UNITED NATIONS NATIONS UNIES

THE SECRETARY-GENERAL

MESSAGE ON THE OCCASION OF THE 70TH BIRTHDAY OF RABBI ARTHUR SCHNEIER New York, 4 June 2000

It gives me great pleasure to join in celebrating the 70th birthday of Rabbi Arthur Schneier and in paying tribute to an outstanding and world- renowned public figure.

The United Nations is founded on universal ideals such as tolerance, equal rights, the peaceful resolution of disputes and the dignity and worth of the human person. But it takes dynamic, committed individuals to bring those ideals to life. Rabbi Arthur Schneier has taken that summons to heart. From the Balkans to China and the former Soviet Union, on issues ranging from religious freedom to democracy and conflict resolution, he has helped people and nations to overcome their differences and find a common interest in cooperation and peace. His work has complemented that of the United Nations and greatly enriched the global community.

Our world is changing, and the United Nations is changing with it, adapting to globalization as well as to new threats, new forms of armed conflict and new manifestations of bias and discrimination. With the efforts of Rabbi Schneier and the many men and women he has inspired to get involved, the world stands a better chance of meeting these complex and urgent challenges. In that hopeful spirit, I am pleased to have this opportunity to'congratulate him for a lifetime of articulate and effective public service.

" KoTi A. Annan UNITED NATIONS NATIONS UNIES

EXCUTIVE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY-GENERAL CABINET DU SECRETARIE GENERAL

OUTGOING FACSIMILE

DATE: 10 May 2000

TO: Ms. Laura Benton FROM: Edward Mortimer Executive Assistant Principal Officer Appeal of Conscience Foundation TEL NO: TEL NO: (212)9639220 FAX NO: 2124396174 FAX NO: (212)963-5965 SUBJECT: Message on the occasion of the 70th birthday of Rabbi Arthur Schneier TOTAL NUMBER OF TRANSMITTED PAGES INCLUDING THIS PAGE 2

Dear Ms. Benton,

I have pleasure in sending you the Secretary-General's message on the occasion of the 70th birthday of Rabbi Arthur Schneier, along with our best wishes for a successful celebration.

The original will be sent to you by mail.

Yours sincerely, ROUTING SLIP FICHE DE TRANSMISSION

Rowff No. '•'N o de bureau Extension — Poste Date cS-3?%> 3-£vfcT 3ouk&~*-0f^ FOR ACTION POUR SUITE A DONNER FOR APPROVAL POUR APPROBATION FOR SIGNATURE POUR SIGNATURE FOR COMMENTS POUR OBSERVATIONS MAY WE DISCUSS? POURRIONS-NOUS EN PARLER ? YOUR ATTENTION VOTRE ATTENTION AS DISCUSSED COMME CONVENU AS REQUESTED SUITE A VOTRE DEMANDE NOTE AND RETURN NOTER ET RETOURNER FOR INFORMATION POUR INFORMATION

MAR-02-2000 THU 03:19 PN ACF FAX NO. 212 628 2513 P, 03

A PARK CAST

163 East 67ih Stre

Dr Anhur Schns Rabbi March 1,2000 pR'd V lyrrun Rabbi H.E. Kofi Annan Ari Kltm t'rjnhir SecreUiry General United Nations, Room 3840 Rnbbi Hjrold Emsidler Ruwl Dl/zaor New York NY 10017

Toby N Ein!idli;r /\df)inii(ra!nr Dear Secretary General Annan,

t)ir6£Mf of Dei'e/opmcnt You will be pleased to know that on NjaFerrSt), 2000 Rabbi Ai-thur

TRUSTEES OFFICERS Schncier wnilbratc ^sTOtbirtiday. To mark tliis milestone Jerome iSerko Michael Sch^rf and his four decades of global spiritual leadership, Park East Samuel Blum President Sirnan Chilewich Julius H, Gcwirtz Synagogue will honor him at a festive dinner on Sunday, J Dii^id Cornstom fjniitifian 20~bo, Waldorf-Astoria Grand "Ballroom, culminating In tributes Kuve/ FeuersLein jerry f«rii Andreas Gal fir.!t Vice from leaders of our city, state and nation. Gerald Cjutcrm.in Jnck Rosen Herman Hoehberg Swnin/ Virft President John Kliin Joseph Wilf Rabbi Schncicr has influenced the lives of men, women and liMfil Krakowski Treaidrsr Murk T. Ledernian Paul Fribourj children in the city ofNcw York and in different parts of the world. Michael Lazer Secretary James Levy Louis M. Perlman He is known internationally for his tireless leadership on behalf of Kenneth Lipper Secretary religious freedom, human rights and inter-religious cooperation. Earla I. Mack Arnold Penner Dr. Daniel Roses We vvould be honored lo receive^ ajjiessatie froiji^vou. Mr, Secretary Morad Roshanzamir Leo Shapiro General, for the Commemorative Volume dedicated to Rabbi Ralph P. Slona Druer Dr. Edward 0. 2cjrnbe|-g Sincerely,

Hunortry Prcjldonts Mjck Leblanj So! Schulman Michael Scharf Honorarj' Chnirmcn Sidney Coopcrmm President BernnriJ Cicldbsrj; Myron A 'FROM *.' R.ft.S. STUDY PHONE NO. : 212 439 6174 Mar. 14 2000 03:20PM PI

119 West 57th Street New York, NY 10019 Appeal of Conscience Foundation Tel; (212)861-6873 Fax: (212)439-6174 Rabbi Arthur Schneier, President

Tos Ms. Gillian Sorensen From: Laura Benton, Executive Assistant

Paw (212)963-1185 Pages: 8 (including this page)

Phone: (212)963-5495 Date: March 14,2000

Re:

0 Urgent D For Review D Please Comment D OPIease Reply D Please Recycle

• Comments:

Dear Gillian,

Attached is Rabbi Schneier's bio as well as a copy of the New York State Legislature Resolution to be presented to him on his birthday.

1 hope this is helpful.

Regards, TROM r R.fl.S.STUDY PHONE NO. : 212 439 6174 Mar. 14 2000 03:20PM P2

Rabbi Arthur Schneier Rabbi, Park East Synagogue President, Appeal of Conscience Foundation New York City

Internationally known for his leadership on behalf of religious freedom and human rights, Rabbi Arthur Schneier has worked for religious freedom and tolerance throughout the world. Founder and president of the Appeal of Conscience Foundation established in 1965} spiritual leader of the historic landmark Park East Synagogue, since 1962, founder of its Day School and Minskoff Cultural Center in 1972.

frx 1998 at the behest of President Clinton he was one of the three U.S. religious leaders to meet with President Jiang Zemin and the top leadership of the Chinese Government and to enter into the first official dialogue on religious freedom. In June 1998 joined President and Mrs. Clinton in Shanghai during the Sino-American Summit and participated with Secretary of State Albright in the Roundtable with Chinese religious leaders. Until March 1995 served President Clinton as Chairman of the U. S. Commission for the Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad; he was appointed to that post by President Bush. He negotiated and successfully completed bilateral agreements with: the Czech and Slovak Republics, Hungary, Romania, Slovenia, Ukraine. President Reagan appointed him as U.S. Alternate Representative to the 43rd Session of the U.N, General Assembly and he was appointed by President Carter as a member of the U.S. Delegation for the Return of the Crown of St. Stephen to Hungary.

In 19.80 established the annual Appeal of Conscience Foundation Seminar on Religion at the Foreign Service Institute. It has trained Foreign Service Officers in Christianity, Judaism, Islam and Buddhism prior to their assignments abroad.

International Activity

Since 1965 has met with top political and religious leaders in Albania, Argentina, Austria, Bulgaria., China, Cuba, Czech Republic. Egypt, England, Germany, Hungary, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Morocco, Poland, Romania, Slovak Republic, the former Soviet Union, Turkey, and the former Yugoslavia.

China; headed interfaith Appeal of Conscience Foundation delegations of religious leaders to the People's Republic of China in 1996, 1994, 1992, 1986, 1983. and 1981.

Kosovo, in March 1999 convened the Kosovo: Conference on Peace and Tolerance in Vienna, where for the first time religious leaders of the Islamic. Serb Orthodox and Catholic communities met face to face and adopted the Kosovo Peace and Tolerance Vienna Declaration calling for a halt to violence and for ethnic and religious tolerance.

Macedonia: in July 1999 led an Appeal of Conscience Foundation mission to aid the Kosovo refugees. Mission to Greece and Turkey to strengthen peace and tolerance in the Balkans. 'FROM 'f R.fl.S. STUDY PHONE NO. : 212 439 6174 Mar. 14 2000 03:21PM P3

Rabbi Arthur Schneier Pa?e 2

Yugoslavia: convened the Religious Summit on the Former Yugoslavia in Switzerland in 1992. Among the participants were Patriarch Pavle, Rais al Ulema Selimoski and Archbishop Puljic of Sarajevo, who jointly called for an end to the ethnic war. In 1995 after meeting with Presidents Milosevic, Izetbegovic and Tudjman, be convened the Conflict Resolution Conference in Vienna which planted the seeds of the Dayton Peace Accord.

Balkans, Caucasus and Central Asia', initiated in cooperation with the Turkish Government and the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I the Peace and Tolerance Conference in Istanbul, Turkey in 1994. The Conference adopted the Bosphorus Declaration.

Bosnia-Herzegovina: in 1997 met with top government and religious leaders in Sarajevo to promote healing and conciliation between the Serbian Orthodox, Islamic, Catholic and Jewish communities and in 1998 hosted the top religious leaders of Bosnia-Herzegovina in the U.S.

Former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe; since 1965 has played a pioneering role on behalf of religious freedom and human rights. After the collapse of communism strongly advocated the adoption of laws on "freedom of conscience."

Since 1965 Rabbi Schneier has led 58 missions to the former Soviet Union. In December 1995 at the invitation of the Russian Government, Rabbi Schneier led an Appeal of Conscience Foundation delegation to participate as International Observers to the Parliamentary elections to aid democratic reform. In June 1996 led a delegation of International Observers to the Russian Presidential elections and a similar delegation to the Duma elections in 1999. In September 1997 met with President Yeltsin and Prime Minister Chernomyrdin urging the repeal of the controversial "Law on Religious Organizations." Ongoing contact with Patriarch Aleksy II and other leaders of the different religious communities in Russia.

The Holy See; private audiences with Pope Paul VI in 1966 and Pope John Paul II in 1983, 1986, 1992,1996 and 1998.

Tibet: in 1989 and 1998 met with the Dalai Lama and shared with him his intervention on behalf of Tibet.

Humanitarian Missions', in August 1999 energized the American religious community in support for the victims of Turkey earthquake; co-chairman, Armenian Earthquake Relief, 1988; Romania earthquake relief committee, 1977; Romania flood relief, 1971.

Memberships

Council on Foreign Relations'. Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organisations, Executive Committee; Committee on Conscience, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum; American Joint Distribution Committee, Board of Directors; World Jewish Congress American Section^ Honorary Chairman;, Rabbinical Council, of America, Board of Directors ; JVew York Board of Rabbis, Board of Governors; Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations;, Board of Directors; United Nations Development Corporation, New York, former Director. 'FROM •:' R.fl.S. STUDY PHONE NO. : 212 439 6174 ' Mar. 14 2000 03:22PM P4

Rabbi Arthur Schneier Page 3

Awards

The Grand: Decoration of Honor in Gold with Star for Service to the Republic of Austria; Or. Karl Renner Prize of ike City of Vienna; Religious Liberty Award; Ellis Island Medal of Honor.

Ordination and Doctor of Divinity Degree from Yeshiva University, Honorary degrees: Doctor of Philosophy, University of Budapest, 1984; Doctor of Theology, Reformed Church Theological Seminary, Debrecen, Hungary, 19S&; Doctor of Law, Susquehanna University, Pennsylvania, 1988; Doctor of Humanitarian Service, Seton Hall University, New Jersey, 1996, Doctor of Humane .Letters, Hunter College, New York, 2000.

1996: the establishment of Rabbi Arthur Schneier Chair in International Relations at Yeshiva University, New York,

A Holocaust survivor.. Rabbi Schneier was born in Vienna, Austria, March 20, 1930, and lived under Nazi occupation in Budapest during World War II. He arrived in the United States in 1947. He is married with Elisabeth Nordmann Schneier and has a son, Rabbi Marc Schneier and a daughter, Karen Schneier Dresbach, 'FROM : R. fl. S. STUDY PHONE NO. : 212 439 6174 Mar. 14 2000 03:22PM P5

94260-02-0 STATE OF NEW YORK

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Senate tnuoduMf* i!0n*Uir« Au*mblir IWrodupsr's •tgnttui* INTRODUCTION OF ALL RESOLUTIONS

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2 94260-02*0 LBDC

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is proud to honor Rabbi Arthur Schneier, Pgrk East Synagogue, upon the oc- casion ot his 70th Birthday to be celebrated on March 18,2000 at (he Shabbat services as a prelude to a T^sitmomsi Dinner to be held at the Waldorf-Astoria on Sunday, June 4,2000, In recognition of four decades of his unparalleled spiritual leadership and dedication to human rights and religious freedom throughout the world; and

WHEREAS, A Holocaust survivor, Rabbi Arthur Schneier was born in Vienna, Austria, March 20.1530, and lived under Nazi occupation in Budapest during World War II, arriving in the Untied States In 1347; and

WHEREAS. Rabbi Arthur Schneier's scholastic pursuits Include: Ordination and Doctor of Divinity Degree from Yeshiva University; Honorary degrees: Doctor of Philosophy, University of Budapest, 1984; Doctor of Theology, Reformed Church Theological Seminary, Debrecen, Hungary. 1986; Doctor of Law, Susqushanna University, Pennsylvania, 1988; Doctor of Humanitarian Service, Seton Hail University, New Jersey. 1996; Doctor of Humane Letters, Hunter College, New York, 2000; and

WHEREAS, Internationally known for his leadership on behalf oi religious freedom and human rights, Rabbi Arthur Schneier has been one of the pioneers in the struggle on behalf of Soviet Jewry and the revival of Jewish life in Eastern Europe; and

WHEREAS, He has risen above religious diffarencae to establish the Appeal of Conscience Foundation, which has. for 30 years, brought together Roman Catholic, Protestant, Greek Orthodox, Jewish, and Islamic religious and lay leaders TO solve the problems that face the world; and

WHEREAS, As a young man, Rabbi Arthur Schneier led a highly successful campaign to recruit young people at a time of religious disaffection In the 1960s to a program at the Park East Synagogue which eventually became a seven-story day school and cultural center; under the name of the Day School and Mlnskoff Guttural Center, It continues to attract young people find currently educates 260 children; and

WHEREAS, In 1980, Rabbi Arthur Schneier established the annual Appeal of Conscience Foundation Seminar on Religion at the Foreign Service Institute; ft has trained Foreign Service Officers in Christianity, Judaism, Islam and Buddhism prior to ihetr assignments abroad; and

WHEREAS, In 1998. atthe behest of President Clinton, Rabbi Arthur Schneier was one of the three U.S. religious leaders to meet with President Jiang Zemin and the top leadership of the Chinese Government and to enter into the first official dialogue on religious freedom; and

WHEREAS, In June 1998, Rabbi Arthur Schneier Joined President and Mrs. Clinton in Shanghai during the Sino-American Summit and participated with Secretary of State Albright in the Roundtable with Chinese religious leaders; until March 1996, he served President Cinton as Chairman of the US. Commission for the Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad; he was appointed to that post by President Bush; and

WHEREAS, Rabbi Arthur Schneier negotiated and successfully completed bilateral agreements with: the Czech and Slovak Republics, Hungary, Romania. Slovenia, and the Ukraine; President Reagan appointed him &9 U.S. Alternate Representative to the 43rd Session of the U.KL General Assembly, and he was appointed by President Carter os a member of the U,9, Delegation for the Return of the Crown of St. Stephen to Hungary; and

WHEREAS, Since 1965, Rabbi Arthur Schneier has met with top political and religious leaders in: Albania, Argentina, Austria, Bulgaria, China, Cuba, the Czach Republic, Egypt, England. Germany, Hungary, Indonesia, ••FROM-:' R.fl.S. STUDY PHONE NO. : 212 439 6174 Mar. 14 2000 03:23PM P7

3 94260-02-0

Ueland, Israel, Morocco, Poland, Romania, tho Slovak Republic, the former1 Soy/at Union. Turkey, and the tomier Yugoslavia; and

WHEREAS, After the collapse of communism, Rabbi Arthur Schneier strongly advocated the adoption of laws on "freedom of conscienca"; In October 1999. he lad an Appeal of Conscience Foundation delegation to participate as International Observers 10 the Russian Parliamentary elections, mealing with political leaders of major parties; and

WHEREAS, In December 1996, at the invitation of the Russian Government, Rabbi Arthur Schneier led an Appeal of Conscience Foundation delegation to participate as International Observers to the Parliamentary elections to aid democratic reform: In June 1896. he led a delegation of International Observers to the Russian Presidential elections and a similar delagation to the Duma elections In October 1999; and

WHEREAS, in September 1997, Rabbi Arthur Schneier met with President Yeltsin and Prime Minister Chernomyrdin, urging the repeal of the controversial "Lew on Religious Organizations": and

WHEREAS, Rabbf Arthur Schneier has brought to hie ministry an overwhelming spirit of charity and compassion, acting from vision and enlightenment In conducting his administrative and spiritual duties, while always displaying The highest standards of personal and protaeionaJ integrity and dedication; and

WHEREAS, In addition to his active professional life, Rabbi Schneier has compiled an impressive record ot civic, charitable and cultural service, including membership on the Council on Foreign Relations; Conference of Presi- dents of Major Jewish Organizations, Executive Committee; Committee on Conscience. United States Holocaust Memorial Museum; American Joint Distribution Committee, Board of Directors; Religious Zionists of America. Honorary President; World Jewish Congress American Section, Honorary Chairman; Rabbinical Council of America. Board of Directors; New York Board of Rabbis, Board of Governors; Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations, Board of Directors; And United Nations Development Corporation, New York, former Director; and

WHEREAS, Rabbi Arthur Schnelef has been the recipient of numerous awards, some of which include: The Grand Decoration of Honor in Gold wtth Star for Service to the Republic of Austria; Dr. Karl Rentier Prize of the City of Vienna, Religious Liberty Award; and the Ellis Island Medal of Honor; and

WHEREAS, Furthermore, 1996 was the establishment ot Rabbi Arthur Schnaiar Chair in 'International Relations at Yeshiva University, New York; and

WHEREAS, With him throoghottt have been his wife, Elisabeth Nordmann Schneier, and his two children, Rabbi Marq Schooler and Karen 3chneier Dfesbech, al of whom feet privileged to be a part of his Fife and rejoice in his achievements; and

WHEREAS, Ha is known for his warm and generous spirit and deep compassion for those in naed; now, there- tare, be rt

RESOLVED. That this Laoialattva Body pause In its deliberations to honor Rabbi Arthur Schneier upon the oc- casion of his 70th Birthday; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to Rabbi Arthur Schneier.

RESOLEQ TROM f TR. ft. S; STUDY ___ PHONE NO. : 212 439 6174 Mar. 14 2000 03:24PM P8

4 • 942BO-Q2-0

SHORT TITLE-. Honoring Rabbi Arthur Schneier upon thd occasion tit his 701h Birthday to tie celebrated on March 19,2000 BLURS; SchfWi6r,RabblArthur-700iBlrtriday