Leo Baeck Medal
The Leo Baeck Medal is the highest honor that Leo Baeck Institute bestows on those who have made extraordinary efforts to preserve the memory of German-speaking Jews.
2015
Professor Ismar Schorsch
Chancellor Emeritus of Jewish Theological Seminary, President Emeritus of Leo Baeck Institute
Dr. Eric R. Kandel
University Professor, Kavli Professor in Brain Science, and co-Director for the Mortimer B. Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute at Columbia University
2014
Ambassador Stuart E. Eizenstat
Special Representative of the President and Secretary of State on Holocaust-Era Issues
2012
2011
2010
Her Excellency Angela Merkel
Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany. Medal Awarded by W. Michael Blumenthal.
Maestro Kurt Masur
Former Music Director of the New York Philharmonic, Former Kapellmeister of the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra
2009
The Honorable Joschka Fischer
German Federal Foreign Minister. Medal awarded by James D. Wolfensohn & Dr. Henry Kissinger
2008
Ambassador Wolfgang Ischinger
Director of Government Affairs, Allianz SE, Munich, Former German Ambassador to the US and UK. Medal awarded by James D. Wolfensohn & Ambassador Richard C. Holbrooke.
2007
Dr. Mathias Döpfner
Chief Executive Officer of Axel Springer AG. Medal awarded by Dr. Henry Kissinger.
2006
Mr. James D. Wolfensohn
Chairman of Citigroup’s International Advisory Board, Former President of the World Bank. Medal awarded by Bundespräsident Dr. Horst Köhler.
2005
Dr. Otto Schily
German Federal Minister of the Interior. Medal awarded by Dr. Henry Kissinger
2004
Dr. Fritz Stern
Professor Emeritus, Department of History, Columbia University. Medal awarded by Joschka Fischer.
2003
Mr. Daniel Libeskind
Architect, Jewish Museum Berlin. Medal awarded by W. Michael Blumenthal.
2002
Dr. Ruth Westheimer
Therapist and author
2001
His Excellency Dr. Johannes Rau
President of the Federal Republic of Germany
2000
Mr. Edgar Bronfman
President, World Jewish Congress, Chairman, Seagram Company, Ltd.
1999
The Honorable Dr. W. Michael Blumenthal
President and CEO of the Jewish Museum, Berlin. Former U.S. Secretary of the Treasury
1998
Dr. George L. Mosse
Professor of History, University of Wisconsin and Hebrew University in Israel
1997
Dr. Helmut Sonnenfeldt
Guest Scholar at the Brookings Institution, Senior Staff Member of the National Security Council
1996
Mr. Ernst Cramer
Senior Editorial Writer for Springer Publications, Former Chairman of the Board of Axel Springer Foundation
1995
Mr. Fred Grubel
LBI Secretary and Vice President (1969–1995)
1980
Mr. Fred Lessing
Chairman of the Board of LBI, Treasurer (1960–1990)
1979
Mr. Axel Springer
Founder, Axel Springer Verlag, Berlin