Michael Douglas, Natan Sharansky To Visit Stanford Tuesday For Jewish Inclusion, Activism Talk

Renowned actor, producer, and UN Messenger of Peace Michael Douglas, and former political prisoner, recipient of the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Gold Medal, Chairman of The Jewish Agency for Israel Natan Sharansky, will appear at Stanford University on Tuesday to speak with students about each of their Jewish journeys and how their experiences relate to inclusion and activism in the Jewish community.

The visit is co-hosted by the Genesis Prize Foundation, Hillel International, the Jewish Agency for Israel, and Hillel@Stanford.

The pair will speak at CEMEX Auditorium on Tuesday, Feb. 2, at 7:30 p.m.

Douglas was awarded the 2015 Genesis Prize in recognition of his decades-long career as an actor and producer, his work as a peace activist, and his unwavering support of Israel. He decided to dedicate his prize award to projects promoting the inclusion of intermarried families in Jewish life, the first of which was developed by Hillel International.

The Genesis Prize, which Time magazine has called “The Jewish Nobel,” is a $1 million prize awarded annually to a renowned individual for achieving outstanding professional success, contributing to humanity, and demonstrating commitment to the Jewish people and Israel.

The first awardee in 2014 was Michael R. Bloomberg, philanthropist, businessman, and former Mayor of New York City. World famous violinist and Presidential Medal of Freedom winner Itzhak Perlman was announced as the 2016 Genesis Prize Laureate.

Both Douglas and Bloomberg chose to defer their prize award, so the funds could be channeled to causes of significance to them; Douglas is promoting engagement of intermarried families in Jewish life, and Bloomberg’s award was used to fund a competition to support ideas from young entrepreneurs to better the world through Jewish values. Perlman has stated he also plans to defer the funds, and will announce details in February 2016.

As a human rights activist, Sharansky fought for freedom in the Soviet Union and spent nine years in prison for his activism. Since immigrating to Israel in 1986, he has become a leading voice for democracy, human rights, and Jewish unity. He is the recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Gold Medal, and currently serves as the Chairman of The Jewish Agency for Israel. Over the past decade and a half, he has spoken to students on dozens of college campuses about the dangers of anti-Semitism and efforts to delegitimize the State of Israel.

EVENT DETAILS

WHAT: Jewish Journeys: A Conversation with Michael Douglas and Natan Sharansky

WHEN: Tuesday, February 2, 2016, at 7:30 p.m.; Doors open at 7 p.m.; Q&A will follow talk

WHERE: CEMEX Auditorium at Stanford University, 641 Knight Way, Stanford.

TICKETS HERE: http://bit.ly/1K05vbW.

Photo courtesy of Michael Douglas on Facebook of Douglas and Sharansky from recent talk at Brown University.

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