The Temple of Understanding honored Rabbi Soetendorp with their Juliet Hollister Interfaith Award that is presented biannually to three outstanding individuals.

"We have selected Rabbi Soetendorp as one of the awardees to honor his visionary efforts as a champion of human rights, interfaith values and environmental sustainability, including his work with the Earth Charter and the Jacob Soetendorp Institute for Human Values", explains Alison Van Dyk, the Chair and Director of the Temple of Understanding.

Among the other recipients of this year's award was Chelsea Clinton, daughter of US secretary of state Hillary and former US President Bill Clinton, who has been honored for launching a center for spiritual life at the New York University.  


The award has been accepted by many influential leaders including His Holiness the XlVth Dalai Lama; Nelson Mandela; Desmond Tutu; Dr. Wangari Maathai; His Royal Highness Prince El Hassan bin Talal; and Mary Robinson. 

Accepting the award, Rabbi Soetendorp declared: "In enduring gratefulness to my foster parents who saved my life during the deepest darkness of war and my parents who instilled in me the never ending search for sustainable peace, I dedicate the Award to the next generation. We have unfortunately not handed to you a compassionate world but it is my unbreakable hope that together, we the elders and you, the young will be able to accomplish the universal goals of justice and peace."

Please find here as well as here a picture gallery of the award ceremony that took place at the Tribeca Rooftop in Manhattan on October 16, 2012. 

Please watch Rabbi Soetendorp's moving acceptance speech below:
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The Soetendorp Institute

Contact

Jacob Soetendorp Institute for Human Values
Van Wijngaerdenstraat 21
2596 TW The Hague
The Netherlands
info@soetendorpinstitute.org