World Jewish Congress Honors Axel Springer CEO Mathias Döpfner

Mathias Döpfner, CEO of Axel Springer SE, was honored with the Theodor Herzl Award by the World Jewish Congress (WJC) in New York on November 9. The award ceremony, held at the Museum of Modern Art, coincided with the anniversary of the 1938 Kristallnacht pogroms. Döpfner, a prominent journalist and publisher, delivered a significant speech addressing antisemitism, Zionism, and Germany's historical responsibility. He emphasized that Zionism has become a pejorative term in many contexts, particularly on American university campuses, and stressed that this should not be accepted.

Döpfner's address was framed as an imagined dialogue with Theodor Herzl, the founder of modern political Zionism. He asserted that antisemitism has not disappeared but has merely modernized its methods and found new avenues for societal acceptance, appearing in various political factions including the far-right, radical Muslim movements, conspiracy theorists, and the radical left. Döpfner firmly stated that Israel is not the cause of antisemitism, but rather antisemitism is the reason for Israel's existence, arguing that the elimination of Israel would not end antisemitism.

He also defended Israel as an "imperfect democracy surrounded by rather perfect dictatorships," highlighting the participation of Arab citizens as evidence of democratic inclusion. Döpfner connected Germany's historical responsibility for the Holocaust to the present-day safety of Jewish life, noting that while Germany has excellent memorial sites, these do not provide daily protection. He criticized the immediate downplaying of the October 7 Hamas attacks, stating that the perpetrators of antisemitism would simply find new targets if Israel ceased to exist.

Ronald Lauder, President of the WJC, praised Döpfner for his long-standing commitment to Israel and the Jewish community, his consistent opposition to antisemitism, and his understanding that protecting Jewish life and defending democratic societies are intertwined. Lauder also offered a critical perspective on current Israeli politics, suggesting that recent events resembled a "banana republic" more than a true democracy. The award also holds historical significance for Axel Springer SE, as the company's founder, Axel Springer, was posthumously honored with the Theodor Herzl Award in 2014 for his contributions to German-Jewish reconciliation and German-Israeli relations.

Döpfner accepted the award not as a recognition of past achievements but as a reminder of the work still to be done. He reiterated the company's core principle supporting Israel's right to exist and opposing all forms of antisemitism, linking this corporate stance to his personal identity as a "non-Jewish Zionist." He concluded by referencing Herzl's famous quote, "If you will it, it is no dream."