The Leo Baeck Institute is a research institute with centres in New York, London and Jerusalem devoted to the study of the history and culture of German-speaking Jewry. The New York centre also has a branch housed in the Jewish Museum Berlin. Founded in 1955, the Institute is named in honor of Leo Baeck, the Rabbi who was the last leader of the Jewish Community under the Nazis. Baeck represented the modern assimilated Central European Jew.
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The Leo Baeck Institute-New York (LBI-NY) in Manhattan comprises a library, archive, and exhibition centre. Its offices and collections are housed in the Center for Jewish History in New York City.
The bulk of LBI-NY’s archives are the personal papers of German-speaking Jews. In addition to the personal papers, there is an 80,000 volume library which includes first editions of Moses Mendelssohn and Heinrich Heine, early 16th century writings, including Martin Luther, Sir Thomas More and Erasmus, as well as a comprehensive collection of periodicals published from the 18th to 20th centuries. Limited editions of twentieth century artists’ portfolios and several illustrated eighteenth century books on Jewish customs are included in the rare book collection.
A project (DigiBaeck) is under way to digitize the archives and thereby provide on-line access to the entire collection. In addition to the archival processes of acquiring, cataloguing and preserving, LBI-NY promotes study by sponsoring fellowships, holding seminars, and exhibits.
LBI annually presents The Leo Baeck Medal to individuals whose humanitarian work promotes tolerance, social justice. In November 2010, German conductor Kurt Masur received the award.[1] Some past recipients include German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Ambassador Wolfgang Ischinger, Dr. Mathias Dopfner, The Honorable James D. Wolfensohn, Mr. Otto Schily , Dr. Ruth Westheimer, Dr. Johannes Rau, and The Honorable W. Michael Blumenthal.