Recently, the Jerusalem Post met with the co-founder and Chairman of The Genesis Prize Foundation to discuss how Gal and Genesis hope to help Israel heal.
1. Gal Gadot is one of the most recognized Israelis in the world. Beyond her fame, what made her the right choice for the 2026 Genesis Prize?
Beyond her extraordinary global success, Gal is a proud and visible symbol of Jewish and Israeli identity on the world stage. She has never shied away from that role, standing up for Israel when Hollywood was silent by screening Bearing Witness to the October 7th Massacre film for industry figures, frequently posting her support on social media for her tens of millions of followers, speaking passionately about her Jewish pride after receiving ADL’s International Leadership Award in NY and at the Los Angeles United Hatzalah gala, and of course traveling to Israel to meet personally with hostage families. This combination of values, purpose, and influence made her a natural and exceptional choice.
2. When she was announced, Gadot said she wanted to dedicate her Genesis Prize to helping Israel heal. How did that personal commitment evolve into a structured $2 million philanthropic initiative?
It began with a very personal decision by Gal to dedicate her $1 million Genesis Prize funds to supporting Israel’s recovery. From there, we worked together to translate that intention into a structured initiative that will extend far beyond the initial gift. In partnership with Jewish Funders Network, we built a matching gift program designed to attract additional donors, creating at least a $2 million fund for long-term healing and resilience.
3. Do you expect other philanthropists and foundations to add money to the “pool” as was the case with your prior initiatives with Michael Douglas, Itzhak Perlman, and Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg?
It’s already happening. Even though the deadline isn’t until June 15, we’ve begun receiving applications from Israeli NGOs, each of which is accompanied by a significant donation. The model is intentionally designed to bring others in – turning a single act of generosity into a broader philanthropic movement. We’ve seen this approach succeed with previous Genesis Prize initiatives, where initial commitments have leveraged significantly larger pools of funding. Early conversations have been very encouraging, and we believe this initiative will resonate strongly with funders looking to make a meaningful impact.
4. Why a matching gift model rather than direct grants?
Because it’s one of the most effective ways to multiply impact. Instead of simply distributing funds, a matching model incentivizes additional giving, strengthens organizations by expanding their donor base, and creates a sense of shared ownership among funders. It turns philanthropy into a collaborative effort rather than a one-time grant – and ultimately allows us to engage – and help – many more people. Over the past 13 years, we’ve leveraged our annual $1 million gift into more than $50 million in grants to 230 NGOs in 31 countries.
5. The initiative focuses on “helping the helpers” and frontline professionals – therapists, educators, social workers – rather than direct aid to victims. What's the thinking behind that distinction?
Because long-term recovery depends on the people delivering the help. Since October 7, Israel has experienced trauma on a national scale, and the professionals responding – therapists, educators, social workers, community leaders – are stretched beyond capacity. Direct aid is essential, but without a strong and growing support system, recovery cannot be sustained. By investing in these frontline professionals and the systems around them, we can expand capacity and help ensure that healing continues for years to come.
6. What impact are you hoping these funds and this initiative will have?
The goal is to make a meaningful, targeted contribution to Israel’s long-term recovery by strengthening its human infrastructure. If we can help train more professionals, expand access to care, reinforce frontline organizations, and ultimately ensure that more Israelis receive sustained support over time, that is real impact. Just as importantly, if it attracts additional funders and builds momentum around this critical need, it will succeed on multiple levels.
7. Are you planning a ceremony in Israel to honor Gal Gadot as you have done with many of your previous laureates?
We do hope to recognize Gal and this initiative in an appropriate and meaningful way, including in Israel. It is difficult to plan given the situation in the Middle East as it takes six months to organize a world-class gala ceremony. We will revisit this when the situation stabilizes. Now, our primary focus is on launching the matching gift initiative effectively, attracting strong philanthropic and social service partners, and ensuring the funds are deployed where they can make the greatest difference.
8. Speaking of previous laureates, last month, 2025 Genesis Prize laureate President Milei and Prime Minister Netanyahu officially announced the Isaac Accords in Jerusalem. What are the Isaac Accords, and what role has the Genesis Prize Foundation played in bringing them to life?
The Isaac Accords initiative announced by Genesis Prize Laureate President Javier Milei and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last month are aimed at fostering regional cooperation and shared prosperity between Israel and Latin America. The brainchild of President Milei and Argentina’s Ambassador to Israel Rabbi Axel Wahnish, this initiative is modeled after the Abraham Accords. To advance this important undertaking, The Genesis Prize Foundation has created American Friends of Isaac Accords (AFOIA) last July with $1 million in seed funding to actively support the vision the vision of President Milei and Ambassador Wahnish.
9. Which other countries do you expect to join the Accords in the foreseeable future?
Several Latin American countries are deepening their ties with Israel, including Costa Rica, Panama, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Paraguay. These are not just statements of intent – each has taken concrete steps that align with the spirit of the Accords, including moving embassies to Jerusalem, designating Hamas, Hezbollah, and the IRGC as terrorist organizations, and opening Innovation Offices in Jerusalem with diplomatic standing.
The foundation for future cooperation is already in place, and we hope that formal participation in the Isaac Accords will be a natural next step for these countries in the near future.
10. When are you planning to announce your next laureate and can you give us a hint what criteria the Selection Committee will be focusing on?
We expect to announce the next Genesis Prize Laureate early in 2027. The Selection Committee will continue to focus on Jewish individuals of extraordinary achievement who demonstrate a strong commitment to Jewish values and a desire to use their platform and resources to make a meaningful difference in the world.
Written in collaboration with Genesis Prize Foundation