Israeli artist Yaacov Agam speaks at last week’s Algemeiner gala in New York City.

Renowned Israeli artist Yaacov Agam was honored at The Algemeiner’s annual gala in New York City last Monday with the paper’s “Warrior for Truth” award.

In his acceptance speech, delivered to more than 600 rapt audience members, the 89-year-old Agam explained, “There are two languages — two distinct languages. These are verbal – which separates people, because if you put one language, the other country doesn’t understand it at all — and there is the visual, which is understood by everybody.”

“And that’s why the Almighty, when he wanted to bless us in a better future after the flood, he made the blessing with the rainbow, for every living being,” he went on to say. “And the blessing of the rainbow, with all the different colors…with all the difference, they create a beauty. And the message is to have a tolerance and understanding also to people and things which are different. And with this, the peace will come to the world.”

Agam then displayed a piece of rainbow art that every gala attendee received as a gift.

Watch Agam’s remarks in their entirety below (beginning at around the 4:00 minute mark):