Israel’s president Isaac Herzog proclaimed inter-Jewish solidarity as “our greatest asset” as he became the second recipient of the Jewish Chronicle’s Am Echad (“One People”) award for his contribution to Jewish unity.
Addressing a JC event in London on Sunday in a video message from his residence in Jerusalem, Herzog thanked the newspaper and its editor Jake Wallis Simons for “publicly honouring the value of Jewish unity and for this unique personal honour”.
In the summer, he launched his Voice of the People initiative to strengthen Jewish dialogue across the world.
“My friends, there is no question that this is a very difficult, challenging time for Israel and the Jewish people,” he said in his message this week.
“In so many ways we are living the aftermath of October 7 2023. Our hostages are still in captivity, hundreds of thousands of Israelis are still displaced from their homes or in bomb shelters. Hatred and antisemitism threaten us and our borders and throughout the world…”
But amid so much pain and grief, Jews should acknowledge an “enormous gift” from within. “We have been there for one another in so many ways and reminded ourselves who we are. One people. Am echad. Bound by a rich history, a vital present and a shared destiny.”
It had become clear that “this sense of connection is our greatest asset”, he said.
He remained convinced that “there is so much more that unites us than divides us”.
The president noted his “great regard for the Jewish Chronicle and its iconic role, not just in the modern history of the Jews of the UK and Jews around the world but of modern Jewish history, period. As the oldest Jewish newspaper in the world that is still being published.
“As you may know, I am fourth generation of people who have been interviewed and covered by the Jewish Chronicle, and it gives me another aspect of pride.”
His great-grandfather Rabbi Shmuel Hillman headed the London Beth Din, his grandfather Rabbi Isaac Herzog became Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Israel, while his Irish-born father Chaim was also a president of Israel. One of his uncles was Israel’s most renowned diplomat, Abba Eban.
Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett received the JC’s inaugural Am Echad award last September.