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Israeli President Shimon Peres was awarded the B’nai B’rith Europe Lifetime Award of Merit, given to an individual with at least 40 years of service to the well-being of the Jewish People and the State of Israel.

At the ceremony, Peres was presented with a gold medal and certificate that read: “You are the face of Israel and of the Jewish People and you bring together the highest Jewish values of ethics, morality, tolerance, culture and the national unity of the Jewish People. The B’nai B’rith fraternity is also committed to these principles.”

The Jerusalem Post wrote about the event this week, including Pres. Peres’ praise for B’nai B’rith:


On Sunday, he received the B’nai B’rith Europe Lifetime Award of Merit, presented to him by B’nai B’rith Europe president Ralph Hoffman, who came from Frankfurt for the occasion.

[…]

The B’nai B’rith award is given to outstanding individuals who have dedicated at least 40 years of service to the well-being of the Jewish People and the State of Israel.

Peres was presented with a gold medal and a certificate that noted: “You are the face of Israel and of the Jewish People and you bring together the highest Jewish values of ethics, morality, tolerance, culture and the national unity of the Jewish People. The B’nai B’rith fraternity is also committed to these principles.”

In responding, Peres said every Jew deserves a medal of merit “because to be a Jew is to be committed to the spirit of humanity. It is not simple and it never was simple to be a Jew,” he said.

“A Jew today is a person who ensures his grandchildren are Jewish. That is what B’nai B’rith does, and it does it very well.”