Theodor Herzl Award for Nikki Haley
World Jewish Congress President Ronald S. Lauder will honour former United States Ambassador to the United Nations, H.E. Nikki Haley, on November 6 with the WJC’s annual Theodor Herzl Award, which recognizes outstanding individuals who work to promote Herzl’s ideals for a safer, more tolerant world for the Jewish people.
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley addresses the tenth emergency special session of the General Assembly on: “Illegal Israeli actions in Occupied East Jerusalem and the rest of the Occupied Palestinian Territory.” Credit: UN Photo/Evan Schneider.
Joel Grey, the legendary actor, singer, director, and photographer, will be presented with the WJC’s fourth Teddy Kollek Award for the Advancement of Jewish Culture.
Lauder said: “In my years of service in the diplomatic world and as president of the World Jewish Congress, I have met many heads of state, dignitaries, and ambassadors who have worked diligently in support of Israel and defended it across the international stage. Throughout her tenure, US Ambassador to the UN, H.E. Nikki Haley, proved to be a giant in this realm, exemplifying this country’s unwavering friendship for Israel and commitment to world Jewry, relentlessly calling out the biases and double standards that pervade in the United Nations and its bodies and demanding action. As Ambassador Haley proclaimed in her first days in the position, a new day has dawned indeed at the UN. Thanks to Ambassador Haley, and her allies, the international community is waking up.”
“I am also delighted to present the fourth Teddy Kollek Award to Joel Grey, one of the greatest Jewish entertainers of our time, who has embraced our collective heritage and culture in his work, propelling Yiddish theatre and Jewish issues to the forefront of popular discussion. It is a privilege and an honour to welcome Mr Grey to the family of distinguished laureates of this award,” Lauder said.
Previous recipients of the Theodor Herzl Award include the Rothschild family, former US Secretary of State General Colin L. Powell, former US Vice President Joseph R. Biden, former Israeli President Shimon Peres, Elie and Marion Wiesel, former secretaries of state Henry A. Kissinger and George P. Shultz, and, posthumously, Ronald Reagan and Axel Springer. Kirk Douglas was honoured with the inaugural Teddy Kollek Award in 2016, followed by film director George Stevens in 2017, and philanthropist Robert Kraft in 2018.
I good US ambassador to the UN. Nikki is of Indian Hindu origin whose parent moved to Canada before she moved to the USA to work as a lawyer. However she could never be US President as you have to be born in the USA – a silly rule that keeps the US intellectual gene pool narrow.
I thought she was pretty marvelous too.