The World Jewish Congress has awarded several Israeli organizations involved in helping Haiti after the devastating earthquake in January 2010 a special humanitarian award. The ’Heroes of Haiti” were thanked at the WJC Governing Board meeting in Jerusalem for their efforts in the impoverished Carribean country. Israel was the world leader in the rescue operation and the first country to set up a field hospital for the earthquake victims (watch documentary video here).
A separate award was granted to writer and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Professor Elie Wiesel, who was presented with the first WJC ‘Guardian of Jerusalem’ award in recognition of his lifetime accomplishments on behalf of the Jewish people. Wiesel addressed a WJC gala dinner at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem, speaking movingly of the importance of Jerusalem as the eternal capital of the Jewish people.
