World Jewish News

Boris Lozhkin and James Temerty Award Ronald Lauder Sheptytsky Medal

On Thursday evening Boris Lozhkin, the President of the Jewish Confederation of Ukraine and Vice-President of the World Jewish Congress, along with founder and chairman of the Ukrainian Jewish Encounter James Temerty awarded Ronald Lauder, President of the Word Jewish Congress, with the Andrey Sheptytsky Medal.

This award was established by the Jewish Confederation of Ukraine in 2013 for contributions to the cause of Ukrainian-Jewish understanding and cooperation.

The awards namesake, Metropolitan Andrei Sheptytsky, was a legendary Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church leader who helped save more than the 150 Jewish lives during WW2. Sheptytsky sheltered Jews in his own residence at great personal risk, and arranged for Church monasteries to protect well over one hundred Jewish children. Not one of them was betrayed or lost.

One of those children saved by Metropolitan Sheptytsky — MD Leon Chameides — took part in the awards ceremony.

JCU is honoring Mr. Lauder for his lifetime of service to the Jewish people, including his work enhancing Jewish life, culture, and education around the world. Specifically, in Ukraine, he has supported schools in both Kyiv and Lviv for many years, and supports a camp for Jewish children and families north of Kyiv.

In his speech prior to presenting the medal, Mr. Lozhkin stated that, “Thanks to Ronald Lauder’s philanthropy and commitment, our community is now coming from a place of strength. Ambassador Lauder’s deeds have helped bring the entire Ukrainian Jewish community together through the establishment of Jewish educational institutions such as the Ronald Lauder Camp Shuva, Jewish Day Schools and kindergartens in Ukraine, as well as a modern security system to protect the Jewish community.”

JCU