Augusta bestows the Peace Prize upon Josef Schuster
Dr. Josef Schuster to Receive Augsburger Peace Prize
Dr. Josef Schuster, the President of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, has been announced as the recipient of the Augsburger Peace Prize for 2023. This prestigious award recognises individuals or groups who have made significant contributions to peace, justice, and reconciliation.
The Augsburger Peace Prize, endowed with 12,500 euros, has been awarded every three years since 1985. Notable previous recipients include Olof Palme, Desmond Tutu, Malala Yousafzai, and Aleida Guevara. This year's award is a testament to Dr. Schuster's dedication to fighting racism and anti-Semitism.
Dr. Schuster has been a vocal advocate for Jewish women and men living in Germany, and his work in interreligious dialogue and societal coexistence is indispensable. He is known for building bridges between different perspectives, making Jewish life visible, and speaking out against discrimination.
The Augsburger Peace Prize is a traditional celebration in the city of Augsburg, which marked its 375th anniversary this year. The Peace Festival, as it is known, was celebrated on Friday, with citizens bringing food and drinks from home and eating together at long table rows. The highlight of the civic holiday is a grand peace table on the town hall square.
The awarding of the Augsburger Peace Prize is a joint effort between the city of Augsburg and the Evangelical-Lutheran Church in Bavaria. Previous recipients include former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev (2005) and former Federal President Richard von Weizsäcker (1994).
Dr. Schuster's receipt of the Augsburger Peace Prize is a significant moment for the Jewish community in Germany and a reminder of the importance of promoting peace, justice, and reconciliation. Augsburg, a city known for its public holidays, is proud to honour Dr. Schuster for his tireless work in fighting racism and anti-Semitism.
Dr. Josef Schuster's receipt of the Augsburger Peace Prize this year underscores his role in general-news, as he has been recognized for his significant contributions to peace, justice, and reconciliation, particularly in combating racism and anti-Semitism. His work aligns with the purpose of the Augsburger Peace Prize, which has a history of honoring individuals who foster interreligious dialogue and societal coexistence, such as Olof Palme, Desmond Tutu, Malala Yousafzai, and Aleida Guevara.
