Congratulations to the winners of the 2022 Rothschild Prize:
Nira Liberman – Social Sciences (Psychology, Tel Aviv University)
Nira Liberman developed the highly influential construal level theory, which explores the uniquely human cognitive ability to imagine oneself in the future, in remote locations, with unfamiliar people, and in hypothetical situations. Her theory has had a powerful impact on psychology, neuroscience, behavioral economics, linguistics, philosophy, and public policy.
David Weisburd – Social Sciences (Criminology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem)
David Weisburd’s research has been pivotal in developing successful evidence-based crime policies worldwide. He developed a breakthrough in criminology by focusing on the importance of geographic micro-places (“hot spots”) for understanding and prevention of crime. He has shown that crime concentrates in consistent ways within cities as a result of specific social and micro-level factors.
Ruth HaCohen – Humanities (Musicology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem)
Ruth Cohen’s study of ‘sound history’ –specifically the definition of Jewish music as ‘noise’ by Christians in early modern Europe – has irreversibly changed the ways and the scope in which we think about and react to music. She has expanded the discipline of musicology in relation to cognitive processes, politics, philosophy, and a wide-ranging, humanistic cultural aesthetics.
Jeremy Cohen – Jewish Studies (Jewish History, Tel Aviv University)
Jeremy Cohen’s wide-ranging and innovative research has uncovered a shared, complex cultural language of Jews and Christians in pre-modern Europe. His work has shown that Jewish-Christian relations must be seen against the background of medieval religion, society, and culture generally and has thus led to a richer, more integrated understanding of the pre-modern era and, specifically, to a deeper understanding of key phases in the experience of the Jews in Europe.
A conference honouring the recipients will be held in Autumn 2022.
