International Charlemagne Prize for Chief Rabbi Goldschmidt
The awarding of the prize to the president of the European Conference of Rabbis sends a signal against antisemitism and for tolerance.
Aachen (dpa) - The president of the Conference of European Rabbis, Pinchas Goldschmidt, has received the International Charlemagne Prize 2024 in Aachen. This is intended to convey the message “that Jewish life is a natural part of Europe and that there is no place for antisemitism in Europe”, according to the Charlemagne Prize Board of Directors. The 60-year-old chief rabbi was honoured for his efforts to promote European values, understanding and interreligious dialogue. The prize was awarded not only to Goldschmidt, but also to the Jewish people in Europe. The Charlemagne Prize recognises services to promote understanding in Europe.
In his speech, Germany’s Economics Minister Robert Habeck said that the jury, in awarding the Charlemagne Prize, was sending out a signal against antisemitism, which in recent years had been more pronounced than it had been for a long time. He paid tribute to the interreligious dialogue fostered by Goldschmidt, including that between Muslims and Jews - Goldschmidt is a co-founder of the European Muslim-Jewish Leadership Council. On the platform X, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz described the award to Goldschmidt as “an important signal for tolerance and against antisemitism”. Germany’s Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier also sent congratulations.
Since 1950, many statesmen and well-known personalities have been awarded the Charlemagne Prize, including Emmanuel Macron, Helmut Kohl, Tony Blair, Bill Clinton and Pope Franziskus. In 2023, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy received the prize.