Top honours for Sir Frank Lowy and Mark Leibler
Israel President Isaac Herzog has presented the Israeli Presidential Medal of Honour to seven leaders from around the globe.
Communal stalwarts Sir Frank Lowy and Mark Leibler have been presented with Israel’s highest civilian award, the Israeli Presidential Medal of Honour, during a special ceremony at President Isaac Herzog’s residence in Jerusalem.
An initiative of the late Shimon Peres, the medal is awarded “to those who through their talents, service, or any other means, have made an outstanding contribution to the State of Israel or to humanity”.
During his address, President Herzog said: “Mark Leibler, you have fortified the invaluable relationship between Israel, Australia and the Australian Jewish community, and courageously defended Israel’s good name.
“And Frank Lowy, he rose from the ashes of the Holocaust, providing us a lifetime of impassioned inspiration and a legacy of loving dedication and forming magnificent connections for Israel around the world.
“The Israeli Presidential Medal of Honour is presented to distinguished figures from Israel and around the world, who have made outstanding contributions to Israel and the Jewish people. It is an opportunity to pause, to recognise the unthinkable hardships we overcame, and the magnificent road we traveled so far, thanks to role models such as the men and women we are honouring this evening.”
Sir Frank and Leibler are the first Australian recipients. Past non-Israeli recipients include US presidents Bill Clinton, Barack Obama and Joe Biden, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and film director Steven Spielberg.
Sir Frank said he was “grateful” to receive the honour.
“I feel honoured and privileged that I am the recipient of the Presidential Medal of Honour,” he said.
“I hope and trust that I am a worthy recipient of this medal.”
Saying he was “astonished and deeply moved”, Leibler told The AJN, “Israel has always been central to my identity as a proud Australian Jew. Working in support of Israel, the Australian Jewish community, and the relationship between the two nations has been a passion and a privilege.”
Others honoured were Maurice Lévy of France, Malcolm Hoenlein and Julie Platt, both of the US, Briton Sir Trevor Chinn and Brigitte Zypries from Germany.
Citations were read about each recipient during the presentation.
Sir Frank was hailed for being “an Australian businessman and Israeli philanthropist; for safeguarding spiritual Israeli treasures; and bolstering Israeli academia, medical research, strategic studies and culture in all its forms; for instilling Jewish pride within the glorious Australian Jewish community and fostering outstanding Israeli-Australian relations; and for his indispensable contribution to Holocaust education and immortalising those who perished; for never forgetting where he came from and where he is going”.
Leibler’s citation was for being “an Australian Jewish leader and activist; for exemplifying the Jewish objective of repairing the world by championing human rights and social justice in its truest and broadest sense; for courageously defending Israel’s reputation and fighting against boycotts; for maintaining respectful lines of communication with all sectors, for engaging with every community and political leadership; for anchoring his value system in truth and for always aligning his deeds with a moral compass: and for always providing admirable leadership and inspirational activity with deep integrity.”
Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council (AIJAC) executive director Colin Rubenstein commented on the tributes conferred on Leibler, the organisation’s national chairman, and Sir Frank, “AIJAC’s directors and professional staff have extended a heartfelt mazal tov to AIJAC’s national chairman Mark Leibler AC and Sir Frank Lowy AC on being awarded the prestigious Israeli Presidential Medal of Honour.
“This remarkable recognition is a true testament to their exceptional contributions and unwavering commitment to the State of Israel and its People. The distinction of being the first two Australians to receive this prestigious award is an incredible achievement.
“Their devotion to the State of Israel ,the Jewish people and their extraordinary dedication to the Australian Jewish community is to be greatly admired.”
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