission of healing embodies the very purpose of the Prize—to celebrate achievement and channel it for good.”

This year’s award thus transcends mere recognition of fame or artistic excellence; it is a salute to Gadot’s conscience in action. Her advocacy has come at a moment when Israel faces both existential and reputational battles on the world stage, and when expressions of Jewish solidarity in cultural spheres have grown fraught with controversy.

The report on PR Newswire contextualized the significance of her stance: in Hollywood—a global hub where silence on antisemitism has often prevailed—Gadot’s unapologetic defense of her homeland marked a defining moral stand. Her voice became a rallying cry for countless Jews and allies confronting waves of anti-Israel hostility.

The Genesis Prize, administered by GPF in partnership with the Jewish Agency for Israel, has long been defined by its philanthropic impact. Each laureate donates the $1 million prize to charitable causes, using the platform to advance social, humanitarian, and educational missions worldwide.

As outlined in the PR Newswire report, previous Genesis Prize recipients have directed their awards toward a diverse array of initiatives, including:

Advancing women’s equality and leadership opportunities.

Supporting interfaith inclusion and engagement of intermarried families in Jewish life.

Assisting individuals with special needs and promoting social entrepreneurship.

Combating antisemitism and delegitimization of Israel on the global stage.

Providing relief for refugees and those affected by war and displacement, including support for Ukrainians and the victims of the Syrian conflict.

Preserving Holocaust memory and Jewish cultural heritage, including efforts to memorialize Jewish communities destroyed during the Nazi occupation of Greece.

Supporting medical and social programs for those impacted by COVID-19 and other humanitarian crises.

Gadot’s planned allocation of her prize money will continue this tradition of Jewish philanthropy rooted in compassion, resilience, and tikkun olam—the Hebrew concept of “repairing the world.”

Beyond her humanitarian advocacy, Gadot’s global stardom has made her an unofficial cultural envoy for Israel. Her portrayal of Wonder Woman, a cinematic icon of justice, empathy, and moral courage, transformed her into a symbol of empowerment for millions around the world. With her films grossing more than $6 billion globally, Gadot has transcended entertainment to become a representative of Israeli creativity, resilience, and pride.

As the PR Newswire report observed, Gadot’s identity as a Jewish Israeli woman—simultaneously glamorous and grounded—has challenged stereotypes and offered a refreshing portrait of modern Israel on the international stage. Named one of TIME’s 100 Most Influential People in 2018, she has consistently used her visibility to advocate for human dignity, equality, and the moral duty of remembrance.

Her selection for the Genesis Prize also carries symbolic weight at a time when Israel’s image is under siege across global forums. Gadot’s personal and professional integrity stand as a counter-narrative—an assertion of Jewish resilience and unity through the language of culture and conscience.

This year’s prize, PR Newswire noted, carries emotional resonance not only because of its recipient but because of the historical moment in which it is awarded. Israel continues to mourn the victims of the October 7 massacre and its aftermath—a tragedy that shook the Jewish world to its core. In this context, Gadot’s honor transcends celebrity. It becomes a message of solidarity, hope, and renewal: that Jewish values of compassion and justice can endure even in times of darkness.

The Genesis Prize Foundation’s statement, as cited by PR Newswire, emphasized that “Gadot’s courage in confronting hate, her empathy for victims, and her deep-rooted pride in her Jewish heritage embody the essence of what the Prize stands for—the power of moral leadership to transform pain into purpose.”

Under the leadership of Stan Polovets, the Genesis Prize Foundation continues to broaden its mission—to elevate Jewish pride while fostering global partnerships for social impact. As PR Newswire describes, GPF’s vision is not only to celebrate achievement but to mobilize influence for collective good, turning recognition into responsibility.

Each year, the Foundation channels millions of dollars into initiatives spanning continents—from supporting NGOs fighting racial and economic injustice in the United States, to providing rehabilitation and counseling for hostages released from Hamas captivity, to strengthening diplomatic and cultural ties between Israel and Latin America.

This global reach reflects the Prize’s evolving role as a conduit for Jewish leadership and universal humanitarianism. Through honorees such as Gadot, the Prize underscores that Jewish identity, far from insular, can serve as a bridge between nations and peoples.

In the end, PR Newswire perhaps best encapsulated the spirit of this year’s award: “Gal Gadot’s heroism is not confined to the screen. It lives in her voice, her advocacy, and her unwavering faith in the Jewish people’s capacity to rebuild and inspire.”

For a world still reeling from moral confusion and collective trauma, Gadot’s recognition offers a rare moment of clarity—a reminder that strength and empathy can coexist, that pride and humility can harmonize, and that even amid turmoil, Jewish resilience continues to shine.