Yves Fedida, co-Founder of the 'Association Internationale Nebi Daniel', who attended the Ceremony in Jerusalem with his wife Claudine, wrote on his Facebook:

The Israeli government has awarded for the first time ever “The Prime Minister’s Prize” to 3 individuals for their work on the subject of Jews from Arab countries and Iran. This is one of the highest distinctions in the land.
Mrs Levana Zamir née Vidal, who energetically heads the 'Union of Jews from Egypt in Israel', has today received this prize for her essential work of major significance: “The Golden Era of the Jews from Egypt in Modern Times”. It is the first time such a prize acknowledges research and dedication to the subject of our community.
She shares the prize with 2 other researchers on Yemen Jews and Studies on Sephardi and Mizrahi Jews.

With her frail look, disarming smile and her special soft-spoken determination for everything she undertakes, she has managed to keep the Memory alive, change the Israeli mindset on the subject, introduce the subject in the school curriculum and represented with dignity and perseverance Jews from Egypt in the international arena. She also chairs the organization of Jews from Arab countries. The heart and soul of all the activities of the Tel Aviv Center for Jews from Egypt, she has created there a permanent exhibit on the subject and regularly hosts foreign and local dignitaries. She has engaged in this work relentlessly for the past years whilst continuing to be a loving wife, mother and grand-mother.

She explains that her strength comes from the note she found on her late father's documents on Jews from Egypt : "for Levana".
Eshet Hayil - A woman of valor indeed.

Our heartfelt congratulations go to Levana. Bravo 'aleki ! Kol Hakavod.

About the Book

This study describes the Golden Era of the Jews of Egypt in Modern Times, analyzing the historic and social factors leading to this Egyptian-Jews prosperity along the Nile, as well as those that finally brought about its complete decline and to its ethnic cleansing
The Golden and vibrant Era of the Jews of Egypt in Modern Times, contributing largely to Egypt's prosperity, had an obvious impact on the Egyptian Authorities, who supported openly at the time, the Balfour declaration and the concept of a National Jewish Home in Palestine.
Looking toward the future, this study analyzes the "Mediterranean Option" - that merging between Eastern and Western culture, which was the leading factor for coexistence and for the great prosperity of Egypt in the 19th century till the mid-20th – as an eventual alternative for a better future in the Middle-East. This concept is not a new one. As early as in 1908, David Ben-Gurion, recognizing the importance for an independent Jewish State to merge into the region, preached – together with Itzhak Ben-Zvi (who became later the 2nd President of Israel) - for an integration of the Jewish people of Eretz-Israel in the new Ottoman's Community ruling the whole region. In 1939, Ben-Gurion advocated toward "a Jewish State, willing to belong to a future Middle-Eastern Confederation". In the third millennium, when the 'burning Europe' of WWI and WWII, was merging to become a single identity, Ben-Gurion vision was not a delusion.
This study is bringing too, the sociological aspects of this Jewry: religion, Leisure Time Culture and Women Status, not researched enough yet. A liberal and multicultural society, but yet conservative, as well as vibrant and dynamic.
REACTIONS OF THE ACADEMY ABOUT THE BOOK
(translated from Hebrew)
From: Professor Eyal Zisser,
Head of the Faculty of History of the Middle East and Africa
Tel-Aviv University.
Dear Levana,
I received with great emotion your book about the Golden Era of the Jews of Egypt, and the Mediterranean Option. Each line in the book shows how much this subject is important for you, and how much you feel committed and involved, and how much you are still living the subject.
I read the book with much interest, and I find it succeeds in bringing to the reader a vivid image of a dynamic life of a prosperous Jewish Community. Life which tragically came to an end, as a result of the Israel-Arab conflict, or perhaps before.
I would like to encourage you to continue in your important project, and I am expecting more of your research.

From: Professor Shimon Shamir,
Tel-Aviv University
Dear Levana,
I just finished reading your book, The Golden Era of the Jews of Egypt, and I feel like congratulating you for the nice and interesting way you concluded those complicated and pluralistic subjects…
My congratulations for this creation, as well as for all your activities.
From: Professor Itamar Rabinovitz,
President, Tel-Aviv University
To: Levana Zamir,
Thank you for your important book, and my warm congratulations for its publishing.
From: Dr. Yossi Amitay,
Department for Studies of the Middle East,
Ben-Gurion University, in the Neguev
Hi, Levana.
Just a glance at your book's subjects, promises an interesting book and important subjects to learn about, not only in relation to the past, but also to the future. During the next few days I will take the pleasure to read the book, bringing subjects which are close to my heart and to my academic activities.

Price of the Book, freight included by registered airmail:
To a USA address: 18.- US Dollars
To an address in Europe: 13 Euros or 12 Sterling Pounds
To an address in Israel: 46 Shekels.

Please send your personal check directly to KENESS HAFAKOT (the publishers) with your postal address and the name of the book, and you will receive it in a week after reception of your check:
KENESS HAFAKOT
P.O.B. 21244
Tel-Aviv - 6121201
Israel