+972 2 6707211 
+972 2 6707211 
public@president.gov.il 
President Herzog Presented With Honorary Degree from the Jewish Theological Seminary
On August 12, 2026, President Isaac Herzog was presented with an honorary degree from the Jewish Theological Seminary in a special ceremony at the President's Residence in Jerusalem. Chancellor Emerita Shuly Rubin Schwartz of JTS formally presented President Herzog with the degree, which was conferred upon the President at the JTS 2026 Commencement in New York. President Herzog was awarded the honorary degree in recognition of his leadership and public service to the State of Israel and the Jewish people, as well as his commitment to democracy, Jewish pluralism, and unity in Israeli society.
Photos: Maayan Toaf / GPO
On August 12, 2026, President Isaac Herzog was presented with an honorary degree from the Jewish Theological Seminary in a special ceremony at the President’s Residence in Jerusalem. Chancellor Emerita Shuly Rubin Schwartz of JTS formally presented President Herzog with the degree, which was conferred upon the President at the JTS 2026 Commencement in New York. President Herzog was awarded the honorary degree in recognition of his leadership and public service to the State of Israel and the Jewish people, as well as his commitment to democracy, Jewish pluralism, and unity in Israeli society.
Upon receiving the honorary degree from JTS, President Isaac Herzog said: “The State of Israel and Diaspora Jewry are both facing their own challenges, but the Jewish people have a shared destiny and a shared responsibility. This is one of the cornerstones I set for myself in my tenure as President of the State of Israel, and I reaffirm that I am doing everything, and will do everything, so that we stand together in the face of these challenges.
“The conferral of an honorary degree from the distinguished institution of JTS in New York upon the President of the State of Israel at the President’s Residence in Jerusalem is not only a great honor for me but also an occasion that is in its very essence a bridge between parallel and complementary worlds. It sends a message from Jerusalem that we — on both sides of the ocean — are inseparable. We are one.”
“May we all continue to build together that same wondrous chain of the Jewish people: a chain connecting tradition to scholarship, Judaism to the wider world, Israel to the Diaspora, and past to future. This is the mission of JTS, and this is the mission of the State of Israel. It is also my mission, and my life’s work.”
Upon presenting President Herzog with the honorary degree from JTS, Chancellor Emerita Shuly Rubin Schwartz said: “Throughout your life and career you have been a sterling exemplar of love for and service to the entire Jewish people. During this unprecedented time in Israeli history, you have embraced your responsibilities with unwavering composure, steadfast resolve, and exemplary dignity.”
