Natan Sharansky, once a symbol of the plight of Soviet Jews who went on to become the head of the Jewish Agency, has been awarded Israel's prestigious 2020 Genesis Prize for a lifetime of work promoting political and religious freedoms, organizers announced Tuesday.
The $1 million award is granted each year to a person recognized for outstanding professional achievement, contribution to humanity and commitment to Jewish values.
In a statement, Sharansky said he was "humbled" by the award. Quoting the Ronald Reagan, he said, "freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction."