Israeli Presidential Medal of Honor

President Shimon Peres created the Israeli Presidential Medal of Honor to recognize those “who have made an outstanding contribution to the State of Israel or to humanity, through their talents, services, or in any other form.” The medal, designed by Yossi Matityahu, was awarded for the first time on March 1, 2012.

Originally it was awarded based on recommendations from a committee led by retired Supreme Court President Justice Meir Shamgar. President Reuven Rivlin disbanded the committee and did not award the medal during his term. President Isaac Herzog reestablished it under the chairmanship of retired Supreme Court Justice Prof. Yoram Danziger and announced his intention to award it to U.S. President Joe Biden.

It was never intended for solely Israelis or Jews and has been awarded to Zubin Mehta, Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, and Angela Merkel.

Recipients

Henry Kissinger, 2012
Judith Feld Carr, 2012
Rashi Foundation, 2012
Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz, 2012
Zubin Mehta, 2012
Ory Slonim, 2012
Barack Obama, 2013
Bill Clinton, 2013
Elie Wiesel, 2013
Rabbi Yitzchak Dovid Grossman, 2014
Lia Van Leer, 2014
Avi Naor, 2014
Rabbi Avraham Elimelech Firer, 2014
Brig.-Gen. Avigdor Kahalani, 2014
Avner Shalev, 2014
Dr. Harry Zvi Tabor, 2014
Jack Mahfar, 2014
Angela Merkel, 2014
Giorgio Napolitano, 2014
Ruth Dayan, 2014
Stef Wertheimer, 2014
Kamal Mansour, 2014
Rabbi Israel Meir Lau, 2014
Prof. Reuven Feuerstein, 2014
Joe Biden, 2022

Sources: Greer Fay Cashman, “Herzog revives President’s Medal of Distinction award,” Jerusalem Post, (April 19, 2022).
Lahav Harkov, “Joe Biden to receive Israeli Presidential Medal of Honor,” Jerusalem Post, (July 7, 2022).
“President Isaac Herzog will award the Israeli Presidential Medal of Honor to U.S. President Joseph R. Biden Jr. during his visit to Israel next week,” Press Release, President of the State of Israel, (July 7, 2022).
“President’s Medal (Israel),” Wikipedia.