JERUSALEM (JTA) — Israeli President Shimon Peres handed out awards for volunteerism to individuals and organizations.
The honorees received the President’s Award for Volunteerism during a ceremony Wednesday at the President’s Residence in Jerusalem.
Organizations recognized included Dental Volunteers for Israel, for providing free dental care to children from disadvantaged families; Tzohar, for activities bringing together religious and nonreligious Jews; and Megama Yeruka, for the advancement of the environment.
Among the individuals saluted were Dr. Yitzhak Glick, for setting up emergency medical care in the Gush Etzion area; Shula Tnai, for work with cancer children in the Negev and South; and Ansaf Mahmoud, for health education and building trust between patients and community health providers.
Avi Toibin was presented with the Special Honor for an Outstanding Act for endangering himself in order to save Olympic kayaker Yasmin Feingold from drowning in the Yarkon River.
