The actor Michael Douglas, a UN Messenger of Peace and Natan Sharansky, Chairman of The Jewish Agency for Israel, are appearing on three American university campuses to speak with students about Israel and current-day anti-Semitism.

Douglas and Sharansky will visit Brown University on January 28, Stanford University on February 2, and the University of California at Santa Barbara on February 3.

The program, “Jewish Journeys: A Conversation with Michael Douglas and Natan Sharansky,” is co-hosted by the Genesis Prize Foundation, Hillel International, and The Jewish Agency for Israel. The panelists will also address the topic of tolerance and inclusion in the Jewish community worldwide.

“This is the first time, in this current period of heightened anti-Israel activity on campus, that a Hollywood celebrity has offered to join with a world Jewish leader to visit U.S. college campuses and speak with students about Israel and the Jewish people," said Genesis Prize Foundation Co-Founder and Chairman Stan Polovets. "At a time when the academic community and other forces are making sustained efforts to delegitimize Israel, these visits are particularly important and timely.”

Eric Fingerhut, President and CEO of Hillel International, who praised the pair for bringing these pertinent issues to college campuses, said, “Hillel International works to share the Jewish community's diverse story and engage students in understanding and expressing their Jewish identity. Michael Douglas and Natan Sharansky will help students recognize that no matter where they came from, they are part of the Jewish community and have a role to play to ensure its future.”

“Hillel is grateful to have been a beneficiary of Michael Douglas’ initiative focused on intermarried families in Jewish life," Fingerhut added. "Hillel International is committed to inspiring every Jewish student to make an enduring commitment to Jewish life, learning and Israel.”

Hillel International is the largest Jewish campus organization in the world, operating on more than 550 campuses around the world.

As a human rights activist, Natan Sharansky fought for freedom in the Soviet Union and spent nine years in prison for his activism. Since immigrating to Israel in 1986, he has served as a minister in multiple Israeli governments and has distinguished himself as a leading voice for democracy, human rights, and Jewish unity. Over the past decade and a half, including in his current role as Chairman of the Executive of The Jewish Agency for Israel, he has spoken to students on dozens of college campuses about the dangers of anti-Semitism and efforts to delegitimize the State of Israel.

“At a time when the new and old forms of anti-Semitism are coming together to undermine Israel’s legitimacy and drive Jews apart from their Jewish identities and from one another, it is crucial that we emphasize the connection between our devotion to human rights, our commitment to peace, and our dedication to strengthening the unity of the Jewish people,” said Sharansky. “Having had many opportunities to speak to students and young people about these fundamental issues, I am pleased to be sharing the stage with such an outstanding individual as Michael Douglas, and I look forward to our conversations with young people on campuses across America.”

Michael Douglas was awarded the 2015 Genesis Prize in recognition of his decades-long career as an actor and producer, his work as a peace activist, and his unwavering support of Israel. He decided to dedicate his prize award to projects promoting the inclusion of intermarried families in Jewish life, the first of which was developed by Hillel International.

“I was honored to receive the Genesis Prize last year, and it has encouraged me to deepen my commitment and belief that we must all be more inclusive in order that the Jewish faith and culture thrive,” shared Michael Douglas. “These visits provide an opportunity for Natan and me to speak directly with young people about the challenges they encounter, and share insight about how we have dealt with these situations throughout our life.”  

The Genesis Prize – which Time magazine has called “The Jewish Nobel” – is a $1 million prize awarded annually to a renowned individual for achieving outstanding professional success, contributing to humanity, and demonstrating commitment to the Jewish people and Israel. The first awardee in 2014 was Michael R. Bloomberg, philanthropist, businessman, and former Mayor of New York City. World famous violist, advocate for individuals with disabilities, and Presidential Medal of Freedom winner Itzhak Perlman is the 2016 Genesis Prize Laureate.

Both Douglas and Bloomberg chose to defer their prize award, so the funds could be channeled to philanthropic causes of significance to them; Douglas is promoting engagement of intermarried families in Jewish life, and Bloomberg’s award was used to fund a competition to support ideas from young entrepreneurs to better the world. Perlman has stated he also plans to defer the funds, and will announce details in February 2016.