Yakir Yerushalayim (, lit. 'Honored of Jerusalem'), officially titled the Worthy Citizen of Jerusalem award, is an annual civic honor bestowed by the Jerusalem Municipality. Inaugurated in 1967, it recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the city's cultural, social, and educational life.
To be eligible, candidates must be at least 65 years old. Recipients are selected by a five-member committee appointed by the Mayor, which evaluates nominees based on their life story and their impact on the city. Recommendations are submitted by city council members, with the final selection occurring each spring. The awards are traditionally presented on Yom Yerushalayim (Jerusalem Day).
There are eight categories for the award: Education; Culture; Public Service; Promoting Unity and Tolerance; Volunteering, Charity, and Kindness; Research and Academia; Religion and Israeli Heritage; and Development and Infrastructure. To ensure comprehensive coverage, the award is given in at least six of these categories annually, with all eight covered over any two-year cycle.
Honorees are entitled to be interred in the Yakir Yerushalayim section of Har HaMenuchot Cemetery.
Notable recipients Year Name Background1967Educator, historian and Israeli government minister1967Jewish philosopher1967Bible scholar, an author, and linguist1967Eminent Orthodox rabbi1968Historian and expert in medieval Spanish Jewish history1968Jerusalem painter1968Zionist activist and Israeli politician1968Historian and archaeologist1968Rachel Katznelson-ShazarPolitical figure, wife of Zalman Shazar, the third President of Israel1968Children's author1969Historian and geographer1969Archaeologist and biblical scholar1969Jewish philosopher and historian1970Poet and novelist1970Artist1970Physician1970Artist1974Artist1974Rabbi and prominent member of Etzel and Lechi 1974Geographer1977Artist1978Christian Zionist and Theologian1980Deputy mayor of Jerusalem, rabbi and philologist1981Geologist and expert in the field of hydrology1982Botanist1984Archaeologist1984University professor and surgeon1984Israeli politician1988Marguerite BernesAlgerian nun and recognised as Righteous Among the Nations1988Israel Museum curator1989Roman Catholic theologian and professor of religion at Hebrew University of Jerusalem1989Historian1989Israeli lawyer and politician1990Israel EldadFormer Zionist political activist and Revisionist Zionist philosopher1991Israeli politician1991Psychologist and director of the International Center for the Enhancement of Learning Potential1992Children's author1995Natural physician1995Activist for the International Council of Jewish Women1995Composer1996Archaeologist and excavator of Tel Dan1997Doctor, assistance to the elderly of Jerusalem1997Professor at Hadassah Hospital, head of the Hansen Hospital in Jerusalem2000Jurist who served as vice president of Liberal International, cofounded the International Association of Jewish Lawyers and Jurists, and was elected to the Municipality of Jerusalem2001Professor of Law specializing in Mishpat Ivri, Deputy President and Justice of the Israeli Supreme Court 2002Pioneer of Jerusalem stone industry2002Educator and bible commentator, who headed the Da'at Miqra project 2002Professor emeritus for plant physiology and director of the Synagogue Memorial2002Born and raised in Amsterdam, contributed to helping medical and educational institutions in Jerusalem2004Former Supreme Court judge and former State Comptroller2004Author, editor, and former soldier of the Palmach2005Educator and director of Horev Torah institutions2006Nobel Prize–winning mathematician2006Israeli politician and former ambassador2007Israeli politician and journalist2008Historian and Professor of Holocaust Studies, Hebrew University of Jerusalem2010Architect and architectural historian of Jerusalem2010Professor emeritus of Bar-Ilan University and former Deputy Attorney General2010Israeli spy who worked to rescue Jews from Arab countries2012Landscape Architect and City Planner2013 Historical geographer, Hebrew University of Jerusalem2014Hagai SittonLawyer and public activist2014 Rabbi, founding Rosh Yeshiva and current Rosh Yeshiva emeritus of Yeshivat Hakotel in the Old City2014Rachel ChalkowskiChief Midwife at Shaare Zedek and founder of important charity Matan B'Seter Bamb2016 Military volunteer2017 Chabad Chasidic rabbi, teacher, philosopher, social critic, author, translator and publisher2017Eliyahu GabaiMember of the Knesset for the National Religious Party (1996–1999, 2006–2009)2017David BlumbergSenior banker and public figure active in promoting culture and education in Israel2018Gabriel BarkayWorld-renowned archaeologist.2018Avraham RivkindHead of the department of general surgery and trauma unit of Hadassah Medical Center2019Menachem HacohenKnesset member for Alignment (1974–1988); chief rabbi of the Moshavim Movement and Histadrut2020 Israeli doctor and researcher, professor at the Hebrew University School of Medicine in Jerusalem.2020Yehoram GaonSinger, actor, director, comedian, producer, TV and radio host, and public figure.2020Kalman SamuelsFounder of Shalva, the Israel Association for the Care and Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities2021Ezra YachinLehi fighter who fought in the 1948 Palestine war, lecturer for IDF soldiers2022Galila Ron-Feder AmitChildren books author.2025 Israeli historian See also List of honorary citizens of Tel Aviv
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External links (in Hebrew)