Lord Weidenfeld honoured with Theodor Herzl award by World Jewish Congress

Lord George Weidenfeld has been honoured with the World Jewish Congress Theodor Herzl Award for efforts on behalf of Israel and Jewish people

The 95-year old statesman, scholar and publisher was presented with the award by WJC President Ronald S. Lauder, at a gala dinner at London’s Victoria and Albert Museum on Tuesday.

Born in Vienna, Austria, Weidenfeld emigrated to London in 1938 to escape the Nazis, before embarking on a career which saw him work with the BBC during the war, co-founding a publishing company  in 1948, before he was appointed Chief of Cabinet to Israeli President Chaim Weizmann a year later.

Weidenfeld was knighted in 1969 and was created a life peer in 1976. 

The prestigious award recognises individuals who work to create a safer more tolerant world for Jews. Previous recipients include Shimon Peres, Elie Wiesel, Henry Kissinger, and, posthumously, Ronald Reagan and Axel Springer.

President of the WJC, Ronald Lauder addressed the Gala, saying: “There are some people in our world – just a few – who have the courage and the temerity to speak out when they see injustice. George Weidenfeld is one of these rare men.”

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