President of the State of Israel Isaac Herzog has announced that this year’s Israeli Presidential Medal of Honor - the country’s highest civilian honor - will be awarded to Prof. Uriel Reichman, Founding President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Reichman University, in recognition of his extraordinary contributions to the State of Israel, Israeli society, and academia.
The Presidential Medal of Honor is awarded annually to individuals “who, by virtue of their skills, service, or in any other way, have made an exceptional contribution to the State of Israel or to humanity.” It represents the highest form of civilian recognition bestowed by the State of Israel.
More than three decades ago, when the idea of establishing a private university in Israel seemed unimaginable, Prof. Reichman envisioned an independent academic institution grounded in the values of Zionism and Israel’s Declaration of Independence - one that would educate the next generation of Israeli leaders. Driven by a deep conviction that this endeavor was vital to the country’s future, he dedicated his life to turning his vision into reality, founding what is today Reichman University.
Prof. Reichman’s vision has shaped the university since its establishment and continues to guide its growth. Alongside championing an interdisciplinary approach to higher education - one of the university’s defining hallmarks - he led the establishment of Israel’s largest international school, welcoming students from dozens of countries, as well as the Dina Recanati School of Medicine, founded in response to the national shortage of physicians. The university has also spearheaded initiatives to honor reservists and career soldiers, particularly in the wake of October 7.
Beyond his life’s work in academia, Prof. Reichman has spent decades promoting the values of freedom, responsibility, democracy, and Zionism, driven by a profound commitment to Israeli society. The awarding of the Presidential Medal of Honor is an official, national recognition of his lifetime of achievement and of his enduring impact on higher education, Israeli society, and the State of Israel.