Feb 14, 2006 -- Dr. Ya'acov (Gerald) Blidstein has been awarded this year's Israel Prize in Jewish Thought for the year 2006 (5766). The awards are formally presented in a special Independence Day ceremony. The prize, Israel's highest honor, was announced by the Minister of Education, Culture and Sport Meir Shitreet. Originally from the United States, Dr. Blidstein received his Ph.D. and later an honorary doctorate from Yeshiva University. Dr. Blidstein holds the Miriam Martha Hubert Chair in Jewish Law at Ben-Gurion University. He joined the faculty of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in 1972. Dr. Blidstein served in a number of senior positions including Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, chairman of the Goldstein-Goren Department of Jewish Thought and Head of the Goldstein-Goren International Center of Jewish Thought. Dr. Blidstein is an internationally-renowned scholar in Maimonides' Halakhic law and philosophy, with a special emphasis on political philosophy. Indeed, Blidstein may be considered one of the founders of the field of Jewish political thought, along with the late D. Elazar. His work in Jewish law focuses on Jewish public law and the interface of law and social ethics. He has also published many studies on the history of prayer and liturgy from ancient times to the present. His research interests cover the History of halakhah, philosophy of halakhah, Maimonides, ethics and halakhah, prayer, aggadah, and political thought.