WJC pres. Lauder addresses Global Investment Forum: Arabs, Jews want peace
WJC pres. Lauder addresses Global Investment Forum: Arabs, Jews want peace
Original Publisher: Jerusalem Post
Additionally, Lauder noted that the Global Investment Forum was a timely event. This, of course, was in light of the recent violence in the Middle East. This included “the trauma that both Israelis and Palestinians have suffered over the past few weeks.”
Retaliation and conflict will not aid in achieving these goals, he said. “It can only come from peace and harmony between nations.”
Two-State Solution:
In his travels throughout the Middle East, he has learned that most people have the same concerns, hopes, and fears. “The greatest investment that we can make is in education and technology,” he said, stating that education should be a joint venture between Israel and the Arab countries. Lauder suggested that Jews and Arabs should learn about the history and culture of both peoples. Then, they could sit together in classrooms and universities to discuss. “Let the Middle East be known not for conflict but for technology and creativity,” he added. “This will only happen with partnerships with Israel.”
Later, Lauder lauded Forum attendees, calling them “bridge builders” and people “who understand that salaam and shalom have the same meaning and carry the same message – one of hope, and not fear. He encouraged people throughout the region to maintain an honest and open dialogue with each other. Subsequently, through those efforts, they can gain a greater understanding of each other. He added that the building of a Jewish school in Dubai furthers the bold and inclusive steps that the UAE is taking as a leader in the cause of peace.
“After everything,” said Lauder, “I continue to hope and work for a two-state solution for the Palestinians and Israelis so that future generations will no longer live in fear and mistrust. I know one simple fact – neighbors living productively together in dignity, peace, and prosperity is better than any alternative.”
Finally, Lauder concluded his remarks. He stated that Israelis and Emiratis can accomplish a great deal together in times of friendship and peace. “All of us involved in this conference have to work against the agents of pessimism. I am an optimist.”
https://m.jpost.com/j-spot/wjc-pres-lauder-addresses-global-investment-forum-arabs-jews-want-peace-669836
World Jewish Congress
World Jewish Congress.
The World Jewish Congress is the international organization that represents Jewish communities and organizations in 100 countries around the world. Founded in 1936, it advocates on their behalf towards governments, parliaments, international organizations and other faiths.
The WJC represents the plurality of the Jewish people, and is politically non-partisan. Ambassador Ronald S. Lauder has served as WJC’s president since 2007 and was reelected to a third term in April 2017.
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Moguls, Politicos & Opinion Makers Gather at Pierre Hotel for Historic World Jewish Congress Dinner
Written by Lieba Nesis. Original article published in The Jewish Voice.
Gathering the likes of mega-moguls, Leon Black, John Paulson, Joseph Chetrit, Inga Rennert, Tom Tisch, James Wolfensohn, Ronald Lauder, the Safras, along with Princess Firyal of Jordan, Nicky Hilton, Marion Wiesel, Nancy Kissinger, Ray and Veronica Kelly, Ambassadors Ron Dermer, Danny Danon and Dani Dayan as well as hundreds of others to The Pierre on one of the busiest Wednesday night’s of the year is a near impossible feat: except when you are head of World Jewish Congress (WJC) Ronald Lauder presenting an award to honorees Robert Kraft and The Rothschilds.
I have never seen the Rothschilds and assumed up until now they were some mythological family that existed in history books. But on this night there was a table filled with them and they are as delightful and elegant as I always imagined.
The WJC held its annual awards dinner with cocktails beginning at 6 PM as throngs of people filled the Pierre foyer. For someone who has attended hundreds of galas this night was a rarity; the illustriousness of the crowd replete with those who flew in from Europe and Brazil was nearly unparalleled even in the rarified society circuit. The timeliness of this evening, following the Pittsburgh shootings, was cathartic as a united group of Jews were able to gather and speak out about the scourge of anti-Semitism. There was a definite cloud hanging over the ebullient crowd coupled with a feeling of hopefulness as one sensed this influential group would throw their full weight into fighting worldwide hatred.
The WJC was founded 80 years ago with Ronald Lauder as its head for the past 25 years. Lauder travels around the world meeting with presidents, prime ministers and popes to advocate for Israel and the Jewish population. I was seated with some of the students from his “J Academy” who flew in from Berlin to attend the dinner. They recounted how Lauder started this school to train Jewish twenty somethings on how to be Jewish leaders and advocate for Jewish rights. Ronald Lauder began the evening by noting the constant unrelenting attacks against the people of Israel including the rise of the BDS movement and the recent march of neo-Nazis.
Lauder inquired as to why this night was different from all others with his obvious answer being the word Pittsburgh. He remarked on the incredible prosperity of the Jews who have excelled beyond their wildest dreams while still retaining an incredible humanity as evidenced by the doctor, Jeff Cohen, who treated the shooter in Pittsburgh with the utmost care. He said if someone had told him he would be fighting for Jews all over the world thirty years ago he would ask what they were smoking. Lauder was emboldened by the ability of the Jewish people to defy time and logic when they watch out for each other.
We were then introduced to Lord Jacob Rothschild who spoke of his family being in the Frankfurt ghetto eight generations ago. Rothschild said he was honored to receive the Theodor Herzl Award since his name was sacred because he accomplished the impossible by founding the state of Israel after 2,000 years. Lord Rothschild said it was time to remember the principles of the Balfour Declaration-a paper his family was instrumental in getting. Lauder joked that Jacob was actually a boyhood friend of Herzl’s.
Another titled Rothschild, David, reiterated his family’s commitment to Israel and said he was honored to become well acquainted with the low key Ronald Lauder whom he called humble with an incredible sense of energy and drive enrapturing all those who come in contact with him. Another leader captivated by Ron Lauder was Israeli Ambassador Ron Dermer who joked to groans “two Rons don’t make a right.”
Dermer praised Lauder for being both a man of the world and “a man of his people” dedicating his life to “his people.” He said Lauder had done the most to rebuild the lives of Jews in Europe and praised him for calling out anti-Semite Jeremy Corbyn. Dermer extolled the Rothschild family for their similar commitment to Israel in the past as they built the Knesset and Israeli Supreme Court and for continuing this legacy by currently building a National Library in Israel. Dermer went on to declare that he hasn’t had the opportunity to address the deadly attacks in Pittsburgh until now and condemned the politicization of the attack noting that there were anti-Semitic killings in Seattle and Kansas City in 2006 and 2014 way before Trump arrived.
In fact Dermer said that while 684 hate crimes against Jews were reported in 2016 this was actually less then in 2008 which had 1,000 attacks and 2000 which had over 1,100 incidents. Dermer said that while President Trump did not respond correctly following Charlottesville after Pittsburgh he gave the strongest condemnation by a leader with his remarks that we will destroy those who seek the destruction of the Jews.
About a half a century after the Holocaust there were few attacks on Jews but now Dermer said that period was over as masked anti-Semitism has been on the rise under the guise of those who are anti-Israel. One third of the Jewish population was massacred in the Holocaust which is the equivalent of 100 million Americans or having a 9/11 occur every day for a century said Dermer; commenting that while Israel was not the cause or cure for anti-Semitism it gave Jews the ability to fight back.
Dermer also spoke about Teddy Kollek Award recipient, Robert Kraft, whom he said he met while playing football in Israel joking that “the best way to be a great Jewish athlete is to play with Jews.” He called Kraft a mega-mensch who conducted his life adhering to Jewish values. He praised Kraft for having a moment of silence at a 2015 Patriots game for Ezra Schwartz who was killed by a Palestinian and said Kraft not only deserves an award for doing great things but for doing it in a way that makes all of “our people” proud. Previous recipients of the Theodor Herzl Award include former Secretary of State General Colin L. Powell, former US Vice President Joseph R. Biden, Israeli President Shimon Peres, Elie and Marion Wiesel, former secretaries of state Henry A. Kissinger and George P. Shultz, and, posthumously, Ronald Reagan and Axel Springer. Kirk Douglas was honored with the inaugural Award.
Kraft received his award and praised
Teddy Kollek whom he knew for making Jerusalem the beautiful city it is today. Kraft said he grew up in an orthodox home where Jewish identity and love for Israel were his two guiding forces. He said his father Harry was the person he admired most and he remembers him saying that a “Shem Tov” was more important than any material wealth acquired. His father told him to make sure when you go to bed at night people are richer for having known you.
In line with paying it forward, Kraft recounted how he buys coffee and pastries for “Dunkin Donuts” patrons being that he is not a fancy Starbucks guy. He quoted his father saying “Ain Ra Bli Tov” ( there is no bad without good) and said that was a principle he lived by. As Kraft studied the victims in Pittsburgh the two that stood out were the mentally challenged brothers David and Cecil Rosenthal because the congregants said they were enriched by having known them-reminding him of his father’s words.
Kraft said he and Roman Abramovich were donating one million dollars and holding a soccer game this summer with 100 percent of proceeds going to fight anti-Semitism. He thanked Ron Lauder joking that his wife Jo Carole was the brains in the family as Kraft vowed to increase his acts of kindness. The attendees gave him a rousing standing ovation and left the venue at 10:30 PM with a lot more knowledge then they had at 6 PM-something we have Robert Kraft’s father to thank for.
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Ron Lauder Presents Theodor Herzl Award to Rothschild Family in NYC
World Jewish Congress President Ronald S. Lauder honored the Rothschild family on November 7 with the WJC’s annual Theodor Herzl Award, which recognizes outstanding individuals who work to promote Herzl’s ideals for a safer, more tolerant world for the Jewish people. Robert K. Kraft, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Kraft Group, was honored with the WJC’s Teddy Kollek Award.
Lord Rothschild (Jacob) will accept the award in the presence of Baron David de Rothschild, Chairman of the World Jewish Congress Governing Board, and Baron Eric de Rothschild, of the Shoah Memorial.
“Each year, the WJC presents the Theodor Herzl Award, the highest honor in the Jewish world today, to a notable statesman or other influential figure in appreciation of his or her dedication to the Jewish people. This year is different. Instead of honoring a single individual, we are honoring one family, the Rothschilds, who have rarely been recognized publicly for all they have done,” Ambassador Lauder said. “The modern State of Israel was created by Jewish heroes who were led by extraordinary leaders such as Herzl, Ben Gurion, Weizmann. But Israel would never have been born without the financial support of Jews everywhere. There is, however, one family that stands above all others — the Rothschild family — who laid the very foundation of the Jewish homeland. Across the world, members of the Rothschild family contributed tremendously to the lives and well-being of Jews, both in Israel and in the Diaspora.”
“I am also delighted that the World Jewish Congress Teddy Kollek Award for the Advancement of Jewish Culture will be presented to Robert K. Kraft, who has, over the last five decades, been one of the most dynamic and creative philanthropists in the US and Israel, donating hundreds of millions of dollars in support of local charities, civic affairs and health care, and who consistently demonstrates his deep and true commitment to the Jewish world,” Lauder added.
Previous recipients of the Theodor Herzl Award include former Secretary of State General Colin L. Powell, former US Vice President Joseph R. Biden, Israeli President Shimon Peres, Elie and Marion Wiesel, former secretaries of state Henry A. Kissinger and George P. Shultz, and, posthumously, Ronald Reagan and Axel Springer. Kirk Douglas was honored with the inaugural Award Teddy Kollek in 2016, followed by film director George Stevens in 2017
All photos courtesy Noa Grayevsky
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LAUDER: JEWS WILL NOT LIVE IN FEAR
Photo credit; Alexi Rosenfeld
Jews will not live in fear and will not tolerate antisemitism, World Jewish Congress president Ronald S. Lauder said Monday.
In a statement delivered at a rally in Pittsburgh, Lauder said that the WJC has noticed a worrisome trend of growing antisemitism and hatred over the last 20 years.
“We have seen it boiling just beneath the surface. And.. our worst fears were realized,” Lauder said. “Today, we mourn. But Jews and all people of good conscience must speak out and say: Enough! We will not tolerate antisemitism. We will not allow our fellow Jews to live in danger. We will not live in fear. This stops now.”
Jews across the globe, Lauder said, stand with the Jewish community of Pittsburgh in its time of need.
“As president of the World Jewish Congress, I’ve received condolences from almost 80 Jewish communities across the globe,” he said. “That solidarity, that unity, that sense of shared loss, is a powerful reminder that we are one people. From the most religious to the most secular, from liberal to conservative, we are one people.”
Originally posted by The Jerusalem Post.
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WJC President Ronald S. Lauder honors former Sec. of State Colin Powell with Theodor Herzl Award
WJC President Ronald S. Lauder honors former Sec. of State Colin Powell with Theodor Herzl Award
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Save The Date: 2018 Theodor Herzl Award
Please join Ronald S. Lauder and the World Jewish Congress on Wednesday, November 7 for the Theodor Herzl Award Dinner at The Pierre in New York City.
Ron Lauder to Present Theodor Herzl Award to Rothschild Family in NYC
World Jewish Congress President Ronald S. Lauder will honor the Rothschild family on November 7 with the WJC’s annual Theodor Herzl Award, which recognizes outstanding individuals who work to promote Herzl’s ideals for a safer, more tolerant world for the Jewish people. Robert K. Kraft, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Kraft Group, will be presented with the WJC’s Teddy Kollek Award.
Lord Rothschild (Jacob) will accept the award in the presence of Baron David de Rothschild, Chairman of the World Jewish Congress Governing Board, and Baron Eric de Rothschild, of the Shoah Memorial.
“Each year, the WJC presents the Theodor Herzl Award, the highest honor in the Jewish world today, to a notable statesman or other influential figure in appreciation of his or her dedication to the Jewish people. This year is different. Instead of honoring a single individual, we are honoring one family, the Rothschilds, who have rarely been recognized publicly for all they have done,” Ambassador Lauder said. “The modern State of Israel was created by Jewish heroes who were led by extraordinary leaders such as Herzl, Ben Gurion, Weizmann. But Israel would never have been born without the financial support of Jews everywhere. There is, however, one family that stands above all others — the Rothschild family — who laid the very foundation of the Jewish homeland. Across the world, members of the Rothschild family contributed tremendously to the lives and well-being of Jews, both in Israel and in the Diaspora.”
“I am also delighted that the World Jewish Congress Teddy Kollek Award for the Advancement of Jewish Culture will be presented to Robert K. Kraft, who has, over the last five decades, been one of the most dynamic and creative philanthropists in the US and Israel, donating hundreds of millions of dollars in support of local charities, civic affairs and health care, and who consistently demonstrates his deep and true commitment to the Jewish world,” Lauder added.
Previous recipients of the Theodor Herzl Award include former Secretary of State General Colin L. Powell, former US Vice President Joseph R. Biden, Israeli President Shimon Peres, Elie and Marion Wiesel, former secretaries of state Henry A. Kissinger and George P. Shultz, and, posthumously, Ronald Reagan and Axel Springer. Kirk Douglas was honored with the inaugural Award Teddy Kollek in 2016, followed by film director George Stevens in 2017
About the World Jewish Congress:
The World Jewish Congress (WJC) is the international organization representing Jewish communities in 100 countries to governments, parliaments and international organizations.
Leading Law Enforcement Organization Hails Ambassador Ronald S. Lauder
[Left to Right] Mr. Richard Kendall – Ambassador Ronald S. Lauder – Commissioner Ray Kelly – Governor Tom Ridge. (Photo by noa grayevsky/Getty Images)
Governor Tom Ridge [L[ with Ambassador Ronald S. Lauder (Photo by noa grayevsky/Getty Images)
Ambassador Ronald S. Lauder was honored Monday night April 23, 2018 at the Plaza Hotel in New York by the Federal Enforcement Homeland Security Foundation, receiving its Lifetime Achievement Award.
Former New York Police Commissioner Ray Kelly praised Lauder, saying he has “a profound commitment to public service.” “Ronald has dedicated his life to helping other people,” Kelly said, “and he’s never wavered in his staunch support for law enforcement.”
“Even as we face challenges and threats like never before,” Ambassador Lauder said addressing federal agents past and present, and their families, “America is with you.”
“Our nation is in your debt,” said Lauder, “and we will not take you for granted.”
Mr. Lauder, who served in the Pentagon and as U.S. Ambassador to Austria during the Reagan Administration, has been President of the World Jewish Congress since 2007.
Lauder: The Jewish People Are Ready to Face any Challenge
Lauder: The Jewish People Are Ready to Face any Challenge
The following is a Passover interview with Ronald S. Lauder, originally published by The Jewish Voice
JV: It’s a tumultuous time around the world—here in the U.S., in Europe, across the Middle East, even in Israel. What should Jews be thankful for this Passover?
RSL: We should celebrate not just our freedom from slavery, but our strength as a people. Yes, there are some worrying signs of divergence and disagreement, but there are even more signs of unity. Jewish communities flourishing across the globe. The two-thousand-year-old dream of a sovereign Israel is a beautiful reality, from which Jews everywhere draw strength and inspiration. The are of the quiet Jew is long behind us; the Jewish people are ready to face any challenge.
JV:Thinking about those challenges, what are the most pressing issues for world Jewry today?
RSL: Rising anti-Semitism threatens Jews in Israel and around the world. We must be ever-vigilant to confront this age-old scourge wherever and however it rears its ugly head, including on new fronts like social media. At the same time, we need to look within, and ask ourselves what can be done about the fact that so many young Jews lack the same sense of peoplehood—amiyut—and a connection to Israel that my generation had. Intermarriage and assimilation rates are rising, and different denominations are growing further apart. We need to educate the next generation to embrace their religion, their Jewish identity, and their homeland, the State of Israel.
JV: Yes, according to recent polls, support for Israel among younger American Jews, especially those who identify as politically liberal, is declining. What do you make of this shift, and what can be done to reverse it?
RSL: American support for Israel has been strongest and most resilient when it has been bipartisan. Unfortunately, gaps have emerged and there are forces—including some on the left—that want to drive a wedge into Jewish solidarity with Israel. The BDS movement is one of these forces, though so far it remains largely defeated and marginalized.
It is our responsibility to adequately explain to young American Jews the importance of backing Israel, including how Zionism fits into a liberal and progressive outlook. We at the World Jewish Congress have conducted our own polling. We understand the challenge, what needs to be done about it, and we’re going after the root causes to expose BDS’s lies. We need to do better to get our messages out—the truth about Israel—to reinforce and strengthen the support the Jewish state needs and deserves.
JV: Pharaoh is sometimes called the world’s first anti-Semite. How threatening is anti-Semitism to the Jewish people today?
RSL:The story of Passover teaches us that the Jewish people are resilient, and it also reminds us to be humble and to appreciate our modern freedoms, for we know the bitter experience of bondage and slavery. Passover also bestows a lesson of activism, of the importance of taking fate into our own hands and to be fearless in defending our faith and our freedom.
That’s a lesson that still resonates today, when anti-Semitism remains a constant and evolving threat. That’s why I’m working with former NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly, one of the world’s most respected security experts, on a project to assess the security requirements of certain Jewish communities in Europe. I’m also traveling from country to country with the World Jewish Congress, meeting senior officials and heads of government to work on solutions. In fighting anti-Semitism, we must be vigilant and united.
JV: Poland’s senate recently passed a controversial bill that outlaws blaming Poland for crimes committed during the Shoah. You’ve forcefully condemned the law. What do you think is the path forward there?
RSL:This bill brought a firestorm of ill-will and should have no bearing on the Jewish revival happening there. Jewish life in Central and Eastern Europe is finally recovering from the Second World War, and, in Poland, bilateral relations with Israel have never been stronger. The entire controversy should be dialed back, and I hope to see Polish and Jewish leaders sit down to get back to where everyone belongs—as friends, neighbors and fellow citizens.
JV:Israel has historically been a political punching bag at the United Nations. Do you think that’s beginning to change under Nikki Haley?
RSL: Ambassador Haley’s voice at the United Nations has been a breath of fresh air. Decades of deep-seated hostility and unfair treatment of Israel can’t be changed overnight, but she has already made incredible progress by reaffirming American strength and demanding justice in the U.N.’s halls. I’m pleased to call Ambassador Haley my friend, I pray for her strength and success, and I know that our community is cheering for her.
JV: Do you see other signs of hope for improved relations between Israel and the global community?
RSL: Dialogue is key to improving relations. That is why I am committed to supporting institutions of higher education, like Israel’s cutting-edge Technion and the IDC in Herzliya, and it’s why I established an employment center in the Negev, in cooperation with Ben-Gurion University, in order to increase opportunities for Jews and Arabs. It is also why I started an “Olive Branch” project to facilitate discussions between Muslims, Jews and Catholics. Dialogue humanizes conflict, and education gives individuals and communities a stake in our shared future.
JV:From Saudi Arabia to Lebanon to Yemen, the Middle East’s political landscape is undergoing tectonic changes. How would you characterize Israel’s position in this evolving environment?
RSL: Israel has shown itself to be a strong and adaptive geopolitical player, constructing strategic alliances, countering the existential threat of a nuclear Iran and collaborating in the fight against terrorism. For example, there’s been unprecedented intelligence sharing on ISIS between Israel, Egypt and Jordan. The rest of the Middle East is starting to see that a strong Israel is a source of stability, and the world is finally understanding that the problems of the Middle East cannot be pinned on Israel.
JV: What about the stalled peace process? Why do you believe so strongly in the necessity of a two-state solution?
RSL: The pursuit of peace is vital to preserving Israel’s character as a Jewish and democratic state. A fundamental tenet of Zionism is that the Jewish people should be free, sovereign, safe, and secure in our own land. Although there have been setbacks and failures, there are still majorities on all sides that want peace. The two-state solution remains a top priority for me. I believe that Prime Minister Netanyahu, President Abbas and President Trump have a unique chance to achieve progress and enable Israelis and Palestinians to build bridges toward a more promising future for both peoples.
JV: A theme of Passover is being a stranger in another land. The Israeli government recently announced that it would deport tens of thousands of African migrants. Is that the right decision?
RSL:Given the Jewish people’s own troubled past, I believe that Israel must always have open arms, especially for anyone fleeing mass atrocities and persecution. And it has: Israel has provided refuge for upwards of 60,000 Africans fleeing war and strife over the past 10-15 years. As for the Israeli government’s latest decisions, I hope an alternative path forward can be found, and the international community should also do more to assist Israel as it shoulders this unanticipated burden.
Many of the African migrants escaped gruesome conditions, thousands fled persecution and atrocities in Sudan, many were victims of trafficking and torture in Sinai, and thousands more fled Eritrea’s gulag, where young men face the prospect of seemingly indefinite conscription into a dictator’s army. Natan Sharansky has spoken out, as has former Attorney General and Supreme Court Justice Elyakim Rubinstein.
JV: Israel will soon celebrate its 70th birthday. What do you think the Jewish homeland will look like in another 70 years?
RSL: In the face of conflict, we tend to lose our optimism. But I am confident that in 70 years the fighting will be over. There will be peace and prosperity in Israel, with Jews and Arabs living together in harmony. I share Herzl’s dream and believe his vision of Zionism will continue to be fulfilled.
The Auschwitz-Birkenau Foundation Committee
The Auschwitz-Birkenau Foundation Committee.
Mr. Ronald S. Lauder has supported preservation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial Site for over 30 years. He is a chairman and founder of the The Auschwitz-Birkenau Foundation Committee — a group of historically minded individuals who support the cause and believe that the existence of the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial, its authenticity, and its message will help prevent a reemergence of hatred, racism, antisemitism, and xenophobia that led to the Holocaust.
In 1986, Mr. Lauder visited Auschwitz-Birkenau for the first time and was shocked to see that the camp had fallen into a terrible state of disrepair. Worried that the artifacts were disintegrating and would not be available for future generations to see, he immediately brought conservators from the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York to help preserve these historic objects.
In the 90’s, Mr. Lauder spearheaded the international campaign that raised $40M for the preservation of the remaining barracks of Birkenau, as well as the mountains of shoes, suitcases, eyeglasses and other personal items that the Nazis took from Jewish inmates before they murdered them. Mr. Lauder believes that this effort is of utmost importance in an age of Holocaust deniers and growing anti-Semitism throughout the world. Soon, the last eye-witnesses of the Holocaust will no longer be with us and the camp will stand as the only testament to what took place. For all these reasons, Mr. Lauder believes the integrity of the camp must always be maintained.
The Ronald S. Lauder Foundation
The Ronald S. Lauder Foundation.
For three decades, the Ronald S. Lauder Foundation has been committed to rebuilding Jewish life in the regions of Europe where the destruction of the Holocaust was most profound.
Across a growing network of schools in more than 10 countries, the Foundation has supported a revival of Jewish life. Whether in Warsaw or Minsk, Budapest or Bucharest, the Foundation’s investments have had a transformative impact on communities that some believed had no future.
Learn more about the Foundation’s recent 30th anniversary events.
Bulgaria confers highest state honour on WJC President Ronald Lauder
Bulgaria has conferred on Ronald S Lauder, President of the World Jewish Congress, its highest state honour, the Stara Planina first degree.
The award celebrates Lauder’s extraordinary dedication to the development and strengthening of friendly relations and co-operation between the global Jewish community and Bulgarian state institutions, civil society, and the local Jewish community, and also for his contribution to the development of education in Bulgaria.
The honour was handed over by head of state President Roumen Radev on the day that Bulgaria commemorated the 76th anniversary of the rescue of the Bulgarian Jews from being murdered in the death camps of the Holocaust.
Radev said that the joint initiatives of the World Jewish Congress and the Organization of the Jews in Bulgaria Shalom contributed not only to increasing intolerance and opposition to xenophobia and discrimination, but also to better co-operation with the Bulgarian institutions for action against antisemitism and hate speech.
“The rescue of the Bulgarian Jews is not only a historical event, but an inspiring example for today and tomorrow,” he said.
Lauder praised the Bulgarian people for standing up to the Nazis during the Second World War, and again now, against the rise of neo-Nazis.
“Once again today, you showed the entire world that courage, moral clarity, and decency begin right here in Sofia,” he said, referring to the “Together for Bulgaria, Together for Bulgaria” event.
“Once again, the Bulgarian people, along with their leaders have stood together and said: ‘We will not tolerate antisemitism or hatred of any kind.’ President Radev and Prime Minister [Boiko] Borissov have been so responsive to any kind of anti-Jewish hatred, setting an example for all world leaders. The World Jewish Congress thanks you for your outspoken clarity.”
Lauder also thanked the many NGOs from across Bulgarian civil society who have pledged to sign the Memorandum to Fight Hate speech in Bulgaria, adding: “I think it is very clear where the future lies. It lies with tolerance, good neighbours, and everyone working together to build a better world for our children.
“Hate will not be part of our future. Intolerance will not be part of it. Bulgaria reminds us that we must never be silent in the face of evil. Bulgaria reminds us that it takes courage to stand up to evil. Bulgaria reminds us that even a small country can tower over all others. Let the world use Bulgaria as its model.”
In the evening, Lauder was among guests and speakers at a commemoration ceremony at Sofia Central Synagogue.
Speeches were delivered by Sofia Cohen, President of the Central Israelite Religious Council of Bulgaria, Deputy Foreign Minister Georg Georgiev, who is Bulgaria’s National Co-ordinator against Antisemitism, and Maxim Benvenisti of Shalom’s Tzedaka Foundation, who introduced the history of those ordinary Bulgarians who participated in the rescue of the Bulgarian Jews.
Shalom conferred its highest honour, the Shofar award, on Georgiev and on US ambassador Eric Rubin and Israeli ambassador Irit Lilian.
Shalom, furthering its campaign to build a partnership network with NGOs committed to a society without division, intolerance and hate speech, signed a memorandum of co-operation with 10 NGOs at the ceremony. This was a sequel to the signing of the memorandum in February with the GLAS Foundation.
The 10 NGOs with which the memorandum was signed are the Association of European Journalists Bulgaria, the Association of Families for Partnership in Psychiatry, the Bulgarian Fund for Women, the Bulgarian Helsinki Committee, Jamba – an organisation that connects people with diverse abilities to employers, the National Foster Care Association, the Bilitis Foundation, Marginalia, the Movement of Bulgarian Mothers, and Maiko Mila, a support website for mothers.
Article and photos originally posted on The Sofia Globe
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Minister of Pensioners, students, young people and gender equality Ms. Gila Gamliel visited the Lauder
Chabad Campus in Vienna, Austria, July 30th, 2018
Ambassador Lauder surrounded by Foundation staff, students and alumni of the Lauder network of Jewish day schools and leadership training programs in Europe. November 7, 2017, New York
Hannukah 2016 at the Pierre Hotel in New York City. Mr. Lauder was joined by the Israeli ambassador to the U.N.
Visit the Ronald S. Lauder Foundation’s website.
Limmud FSU
Limmud FSU.
Limmud is a dynamic, pluralistic gathering of Jewish learning. Its programs are based on the core values of diversity, accessibility and free and open discourse.
Limmud FSU brings together and empowers young Jewish adults who are revitalizing Jewish communities and culture in the countries of the Former Soviet Union (FSU), as well as in countries with Russian-speaking people, wherever they may be, including the United States.
Founded by Chaim Chestler (Israel), Sandra Cahn (USA) and Mikhail Chlenov (Russia), Limmud FSU enjoys the support and leadership of Matthew Bronfman, Aaron Frenkel and an International Steering Committee that includes Ms. Grayevsky.
Ambassador Lauder receives the “Guardian of Zion” award from the Ingeborg Rennert Center for Jerusalem Studies.
Ambassador Lauder receives the “Guardian of Zion” award from the Ingeborg Rennert Center for Jerusalem Studies, King David Hotel, June 2016
Following are excerpts from Ambassador Ronald S. Lauder’s remarks.
“When you hold the only Jewish nation to a different standard than any other country, when you make up lies about the only Jewish nation, its past and its present, and when you want the only Jewish nation on earth to disappear, that makes you an anti-Semite. Pure and simple.”
“The era of the quiet Jew is over.”
Ronald S. Lauder: This terrible place called Auschwitz
Ronald S. Lauder: This terrible place called Auschwitz.
Highlights of Ronald S. Lauder’s address at the commemorative event on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau.
Speech of World Jewish Congress President Ronald S. Lauder at the ceremony in Auschwitz
Speech of World Jewish Congress President Ronald S. Lauder at the ceremony in Auschwitz.
Following are excerpts from the speech of WJC President Ronald S. Lauder at the ceremony at Auschwitz-Birkenau on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the camp’s liberation.
I am not a survivor, although I am grateful for the survivors who are here today. I am not a liberator, although I salute the courage of the veterans who are among us today.
I am here, simply, as a Jew. And, like all Jews everywhere, this place, this terrible place called Auschwitz, touches our souls.
I have always wondered if I had been born in Hungary, where my grandparents were from, instead of New York in February of 1944, would I have lived?
The answer is no. I would have been one of the 438,000 Hungarian Jews gassed by the Nazis here in Auschwitz in 1944.
What was the reason that over one million Jews were murdered right here? The reason was they were Jewish. Nazi Germany believed Jews had no right to live. Yes, the Holocaust was designed by the Nazis. But there was complicity from almost every country in Europe.
I was going to make a very different speech here today. But after the recent events in Paris, throughout Europe and around the world I cannot ignore what is happening today.
Jews are targeted in Europe once again because they are Jews. Synagogues and Jewish businesses are attacked. There are mass demonstrations with thousands of people shouting death threats to the state of Israel and to Jews.
Shortly after the end of World War II, after we saw the reality of Auschwitz and the other death camps, no normal person wanted to be associated with the anti-Semitism of the Nazis.
For a time, we thought that the hatred of Jews had finally been eradicated. But slowly the demonization of Jews started to come back. First in articles and on the internet, in some religious schools and even universities. From there it made its way into mainstream society.
It happened so slowly and it all seemed so unimportant that few people paid any attention.
Until now, when Europe suddenly awoke to find itself surrounded by anti-Semitism again and it looks more like 1933 than 2015.
Once again, young Jewish boys are afraid to wear yarmulkes on the streets of Paris and Budapest and London. Once again, Jewish businesses are targeted. And once again, Jewish families are fleeing Europe.
How did this happen? Why, after seven decades and three generations, is this new storm of anti-Semitism sweeping through Europe and targeting Jews?
For decades, the world has been fed lies about Israel: that Israel is the cause of everyone’s problems, that Israelis are the villains of the 21st century, that Israel has no right to exist.
We all learned that when you tell a lie three times and there is no response, then the lie becomes the truth.
This vilification of Israel, the only Jewish state on earth, quickly became an opportunity to attack Jews. Much of this came from the Middle East, but it has found fertile ground throughout the world.
The targets of this hate are not just Jews. Christians are being slaughtered in Africa and Syria. Women and girls are killed in Afghanistan just for wanting to go to school. Journalists are murdered in the Middle East and right here in Europe a terrible wave of hatred has descended on our earth once again.
There are representatives from 40 nations here with us today and we, the Jewish people, are so grateful that you have joined us. You are good, decent people. But because of where we are and what this place means your governments must stand up to this new wave of hatred.
Schools must teach tolerance of all people. Houses of worship should be places of love, understanding, and healing they should not be telling their people to kill in the name of god. All countries and the European Union must make hate a crime. Any country that openly brags about the annihilation of another country should be excluded from the family of nations. Every government must have absolutely zero tolerance for hate of any kind.
Unless this is checked right now, it will be too late. We still have a chance to stop this, but if every government does not act quickly, then the tragedy of this terrible place will darken our world again.
World silence led to Auschwitz.
World indifference led to Auschwitz.
World anti-Semitism led to Auschwitz.
Do not let this happen again.
