Jewish American Heritage Month

Posted By admin on June 27, 2024

By Hamodia Staff

Dr. Felix Klein, the German Federal Government Commissioner for Jewish Life and the Fight against Antisemitism, was awarded the prestigious Rabbi Moshe Rosen Prize by the Conference of European Rabbis at a distinguished ceremony held at the Representation of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia in Berlin on Monday evening.

The special event was attended by German Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser, President of the Conference of European Rabbis Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt, Chairman of German Rabbis and Vice President of the Conference Rabbi Avichai Apel, Rabbi of the Berlin Jewish Community Rabbi David Roberts, Chief Military Rabbi of Germany Rabbi Mordechai Bala, CEO of the Conference Fund and Presidents Chief of Staff Mr. Gadi Gronich, along with heads of Jewish organizations, representatives from the German government, the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, diplomatic corps, and public figures.

Minister Nancy Faeser praised Dr. Klein, stating, We must unite all forces in our society the rule of law, politics, business, and civil society to fight antisemitism and protect Jewish life. Dr. Felix Klein is a role model in this regard: since taking office in 2018, he has embodied the determination to combat Jew-hatred. He also represents our countrys commitment to strengthening Jewish life and making it visible. I am proud that the Conference of European Rabbis honors his achievements with the Rabbi Moshe Rosen Prize this year. This award is well-deserved for Dr. Klein and serves as a reminder for all of us to do everything in our power to protect Jews in Germany.

Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt, President of the CER, remarked, Few in such positions have succeeded in making their voice heard as consistently as Dr. Felix Klein has over many years. He has tirelessly analyzed, named, and fought antisemitism and Jew-hatred in all its forms. Dr. Klein does everything he can for Jews in Germany and beyond. We are grateful to him and the German government for their crucial support of the future of Judaism. This award is our way of appreciating his commitment to combating antisemitism and supporting Jewish life.

Rabbi Goldschmidt emphasized, There has never been more to do than today. Antisemitism, whether from the far left, the far right, or extremist Muslims, is not just a Jewish problem but a societal one. It threatens all of us, our way of life, unity, justice, and freedom. We must ensure clarity in the debate and greater consistency in protecting Jewish communities, investigating and convicting perpetrators, managing immigration, and dealing with terrorists like Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, the Muslim Brotherhood, and their supporters. Including Irans Revolutionary Guards in the EUs terror list is an important step. Equally, there can be no evasion or relativization regarding antisemitism in education. Now is the time for action.

The Rabbi Moshe Rosen Prize, awarded to Dr. Klein for his exceptional commitment to promoting Jewish life in Germany and his determined fight against antisemitism, is named after the former Chief Rabbi of Romania, who made significant sacrifices to protect his community during the communist regime. Previous recipients include former French President Nicolas Sarkozy and the European Unions Commissioner for Combatting Antisemitism.

Dr. Felix Klein has served as Germanys Commissioner for the Fight Against Antisemitism since May 2018. Before this role, he worked in the German Foreign Service as a Special Representative for Relations with Jewish Organizations and Antisemitic Issues. In his current position, he leads the development of a comprehensive strategy to combat antisemitism in Germany and raises awareness about Jewish life. He has consistently advocated for clearly identifying the causes of antisemitism and anti-Israel sentiment and combating them more effectively through far-reaching legislative proposals and educational initiatives.

In his acceptance speech, Dr. Klein expressed his gratitude: I want to sincerely thank the Conference of European Rabbis for honoring me with the Rabbi Moshe Rosen Prize. But not only for this. Rabbi Goldschmidt and his organization work tirelessly to ensure that Jewish life in Europe continues and flourishes despite all obstacles. The recent move of the Conferences headquarters from London to Munich is a remarkable demonstration of their confidence in Germany. We can be proud of this.

Originally posted here:

Dr. Felix Klein Honored With Award for Fighting Antisemitism - http://hamodia.com

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