German Chancellor Ms. Angela Merkel awarded Israel's highest civilian honor

The German Chancellor Ms. Angela Merkel awarded the Presidential Medal of Distinction (Israel’s highest civilian honor) by the President of Israel, Mr. Shimon Peres. She was awarded with this medal for her firm commitment to the security of Israel along with her fight against anti-Semitism and racism in particular through education.
About Presidential Medal of Distinction (Israel’s highest civilian honor)

  • The medal features the North Star (to symbolize the (“right path”) and a seven-branched menorah or Jewish candelabrum – the symbol of Israel – inscribed with the phrase “From his shoulders and upward,” from the Book of Samuel 9:2.
  • Open to Israeli citizens and non-citizens.
  • Awarded every year by the President to a person for his/her extraordinary contribution to the country.
  • Past recipients of the medal: U.S. President Barack Obama, former U.S. president Bill Clinton, Israel Philharmonic Orchestra director Zubin Mehta, human rights activist Elie Wiesel, etc.

Note: Anti-Semitism is a hostile belief or behavior towards Jews as a religious or racial group and the term was coined in 1879 by the German agitator, Wilhelm Marr to designate the anti-Jewish campaigns underway in central Europe at that time. The person who holds the position of ant-Semitism is known as anti-Semite.


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