The Legion of Honor is the most prestigious award given by the French government. It was established in 1802 by Napoleon Bonaparte, in recognition for distinguished merit or outstanding service to France. The award while typically bestowed on French nationals is given less frequently to foreigners, usually in recognition of their service to France or other outstanding acts. 

"I am glad and honored to have the opportunity to give you this testimony of friendship on behalf of France,” said French Ambassador to the United states, François Delattre. “It is my pleasure, on behalf of President Sarkozy, to present to you with the Légion d’Honneur in recognition of your tireless efforts to promote and support religious freedom, human rights and interfaith tolerance all over the world". 

“During the Holocaust, I experienced firsthand the consequences of hatred and conflict and have devoted a lifetime to awaken man’s humanity to man, and to advocate my credo, ‘Live and let live’,” said Rabbi Arthur Schneier, Senior Rabbi of The Park East Synagogue and President and Founder of the Appeal of Conscience Foundation. “The high honor bestowed upon me by the President of the Republic of France, Nicolas Sarkozy, encourages me to continue to build bridges in dialogue between civilizations, cultures and religious communities, and further international cooperation.”

The award underscores Rabbi Arthur Schneier’s role not only as a spiritual leader and a human rights advocate but as an “unofficial ambassador” to leaders across the world who have sought to promote religious freedom, human rights and brotherhood between all mankind. Rabbi Arthur Schneier, is the founder and President of the Appeal of Conscience Foundation, and since 1962, the senior Rabbi of the Park East Synagogue.

In February of 2011, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton lauded the Rabbi when he was honored by the Foreign Service Institute, “for his commitment and partnership for over 30 years in helping foreign affairs professionals better understand the complex issues surrounding religious life and the right to religious freedom in the countries in which they serve.”

Among those in attendance; The Most Reverend Timothy Dolan, Archbishop of New York. The Most Reverend Khajag Barsamian, Archbishop of the Armenian Diocese of America. Reverend Dr. Fred Anderson, Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church. Commissioner Raymond Kelly, NYPD. Ambassador Rosemary DiCarlo, Deputy Chief of Mission, US Mission to the United Nations  and the Hon. Ido Aharoni, Consul General of Israel in New York.

In addition to this honor from the French Government the “Rabbi-Ambassador” has received numerous high honors from world leaders and their governments:

·         2010- High Decoration of the Russian Foreign Ministry on behalf of H.E. Sergey V. Lavrov, Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Russian Federation – Cited for “His continued commitment to strengthen Russian-American relations and help further advance the improved climate of cooperation.”

Since founding the Appeal of Conscience Foundation in 1965, Rabbi Arthur Schneier has successfully worked on behalf of religious freedom and human rights throughout the world. This interfaith coalition of business and religious leaders promotes peace, tolerance and ethnic conflict resolution. The Foundation believes that freedom, democracy and human rights are the fundamental values that give nations of the world their best hope for peace, security and shared prosperity.

Appeal of Conscience delegations have met with religious and government leaders in Albania, Argentina, Armenia, Bulgaria, People's Republic of China, the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), Cuba, Czech Republic, El Salvador, Germany, Holy See, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Japan, Morocco, Panama, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovak Republic, Switzerland, Spain, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom and the former Yugoslavia. The Foundation also hosts delegations from abroad to acquaint them with the diversity of American religious life and its contribution to a civil society.

Rabbi Arthur Schneier has served as U.S. Alternate Representative to the U.N. General Assembly and Chairman of the U.S. Commission for the Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad. In 1998, he was one of three American religious leaders appointed by President Clinton to start the first dialogue on religious freedom with President Jiang Zemin and other top Chinese leaders. In 2001, Rabbi Schneier initiated the Resolution for the Protection of Religious Sites, adopted by the U.N. General Assembly. In 2004 he served as a member of the U.S. delegation to the Stockholm International Forum for the Prevention of Genocide.  In 2005, he was appointed to the High-Level Group, Alliance of Civilizations, by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, a distinguished group whose goal is to bridge divisions between societies exploited by extremists and among societies in which prejudices, misconceptions and polarizations threaten international stability and peaceful relations. In 2008, UN Secretary General Ban-Ki Moon, appointed Rabbi Arthur Schneier Ambassador to the Alliance of Civilizations.

Ordained by Yeshiva University he is the recipient of eleven honorary doctorates. Born in Vienna, Austria, March 20, 1930, Rabbi Schneier lived under Nazi occupation in Budapest during World War II and arrived in the United States in 1947.