WATCH: Small country, big impact: Israel's Nobel Prize winners

Israel has positioned itself as a leader in innovation and research

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Discover the remarkable achievements of Israel's Nobel Prize winners in this enlightening video from ALL ISRAEL 101. Despite being a young nation, Israel has produced an impressive 12 Nobel laureates across various fields, showcasing the nation's commitment to innovation, research and excellence.

Join host Kayla Sprague as she takes you on a journey through Israel's Nobel history, from Shmuel Yosef Agnon's literature prize in 1966 to Joshua Angrist's recent award in Economic Sciences.

Learn about groundbreaking contributions in peace efforts, chemistry, economics and more.

Click on the video above to watch or read the transcript below.

Welcome to ALL ISRAEL 101. I'm Kayla Sprague, and today we're going to celebrate the remarkable achievements of Israeli Nobel Prize winners whose contributions have left an indelible mark on the world.

What makes Israel's Nobel legacy so impressive? You are going to find this out in this video.

Despite being a young nation, Israel has proven to be a powerhouse of innovation and intellect, boasting an impressive 12 Nobel honorees across various fields. This achievement speaks volumes about Israel's commitment to education, research and the pursuit of excellence.

Our journey begins in 1966 with Shmuel Yosef Agnon, who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature. Agnon's profound narrative art drew from a rich tapestry of Jewish life, capturing a world that had largely vanished by the time he received the award.

Then, in 1978, Menachem Begin, Israel's former prime minister, was honored with the Nobel Peace Prize –alongside Egypt's Anwar Sadat – for their courageous peace treaty.

This was followed in 1994, by Itzhak Rabin and Shimon Peres, who were recognized for their efforts in the Oslo Peace Accords.

Israeli honorees have made groundbreaking contributions across various disciplines.

In the Social Sciences, Daniel Kahneman revolutionized the field of economic sciences in 2002 by integrating psychology with economic theory, challenging traditional models of rational decision-making.

Turning to the Natural Sciences, Aaron Ciechanover and Avram Hershko were jointly awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2004. They were working on cellular processes related to protein degradation, a discovery with significant implications for cancer research and treatment.

The field of economics saw another Israeli honored in 2005, with Robert Aumann receiving the prize for his work in Game Theory.

In 2009, Ada Yonath's, pioneering research on ribosome structure earned her the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, advancing our understanding of antibiotics

In 2011, Dan Shechtman was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his discovery of quasicrystals challenging existing scientific paradigms.

More recent honorees have continued to showcase Israel's scientific prowess.

In 2013, Michael Levitt and Arieh Warshel shared the Nobel Prize for Chemistry for their groundbreaking work on the development of multi-scale models for complex chemical systems. Their research has revolutionized our understanding of how chemical reactions occur at a molecular level, with far-reaching implications for drug development and environmental science.

Most recently, in 2021, Joshua Angrist was awarded the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences for his methodological contributions to the analysis of causal relationships. His work has significantly improved our ability to answer important questions in Social Sciences. This is particularly true in education and labor markets.

These Nobel honorees are celebrated as national heroes here in Israel. Their achievements are taught in schools, inspiring young Israelis to pursue careers in science, literature and peacemaking.

Their work continues to influence research and policy here in Israel and around the world.

The recognition of Israeli Nobel honorees is a vivid example of how a young nation can make significant contributions to global knowledge and understanding. It shows how Israel is using its human capital to guide its path forward, positioning itself as a leader in innovation and research.

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