Bernard-Henri Lévy. Photo: ​Sameer Khan​.

Bernard-Henri Lévy

Philosopher

Famed French philosopher and humanitarian Bernard-Henri Lévy has continued to speak out – in the most eloquent terms – on the greatest challenges facing the Jewish people and the State of Israel. He was honored at the 2016 Algemeiner Gala.

Lévy is one of Europe’s most prominent advocates of the cause of freedom and an open society; on the topic of rising antisemitism in France and around the world, the philosopher (known in France as BHL and a frequent contributor to The Algemeiner) has not held back from describing what he regards as a grave danger to the foundations of western civilization.

The Islamism promulgated by groups like ISIS is the “third fascism of our time,” he said recently.

In addition, at a recent event at the United Nations, he called on the Muslim world to formulate its own version of the famed Nostra Aetate declaration by Pope Paul VI in 1965. The document, which denounced anti-semitism and effectively absolved Jews for the death of Jesus, amounted to a historic reset of Catholic-Jewish relations and also outlined the Church’s modern attitude to other world faiths.