image courtesy of Zeev Ben Dor
With sadness and hope,
Vivian Silver’s family and friends announce the establishment of the "Vivian Silver Impact Award”.
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With sadness and hope,
Vivian Silver’s family and friends announce the establishment of the "Vivian Silver Impact Award”.
The Prize
For more than five decades, Vivian Silver dedicated her efforts and passion to bringing people together in dignity, cooperation, and mutual respect. With a keen eye and an open heart, she fostered equality – between women and men, between Arabs and Jews – in Israeli society, and actively strived for peace in the region.
Her life work is an example of the power of leadership and a beacon for women of all ages and backgrounds. The Vivian Silver Impact Award will ensure that her legacy of activism, persistence and hope continues into the future.
Building Arab-Jewish partnership in Israel
Establishing peace between Israel and Palestine
Advancing women to decision-making and leadership positions
Mission
The prize will be awarded annually to two women, Arab and Jewish, who show great promise or have demonstrated significant accomplishments in one of the areas that embody Vivian’s values and actions:
About Vivian Silver
Vivian was born in Canada and became active in the feminist movement and a Zionist anti-war group in North America. Together, the group immigrated to Kibbutz Gezer in Israel, where they promoted cooperation and equality.
When Vivian became general-secretary of Kibbutz Gezer, only seven women held a similar position in the kibbutz movement of more than 150 kibbutzim. Motivated to address this issue, she researched and authored a book on gender inequality in kibbutzim, and established the Department for Promoting Gender Equality in the kibbutz movement. She persevered despite the resistance, knowing that social change takes time.
When Vivian and her family moved to Kibbutz Be’eri on the border with Gaza, her commitment to equality took on a new form. She served as CEO of the Negev Institute for Strategies of Peace and Development which, at that time, held courses in Gaza and the West Bank on the role of civil society in promoting peace and sustainable development. Although unthinkable now, during that time she traveled regularly to Gaza to meet Palestinian partners.
For more than five decades, Vivian Silver dedicated her efforts and passion to bringing people together in dignity, cooperation, and mutual respect. With a keen eye and an open heart, she fostered equality – between women and men, between Arabs and Jews – in Israeli society, and actively strived for peace in the region.
Her life work is an example of the power of leadership and a beacon for women of all ages and backgrounds. The Vivian Silver Impact Award will ensure that her legacy of activism, persistence and hope continues into the future.
“Social change… always appears slowly, over time, like bulbs that have to mature in the soil before the plant can grow upward and start blooming.”
Building Arab-Jewish partnership in Israel
Promoting peace between Israel and the Palestinians
Advancing women to decision-making and leadership positions
Mission
The prize will be awarded annually to two women, Arab and Jewish, who show great promise or have demonstrated significant accomplishments in one of the areas that embody Vivian’s values and actions:
The New Israel Fund
Founded in 1979, the New Israel Fund (NIF) is a pioneer of Israel’s civil society and works to forge a society rooted in equality, inclusion and social justice. NIF funds progressive NGOs and complements grant-making with capacity-building and consulting for NGOs through our action arm, Shatil. NIF is partnering with Vivian Silver’s family to launch and coordinate the Award. NIF staffers fondly remember their work with Vivian over the years, in her leadership roles at our grantees and partner organizations and as an active and respected board member.
Initiatives
In the vibrant spirit of Vivian Silver, creative initiatives flourish, embodying her ethos of inclusivity and innovation. These endeavors spark inspiration and drive positive change. Embracing diversity and collaboration, they honor Silver's legacy, fueling a brighter, more imaginative future for all.
Initiatives
In the vibrant spirit of Vivian Silver, creative initiatives flourish, embodying her ethos of inclusivity and innovation. These endeavors spark inspiration and drive positive change. Embracing diversity and collaboration, they honor Silver's legacy, fueling a brighter, more imaginative future for all.
The New Israel Fund
Founded in 1979, the New Israel Fund (NIF) is a pioneer of Israel’s civil society and works to forge a society rooted in equality, inclusion and social justice. NIF funds progressive NGOs and complements grant-making with capacity-building and consulting for NGOs through our action arm, Shatil. NIF is partnering with Vivian Silver’s family to launch and coordinate the Award. NIF staffers fondly remember their work with Vivian over the years, in her leadership roles at our grantees and partner organizations and as an active and respected board member.
The Prize
For more than five decades, Vivian Silver dedicated her efforts and passion to bringing people together in dignity, cooperation, and mutual respect. With a keen eye and an open heart, she fostered equality – between women and men, between Arabs and Jews – in Israeli society, and actively strived for peace in the region.
Her life work is an example of the power of leadership and a beacon for women of all ages and backgrounds. The Vivian Silver Impact Award will ensure that her legacy of activism, persistence and hope continues into the future.
About Vivian Silver
Vivian was born in Canada and became active in the feminist movement and a Zionist anti-war group in North America. Together, the group immigrated to Kibbutz Gezer in Israel, where they promoted cooperation and equality.
When Vivian became general-secretary of Kibbutz Gezer, only seven women held a similar position in the kibbutz movement of more than 150 kibbutzim. Motivated to address this issue, she researched and authored a book on gender inequality in kibbutzim, and established the Department for Promoting Gender Equality in the kibbutz movement. She persevered despite the resistance, knowing that social change takes time.
When Vivian and her family moved to Kibbutz Be’eri on the border with Gaza, her commitment to equality took on a new form. She served as CEO of the Negev Institute for Strategies of Peace and Development which, at that time, held courses in Gaza and the West Bank on the role of civil society in promoting peace and sustainable development. Although unthinkable now, during that time she traveled regularly to Gaza to meet Palestinian partners.
For more than five decades, Vivian Silver dedicated her efforts and passion to bringing people together in dignity, cooperation, and mutual respect. With a keen eye and an open heart, she fostered equality – between women and men, between Arabs and Jews – in Israeli society, and actively strived for peace in the region.
Her life work is an example of the power of leadership and a beacon for women of all ages and backgrounds. The Vivian Silver Impact Award will ensure that her legacy of activism, persistence and hope continues into the future.
“Social change… always appears slowly, over time, like bulbs that have to mature in the soil before the plant can grow upward and start blooming.”