2018 Canterbury Medal Acceptance Speech

Rabbi Soloveichik gave this speech upon accepting the 2018 Canterbury Medal, a reward given by the Becket Fund to an individual who embodies an unfailing commitment to religious freedom.

First, to Becket. To Bill, to Montse, to Mark, all the lawyers and staff of the Becket Fund. I’m so grateful to you. Not only for the extraordinary honor that you’ve bestowed on me this evening, but also for one of the great privileges of my life, which is affiliation with all that you do. Being on the board of the Becket Fund allows me to experience the extraordinary pride produced by the small word “we.” Wherever I am, speaking, at any place, the synagogue or an interfaith gathering, or any other place, I get to say, “I’m on the board of the Becket Fund.” We represented the Little Sisters of the Poor. We fought for a Sikh who sought to wear his turban while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. We fight for the religious liberty of Mormons and Jews and Muslims and all people of faith in America. And my favorite we: we won that case at the United States Supreme Court.

I feel with pride my affiliation with Becket each and every day, and words cannot adequately express what I owe all of you for this privilege. To Robby. As I had the opportunity of saying at Princeton last week, “You have been for me an intellectual pole star.” I call Robby, Professor Robert George, my rebbe. Which is Hebrew for my revered rabbi, mentor, and teacher. Once, thanks to him, I attended an interfaith conference at the Vatican and in my remarks there, I called him my rebbe. Which may be the first time that anyone ever received rabbinic ordination at the Vatican, but it is actually an illustration of the bridges that he builds and of the role model that he has been for his students of all faiths.

And so as I said last week, to Robby, we, your students are so filled with gratitude to you for the faith in God that you exemplify in public and private life and also for the faith that you have shown in us, in those you have taught and impacted so profoundly. I want to express my gratitude to the chair of the dinner, Roger Hertog, whose friendship and guidance has been such a blessing in my life for so many years. And to the entire Templeton family, thank you for all that you do on behalf of faith and freedom. Thank you. To the leadership of Congregation Shearith Israel and Yeshiva University and all from Shearith Israel and Yeshiva who are here, it means so much to me that you have come. And I express my gratitude as well to the extraordinary religious role models in the video for the incredibly kind words that they have bestowed upon me. And as we say in Hebrew, “Acharon, Acharon Chaviv,” last and most beloved, to Layaliza, to our children, to my mother, to all members of my family who are here this evening. Thank you for everything and for marking this moment with me.

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