Watch as Miriam Peretz is Told She is Receiving the Israel Prize

Miriam Peretz was surprised to see Education Minister Naftali Bennett visit her today. She was even more surprised to learn that he was visiting to inform her she will be this year's recipient of the Israel Prize for her life's work in strengthening the spirit of Jewish-Israeli life. She broke down in tears and dedicated it to two of her children.

Miriam Peretz became a household name in Israel after losing two of her sons in combat, along with her husband who had died of illness.

In 1998, she lost her first son, Uriel, in combat in Lebanon.

In 2010, she lost her second son Eliraz, in combat near Gaza.

Bennett said that she did not choose the circumstances of her difficult life, but she chose to live and to revive an entire nation.

פרס ישראל למפעל חיים על חיזוק הרוח היהודית-ישראלית לשנת תשע"ח יוענק למרים פרץ. שר החינוך נפתלי בנט הגיע לביתה ובישר לה על קבלת הפרס. "לא בחרה את נסיבות חייה הקשות, אך בחרה לחיות ולהחיות עם שלם", אמר בנט pic.twitter.com/oHPRyIOqvo

— כאן חדשות (@kann_news) March 15, 2018