Noted cartoonist Fermin Hontou, known by the artistic nickname Ombu, received the 31st annual Fraternidad Award named for Maximo Brenner (Z’L), its founder and former president of B’nai B’rith Uruguay.

Some 300 people attended the ceremony at B’nai B’rith Hall in Montevideo.

B’nai B’rith Uruguay has been presenting the Fraternidad (Fraternity) Award to outstanding artists from different arts (literature, painting, sculpture, music, theater, cinema, ballet and dancing) to recognize excellence in these various artistic disciplines. 

Winners receive an all-expenses-paid trip to the State of Israel where the B’nai B’rith World Center is responsible for preparing and implementing an intensive itinerary combining tourism with professional interchange, site visits and high-level briefings geared toward fostering ongoing professional ties between the countries.

They also receive a one-week paid trip to a European country of their choosing, sponsored by the Brenner family in tribute to Maximo Brenner.

Presenters of the award included: Minister of Education and Culture Ricardo Ehrlich; Vice Minister Oscar Gomez; Director General of the Ministry Hugo Achugar; District 28 President Morris Segal and Brenner’s widow, Esther Brenner.

Hontou said: “I feel deeply moved for this award, which gives me the major recognition I can receive in our country and  in my career in order to learn more from the Jewish people and its art once I will have the privilege to visit Israel.”