President Isaac Herzog awarded on Wednesday the Israeli Presidential Medal of Honor to eight global leaders for their outstanding contributions to Israel and the Jewish people.
The medal recipients include Ronald S. Lauder, president of the World Jewish Congress; Maurice Lévy, French executive; Malcolm Hoenlein, former executive vice chairman of the Conference of Presidents of American Jewish Organizations; Julie Platt, chair of the Jewish Federations of North America; Sir Frank Lowy, Australian philanthropist and Holocaust survivor; Sir Trevor Chinn, British Jewish leader; Brigitte Zypries, former German minister of economic affairs and justice; and Mark Leibler, Australian attorney and Jewish leader.
“The past year, the most difficult since the founding of the state, tested our resilience as a nation and as the Jewish people; it showcased the diverse and beautiful face of Israeli society and proved, as we have always known and believed, that all of Israel is responsible for one another, that the Jewish communities worldwide and the State of Israel share a common destiny, and that we have great friends and supporters in the world who fight alongside us against antisemitism, defend Israel’s name in the media, and have long fought for Israel’s place among the nations,” Herzog said.
“Your work and dedication embody this great bond, and the Jewish people and the State of Israel will remain deeply grateful for all that you have done and continue to do,” he added.
The Israeli Presidential Medal of Honor was the initiative of Israel’s ninth president, the late Shimon Peres, and was first awarded in 2012.