Press Release: Gala honoring Uyghur leader Nury Turkel raises money for anti-genocide work

ENCINO, CA — Jewish World Watch (JWW), an international human rights organization based in Los Angeles, presented on Sunday its 2022 Global Soul Award to Uyghur leader and United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) Chair Nury Turkel during the organization’s seminal gala. JWW also recognized community leaders and board of directors co-chairs Diana Buckhantz and Jane Z. Cohen with the inaugural Schulweis Legacy Award, named for the organization’s co-founder Rabbi Harold M. Schulweis and his wife Malkah Schulweis. The event has raised $400,000 to support the global fight against genocide and help fund on-the-ground projects benefitting mass atrocity survivors.

Appointed by Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Turkel serves as the USCIRF chair and was named in 2020 as one of TIME Magazine’s 100 Most Influential. In 2021, he was one of Fortune Magazine’s 50 Greatest Leaders and also received the inaugural Notre Dame Prize for Religious Liberty.

“The Jewish and Uyghur peoples have a strong bond because of their similar experiences,” said Turkel, in his acceptance speech. “I am a better and more effective advocate because of the courage and support I have received from strong partners at Jewish World Watch.”

Jewish World Watch Executive Director Serena Oberstein announce the launch of the organization’s new college advocacy program that will begin this Fall.

Nearly 300 people gathered for JWW’s Global Soul event on the Brownstone Street set at the Warner Bros. Studios backlot, including State Sen. Bob Hertzberg (D-Van Nuys), Assemblymember Laura Friedman (D-Burbank), Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel (D-Woodland Hills), Assemblymember Adrin Nazarian (D-Van Nuys), Los Angeles City Attorney Mike Feuer, Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, Los Angeles City Councilmember Nithya Raman, Los Angeles City Councilmember Mitch O’Farrell, LAUSD Board Member Tanya Ortiz Franklin, Glendale Mayor Ardy Kassakhian, Burbank School Board Member Steve Ferguson, and Burbank School Board Member Emily Weisberg,

The night began under the stars with dinner and music by the world-music band ADAAWE on the Brownstone Street set at Warner Bros Studios. Guests then moved into the theater and additional overflow spaces for a program featuring actor and producer Amy Brenneman, and remarks by JWW co-founder Janice Kamenir-Reznik, JWW Executive Director Serena Oberstein and the honorees.