Thomas L. Friedman to receive The Dr. Bernard Heller Prize
from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion

Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion will present Thomas L. Friedman with The Dr. Bernard Heller Prize on Wednesday, May 29, 2002 at Ridge Club South, (formerly Losantiville Country Club). Friedman is a three-time (1983, 1988, and 2002) Pulitzer Prize-winning foreign affairs columnist for The New York Times and is the author of the award-winning book From Beirut to Jerusalem. "We recognize him with this award because of his commitment to Jewish continuity and dedication to the pursuit of justice that is clear through his coverage of the troubling events in the Middle East," commented Rabbi David Ellenson, president of HUC-JIR, on the announcement of Friedman as the prize recipient.

The Dr. Bernard Heller Prize is an international award presented annually to an individual or organization whose work, writings, or research reflects the values and commitment to the betterment of humanity. Initiated in 1990, previous recipients of the $10,000 award include Professors Dr. Jacob Rader Marcus and Dr. Harry M. Orlinsky; Bernard Marks (captain of the ship Exodus); Holocaust historians Serge Klarsfeld and Raul Hilberg; Ambassadors Uri Lubrani of Israel (the architect of the airlift rescue of Ethiopian Jewry), Dennis B. Ross, Richard C. Holbrooke, and Stuart E. Eizenstat; Camelia Anwar Sadat; Count Folke Bernadotte, posthumously; and The Jewish Museum in Prague.

In previous years, The Dr. Bernard Heller Prize has been presented during the graduation ceremony of the College-Institute; however, Friedman will be receiving the Pulitzer Prize at that time. The graduation ceremony for HUC-JIR, Cincinnati, will take place on Thursday, May 30, 2002 at 8:00 pm at Wise Center in Amberley Village. During the ceremony, the College-Institute will bestow Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa, upon Dr. Bernard Reisman, founding director of the Brandeis Adult Learning Institute, the Hornstein Program in Jewish Communal Service, and the Fisher/Bernstein Institute for Leadership in Jewish Philanthropy at Brandeis University; Dr. Eric Friedland, Sanders Professor Emeritus of Judaic Studies with a joint appointment at University of Dayton, United Theological Seminary, Antioch College, and Wright State University; and Ms. Ruth Gay, researcher and author, whose works include The Jews of Germany: A Historical Portrait and Unfinished People: Jewish Immigrants to the United States: 1880-1914.

Doctor of Philosophy will be conferred upon H. Eldon Clem, Hélène M. Dallaire, John M. Engle, Robert M. Gerth, Joshua L. Moss, and Karla R. Suomala. Master of Arts in Hebrew Letters will be conferred upon Pamela W. Barr, Jeremy A. Barras, Karen N. Bodney, Alan S. Cook, Kari H. Field, Joshua D. Garroway, Eric S. Goldberg, Clauio J. Kogan, M.D., Anne Persin, Yair D. Robinson, Jonathan S. Siger, and Phyllis A. Sommer. Master of Arts will be conferred upon Stephen N. Self and David B. Smith. Master of Philosophy in Hebraic and Cognate Studies will be conferred upon Aurelian Botica, John D. Brolley, Jeffrey L. Cooley, N. Blake Hearson, and In Seh Lee.