The Lord Jakobovits Prize

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T his e vent is sponsored by Dr. Huber t Burda, Burda Medien Mr Boris Mints, Bank Otkritye Yan Abramov, Ne w Technologies T he Brussels Je wish Community

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Programme of Events

Programme of Events

Psalm 24:7 (arranged by Samuel Naumbourg) C hoir of the Grand Synagogue of Europe Opening Words by Mr Philippe Markie wicz President of the Je wish Community of Brussels Grand Synagogue of Europe Psalm 113 (arranged by Yossele Rosenblatt) Cantor Israel Muller and C hoir of the Grand Synagogue of Europe Address by Rabbi Al ber t Guigui, C hie f Rabbi of Brussels Holy Ark opened by Dr Joseph Schus ter Vice President of the Central Council of the Je wish Community of G ermany Torah Scrolls taken out by the Rabbinical delegation from G ermany Rabbi Avichai Apel, the Rabbi of Dortmund and Presidium member oftheConference of Rabbis of Germany Rabbi Yitshak Ehrenberg, Community Rabbi of Berlin Rabbi Joshua Spinner, Dean of the Hildesheimer Rabbinical Seminary, Berlin Hymn Ein Kamochah Nothing equals thy works Cantor Israel Muller and C hoir of the Grand Synagogue of Europe El Male Rahamim Prayer of remembrance for the vic tims of the Shoah Cantor Benjamin Muller Prayer for Europe, The European Union, its Heads of State and Governments C hie f Rabbi Alber t Guigui

Hashivenu Re turning T he Torah Scrolls To T he Holy Ark Cantor Benjamin Muller and C hoir of the Grand Synagogue of Europe Address by Rabbi Pinchas G oldschmidt C hie f Rabbi of Moscow President of the Conference of European Rabbis Reading of the te xt on the L ord Jakobovits Prize Dr. Die ter Grauman, President of the Central Council of the Je wish Community of G ermany L ord Jakobovits Prize for European Je wr y Presented to C hancellor Angela Merkel by C hie f Rabbi Pinchas G oldschmidt and Mr Boris Mints, C hairman of the Board of Patrons of the CER Address by C hancellor Angela Merkel C hancellor of the Federal Republic of G ermany European Anthem Ludwig van Bee thoven Organ and C hoir of the Grand Synagogue of Europe Conclusion of the Ceremony Gues ts are kindly asked to remain seated until all officials have le f t

Our mission

Our history and purpose

Close to two thousand years of Jewish life in Europe almost came to an end last century, when the great majority of European Jewry was wiped out by the Nazis and the remnant of our people living in Eastern Europe and in the Soviet Union was forced into cultural and ethnic assimilation. The almost 1.7 million Jews living across Europe today, struggle with weakening communal structures, internal division, assimilation and apathy, not to mention themyriad of challenges faced when trying to secure a better future for tomorrows European Jews. The Conference of European Rabbis was founded 57 years ago in order to re-establish the spiritual greatness of Jewish Communities throughout Europe, the cradle of all great spiritual movements of the Jewish people.

As the custodians of our tradition, rabbis across Europe strive to fulfil their mission bytransmitting the legacy of our forefathers from generation to generation, to defend our religious rights, which are, unfortunately again under attack in this continent and to lend a hand to all those who are interested in protecting and safeguarding Europes Jewish heritage. We call upon the spiritual leaders of Europe, who share our belief in the basic tenets of the Jewish faith, to join forces with us and help us represent the interests of Judaism and the Jewish People, before European Governments and Official Institutions.

The Conference of European Rabbis was founded in 1956 on the initiative of the thenBritish Chief Rabbi Sir Israel Brodie, inorder to revive the destroyed Jewish communities onthe European mainland. Brodie was supported by the Chief Rabbi ofFrance, Jacob Kaplan, the Chief Rabbi ofAmsterdam, Aharon Schuster and the British Sephardic spiritual leader, Hacham Gaon. The first conference took place in 1957 in Amsterdam. Since that time the Conference of European Rabbis has defended the religious rights ofJews in Europe, and has become the voice of Judaism for the European continent. This organisation has been involved in defending the rights of Jews to practice Shechita and Brit Milah. The Conference of European Rabbis also functions as a collegial rabbinical authority, which certifies the validity of conversions, kashruth certifications and

other rabbinical legal decisions, problems concerning kashrut, conversion, divorce, recruitment of Rabbis and the building ofmikvehs as well as any issues that affect the broader Jewish community in Europe. The organisation is run by a standing committee of 35 members which meets twice a year, in a major European capital and includes discussions of relevant halachic issues, a visit to the local Jewish community and meeting with the countrys government. The Standing Committee members are ingeneral, the Chief Rabbis of European countries and its most important cities along with their senior rabbinical judges. The general convention of the Conference ofEuropean Rabbis convenes once every two years to which all European Chief Rabbis and congregational Rabbis are invited.

Our President
C h ie f R a b b i p inc h as Go ld s c h m id t

Our Executive Secretary

Ra b b i Eli melech Va n zetta

With the global financial crisis showing no sign of letting up, the Jewish community and, indeed, all minority communities across Europe have again, come under attack, a sad reality reminiscent of the darkest hours of human history. Throughout Scandinavia, Southern Europe and especially Greece, the odious politics of the far-right is gaining ground and popularity. Invariably, this is coupled with a quiescent intolerance of religion which is unfortunately becoming the norm in supposedly modern liberal democracies. Moreover, the growing violence perpetrated by radical Islamists against the Jewish community is cause for genuine and serious concern and must be addressed immediately.

It is my deepest wish that those who demonstrate a propensity for attacking difference take the time to consider what their true motivation is for promoting hatred and discrimination instead of mutual love and understanding, for advocating thatreligious practices such as circumcision or ritual slaughter be banned, instead ofrespecting millennial and sacrosanct religious rights. Pastor Martin Niemoller chillingly recorded that only when the Nazis came to take him away did he realise the gravity of his failure to speak out on behalf of the other victims of the Holocaust. Thefeeling that religious communities throughout Europe are singled out for criticism is palpable. This is the time to protest against the rebirth of such terrible injustice; it is also the time to celebrate and thank true leaders like Chancellor Merkel, who personifies the very essence and spirit of the European Union and its values.

via our daughter organisation Lo Tisckach; we provide assistance in all matters pertaining to Jewish Law via our renowned Rabbinical Court, the Rabbinical Court of Europe. Last year, we unfortunately witnessed fundamental cornerstones of the Jewish faith being challenged in addition to horrificantisemitic attacks against major Jewish communities. Building upon the work of his predecessors, under the Presidency of Rabbi Goldschmidt the Conference of European Rabbis has gone from strength to strength. As a result, the Conference of European Rabbis is now more active than ever, as demonstrated by our strong presence in Brussels and in the media, showcasing our tireless efforts on behalf of European Jewry. There is, however, much work yet to be done, therefore, in addition to the aforementioned, we are also dedicated to empowering Jewish communities across the continent via our Hulya network of dedicated Rabbis and educational programmes; we are active in the preservation and safeguarding of Jewish cemeteries and mass graves across Europe On the other hand, we also saw the establishment and development of new andgrowing communities across Europe, afact which certainly gives us hope. Chancellor Merkel has consistently demonstrated her respect towards and understanding of the Jewish Community aswell as other minorities in Germany and, indeed, in Europe. We are, therefore, grateful to have true leaders like her in Europe, leaders who setthe example of what it really means to uphold the core European values of human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and the respect for human rights.

Chairman of the Board of Patrons

B o ris Mints

Our Daughter Organisations

congregates eighty percent of all rabbisandcommunities all over Europe andtheFormer Soviet Union, from LisbontoVladivostok, from Helsinki to Athens. AsaPan European organisation, webelievethat it is vital for the future ofthecontinent that European democraciesjoin forces in upholding theirshared values,common goals, andwordhard atovercoming hatred, prejudice and intolerance. The Conference of European Rabbis wascreated eleven years after the end of theHolocaust and, ever since its inception, ithas played a crucial role in the revival ofJewish life in Europe. The organisation This mission is, indeed, championed byChancellor Merkel and we feel very privileged to be able to thank her for allthatshe has achieved thus far.

Lo Tisckach The Lo Tisckach European Jewish Cemeteries Initiative was established in 2006 as a joint project of the Conference ofEuropean Rabbis and the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany. Itaims to guarantee the effective and lasting preservation and protection of Jewish cemeteries and mass graves throughout theEuropean continent. This initiative, identified by the Hebrew phrase Lo Tisckach (do not forget), is establishing a comprehensive publicly-accessible database of all Jewish burial grounds in Europe, currently featuring details on over 9,000 cemeteries and mass graves. The Lo Tisckach project is also producing a compendium of the different national and international laws and practices affecting these sites, to be used as a starting point to advocate for the better protection and preservation of Europes Jewish heritage. A key aim of the project is to engage young Europeans, bringing Europes history alive, encouraging reflection on the values that are important for responsible citizenship and mutual respect, giving a valuable insight into Jewish culture and mobilising young people to care for our common heritage. The project uses Jewish cemeteries a physical legacy of formerly vibrant Jewish communities as the focus of a practical activity and learning programme to meaningfully transmit to younger generations the lessons of the Holocaust.

Rabbinical court ofEurope The Rabbinical Court of Europe was established over 15 years ago, as an initiative of the late Chief Rabbi Lord Jakobovits, after whom this prize was named, who, at the time was the President of the Conference of European Rabbis. Lord Jakobovits goal was to respond to the repeated requests ofEuropean communities in places where there was no functioning Rabbinical Court. The Rabbinical Court of Europe employs Rabbinical Judges from across the continent and is currently headed by Dayan Chanoch Ehrentreu who has over 30 years of experience in presiding over the most distinguished Rabbinical Courts of Great Britain. Judge Ehrentreu is the undisputed senior legal expert in Europe in all areas ofJewish Law.

Chief Rabbi of Brussels

C h ie f Rabbi Gu igu i

As Chief Rabbi of Brussels it gives me great pleasure to see so many gathered in the Grand Synagogue of Europe on this special occasion. This synagogue was designated the Grand Synagogue of Europe precisely because both this city and this synagogue stand as symbols of the European project freedom, tolerance, understanding and dignity. It is therefore fitting that we should be gathered in this beautiful setting to celebrate a leader who has defended the rights of the Jewish community in our hour of need and who we consider a true friend.

The Lord Jakobovits Prize

f o r e u ro p ean je w ry

2013 Recipient
Ger ma n cha n cellor An gela Mer kel

Lord Immanuel Jakobovits, after whom the award is named, was a former President of the Conference of European Rabbis and Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth. Lord Jakobovits dedicated his life to the pursuit of a philosophy which advocated religious commitment with unyielding love and consideration for his fellow man. The ability to bring communities together and recognise the value of faith in a modernising world is one that he treasured throughout his life and it is that character trait, above all others, which this award recognises. This years prize was designed by Georgy V. Frangulyan and depicts an open safer torah lying on top of three closed sifrei torah. Frangulyan is a world renowned artist whose most notable works include the monument on Boris Yeltsins grave at the Novedecichy cemetery in Moscow, the monument to Okudshava on the Arbat Street in Moscow and the statue of Empress Elizabeth in Baltiysk.

 The ability to bring communities together and recognise the value of faith in a modernising world is one that Lord Jakobovits treasured throughout his life and it is that character trait, above all other, which this award recognises.
Chief Rabbi Goldschmidt

When a district court in Cologne ruled lastyear that the religious circumcision ofayoung boy constituted an irreversible and unlawful attack, the decision sent shockwaves through the global Jewish community. It is said that actions speak louder than words and the speed with whichChancellor Merkel responded to thismost urgent matter and pledged to findan agreeable solution which would provide for the religious freedom of both Jewish and Muslim communities in Germany, was very gratefully received, notjust by faith groups in Germany but throughout Europe and the world and speaks volumes about the Chancellor asleader and as a person. For many Jews, it was perhaps unthinkable that Germany could rise as quickly as ithasdone from the ashes of the Shoah. However, the nobility and honesty with which Germany has faced up to its history istruly remarkable and that is dueinno small measure to courageous moral clarity and decisive leadership shownby leaders likeChancellor Merkel.

Highlights of 2012

Highlights of the first semester, 2013

CER HOLDS EMERGENCY PRESS CONFERENCE TO DISCUSS THE COLOGNE COURT RULING on circumcision
The CER organised an emergency meeting to discuss the district court ruling in Cologne, which found that neo-natal circumcision was a breach of a childs human rights. The CER was anxious to get its message that Jewish families should continue with circumcisions despite the ruling. The press conference was an enormous success with coverage appearing all around the world.

Ukrainian Prime Minister assures Rabbis that he will marginalise the Far Right
A Conference of European Rabbis delegation led by the President of the Conference of European Rabbis Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt together with Chief Rabbi Yaacov Bleich of Ukraine has met Mykola Azarov, Prime Minister of Ukraine to discuss a range of issues affecting Jewish communities across Europe including the rise of far right parties in the recent Ukrainian elections. The Prime Minister used the opportunity to state in the most emphatic terms that the Government would not permit the far right Svoboda Party who achieved unprecedented success at the most recent general election to influence the political agenda.

CER PRESIDENT ADDRESSES GLOBAL INTERFAITH LEADERS

The President of the Conference of European Rabbis Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt addressed the opening of the Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Centre for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue (KAICIID) based in Vienna, a new interfaith project to promote intercommunnal understanding and tolerance. The High profile guests also included Islamic League President, Abdullah Al Turki, Cardinal JeanLuis Tauran, President of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue in the Roman Curia and UNSecretary General, BanKiMoon.

THE CER LAUNCHES ANNUAL INTERNET ENTREPRENEURS PRIZE

The Conference of European Rabbis announced the CER Internet Entrepreneurs Prize 2013, established to reward excellence and innovation indigital and web based ventures, for budding entrepreneurs who believe they have an App which is going to take the world by storm, a website which is going to heal the planet or a digital enterprise they think could truly help to improve lives. It might seem strange for a Rabbinical organisation to offer a technology prize but we believe that the internet has the potential to achieve great things, providing a platform for dialogue between people and engaging the traditional Jewish pursuit of Tikkun Olam healing the world. The judging panel which will choose the finalists include Yossi Vardi, the father of the High Tech industries in Israel, and Anton Nossik, a famous internet personality from Russia.

CER VICE PRESIDENT RABBI YAAKOV BLEICH TESTIFIES IN US CONGRESS ON ANTIsEMITISM INUKRAINE
The Human Rights Subcommittee of the US House Foreign Affairs Committee invited CER Vice President Rabbi Yaakov Bleich to testify before the committee on the resurgence of antisemitism in Europe. The subcommittee, chaired by Rep. Chris Smith, was told that antisemitism in the 21st Century has increasingly taken the form of viral hate messages on the Internet, property damage to Jewish institutions, violent crimes to people and the rise of neo-Nazi parties in governments throughout Europe.

CER MEETS WITHSERBIAN PRESIDENT ON ANTIsEMITISM

A Conference of European Rabbis delegation led by President, Chief Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt has met with President Tomislav Nikolic, ofSerbia, to discuss a range ofissues affecting Jewish communities across Europe including the rise of antisemitism and the restitution of holocaust victims. President Nikolic used the opportunity to state in the most emphatic terms that theSerbian Government is committed to supporting the Jewish community and he gave his commitment to supporting the restitution of the Serbian Jewish Community. President Tomislav Nikolic commented, As nations, we have inseparable ties, our destinies are tied and every time our people suffered your people suffered as well. Although there is no longer a large Jewish community in Serbia the small community that remains is welcome and treasured by theSerbian people.

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Standing Committee

Our Patrons

Dayan Y. Abraham Judge, London Rabbinical Court, UK Rabbi Avichai Apel Rabbi of Dortmund, Germany Member of the Presidium of German Orthodox Rabbis Rabbi Alfonso Arbib Chief Rabbi of Milan, Italy

Dayan Menachem Gelley Senior Judge, London Rabbinical Court, UK Rabbi Alain Goldmann Emeritus Chief Rabbi of Paris, France Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt Chief Rabbi of Moscow, Russia

Rabbi Ephraim Mervis Chief Rabbi Designate of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth, UK Rabbi Shlomo Noach Mandel CER Representative in North America Rabbi Arye Ralbag Chief Rabbi of Amsterdam, The Netherlands Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth Rabbi Shmuel Akiva Schlesinger Etz Hayim, Strasbourg Rabbi Michael Schudrich Chief Rabbi of Poland Rabbi Joseph Sitruk Emeritus Chief Rabbi of France Rabbi Joshua Spinner Dean of the Hildesheimer Rabbinical Seminary Berlin, Germany

Boris Mints (Chairman) Moscow Joelle Aflalo Luxembourg Peter Aven Moscow Yan Abramov Moscow Michael Bezeliansky London Solomon Bukingholz Riga Moscow Michael Freund Jerusalem Michail Fridman Moscow Yuri Kanner Moscow Amb. Ronald S. Lauder New York James Levy Gibraltar

Alexander Mashkevitch Zurich Gavriel Mireli Tel Aviv Conrad Morris London Anthony Moshal London Dr. Ariel Musicant Vienna Andrew Rashbass London Igor M. Shamiss Moscow Vadim Shulman Monaco Lord George Weidenfeld London Manny Weiss London Michael Yudanin Munich

Rabbi Albert Guigui Rabbi S. Baksht Chief Rabbi of Brussels, Chief Rabbi of Odessa, Ukraine Belgium Rabbi Yaakov D. Bleich Chief Rabbi of Ukraine Rabbi Yitzchak Dayan Chief Rabbi of Geneva, Switzerland Rabbi Riccardo Di Segni Chief Rabbi of Rome, Italy Rabbi Marcel Ebel Chief Rabbi of Zurich, Switzerland Rabbi Ren Gutman Chief Rabbi of Strasbourg, France Rabbi Jonathan Guttentag Whitefield Congregation, Manchester, UK Rabbi Michel Gugenheim Chief Rabbi of Paris Rabbi Dr Zalman Kossowsky Emeritus Chief Rabbi of Zurich, Switzerland

Rabbi Yitshak Ehrenberg Rabbi Steven Langnas Chief Rabbi of Berlin, Germany Munich, Germany Dayan Chanoch Ehrentreu President, Rabbinical Court ofEurope, UK Rabbi Paul Chaim Eisenberg Chief Rabbi of Vienna, Austria Rabbi Rafael Evers President, Netherlands Rabbinical Seminary Rabbi Bruno Fiszon Chief Rabbi of Metz, France

Rabbi Guiseppe Laras Rabbi Pinchas Toledano Emeritus Chief Rabbi of Milan, Portuguese Jewish Community Italy of Amsterdam, The Netherlands Rabbi Moshe Lebel Rosh Yeshiva, Torat Hayim, Moscow, Russia CER Rabbinical Director Rabbi Richard Wertenschlag Chief Rabbi of Lyon, France Rabbi David Yuschuvaev Torah Mitzion, Moscow, Russia
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Rabbi Abraham Levy Emeritus Spiritual Head of the Rabbi Refoel Kruskal Spanish and Portuguese Jewish Chairman of the CER Congregation of London, UK Executive Committee

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