2014 Katz Award recipients named

Four leading Jewish figures recognized for their application of Halacha in modern life

By ToI Staff 28 May 2014, 2:15 am

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The photograph shows the recipients of the 2014 Katz Award and committee who selected them, alongside President Shimon Peres and Marcos and Adina Katz at a reception held Tuesday at the President's Residence in Jerusalem (photo credit: courtesy)

Four leading Jewish figures have been named the recipients of this year’s Katz Award, bestowed upon individuals and enterprises engaged in the application of Halacha, or Jewish law, to modern life.

The recipients — Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, Rabbi Zvi (Herschel) Schachter, Rabbi Yehoshua Yeshaya Neuwirth (deceased) and Rabbi Zalman Nehemiah Goldberg — were honored at a ceremony in Jerusalem on Tuesday.

The selections were made by a committee comprised of former chief rabbi of Israel Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau, noted Talmudic scholar Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz and Hebrew University President Professor Menahem Ben-Sasson.

Rabbi Lau said of the recipients, “Our discussions weren’t difficult, there was unanimous agreement. This evening four of the great rabbis of our generation received the recognition they deserve on the eve of Jerusalem Day.”

Marcos Katz, who founded the award along with his wife Adina, said: “These are four of the great minds of the Jewish world and their contributions to the Jewish world are immeasurable. This evening is our way of showing our appreciation to them for strengthening the role of Halacha, of Jewish law, in the modern world.”