Israeli Education Minister Yoav Kisch announced today (Wednesday) that Professor Ruth Kark, a world-renowned scholar in the field of historical geography of the Land of Israel, has been named the recipient of the Israel Prize in Geography and Land of Israel Studies for the year 5785 (2025). The Israel Prize selection committee, chaired by Professor Maoz Azaryahu and including Professors Havazelet Yahel and Irit Amit-Cohen, selected Kark for her outstanding contributions to the study of Israel’s geography and settlement history.
The committee emphasized Kark’s significant role in advancing the research of Israel’s geography and settlement patterns in the late 19th and 20th centuries. “Professor Kark’s pioneering research has made a comprehensive, original, and unique contribution, both theoretically and practically, to a wide range of topics, including the history of Jerusalem, Jaffa, and the Negev, land and legal studies, ethnic and religious communities, cartography, and the study of landscapes and settlement patterns,” the committee stated.
A Prolific Scholar with Global Influence
Professor Kark’s scholarly work includes hundreds of articles and dozens of books published in Hebrew and English in leading academic journals and platforms. The committee further highlighted her contributions to academia through mentoring numerous research students and promoting women’s participation in academic research.
Her research also extends to gender studies and women’s roles in Israel’s history, including studies on women’s involvement in early Jewish settlements, the contributions of Rachel Yanait Ben-Zvi to the Zionist movement, and the economic initiatives of rural and Bedouin women.
Awards to be Presented on Israel’s 77th Independence Day
The Israel Prize is considered the highest honor bestowed by the State of Israel in various fields of excellence and national contribution. The awards will be presented on the evening of Israel’s 77th Independence Day to outstanding Israeli individuals who have demonstrated excellence, and innovation in their fields, and made significant contributions to Israeli society.
So far, the announced laureates include: Professor Yonina Eldar, recipient of the Israel Prize in Engineering and Science; Shlomo Maman, recipient of the Israel Prize in Theater, Dance, and Opera; and Blu Simion Feiler, recipient of the Israel Prize in Design and Interdisciplinary Arts.
