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President Bill Clinton Awards Rabbi Arthur Schneier the Presidential Citizens Medal
 Rabbi Arthur Schneier, President of the Appeal of Conscience Foundation and spiritual leader of Park East Synagogue in New York, was presented with the Presidential Citizens Medal by President Clinton at a White House ceremony on January 8, 2001. He was one of the 28 distinguished Americans recognized for exemplary deeds of service to the nation. Rabbi Schneier is the first rabbi to receive this medal since it was established by President Nixon in 1969.
In presenting the Medal to Rabbi Schneier the President said, "As a young man, Arthur Schneier fled his homeland and survived the Holocaust as a refugee. He knows, therefore, firsthand the consequences of hatred and intolerance and has devoted his life to fighting them. As founder and president of the Appeal of Conscience Foundation, he has encouraged inter-faith dialogue, inter-cultural understanding and the cause of religious freedom around the world. He has served as international envoy for four administrations, including my own. As Chairman of the U.S. Commission for the Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad and as the long-time rabbi of Park East Synagogue in New York City, Rabbi, I thank you for all the many things you have done here with me the last eight years to promote religious liberty around the world, and I thank you for a lifetime of good work and good examples. I look forward to seeing you in New York, where perhaps you will become my rabbi. Thank you."
The Presidential Citation reads:
"A Holocaust survivor, Rabbi Arthur Schneier has devoted a lifetime to overcoming the forces of hatred and intolerance. As an international envoy, Chairman of the Commission for the Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad and Founder and President of the Appeal of Conscience Foundation, he has set an inspiring example of spiritual leadership by encouraging interfaith dialogue and inter-cultural understanding and promoting the cause of religious freedom around the world."
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Citizens Medal History
