And now, ladies and gentlemen, on behalf of the entire AEI community of scholars, staff, and supporters,

it is my honor to award the American Enterprise Institute's highest scholarly honor,

the 2017 Irving Crystal Award to Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks. Beloved

Beloved friends, I want to thank you from the depths of my heart for your generosity tonight.

I was almost about to say that I moved beyond words, but the truth is no rabbi ever was moved beyond words. At the

burning bush, Moses, the first rabbi of all time said, I am not a man of words and then

proceeded to speak for the next 40 years. So let me say briefly, how grateful I am for three things.

Number one, for the company I now join, of outstanding individuals.

And especially last year's winner who's just so embarrassed me, Robbie George, who's done so much

as the voice of vision and moral courage that lies at the very heart of his and yours and our

vision of American life. Second, for the American Enterprise Institute itself, one of the very greatest think tanks in

the entire world and one from whom I have learned more than any other.

And I salute Arthur Brooks for his wonderful leadership of this institution.

And I wish all of you blessing and success.

But lastly, and perhaps most importantly, because of the name that the award bears, the

late Irving Crystal of Blessed Memory.

Elaine and I were privileged to Count Irving of Blessed Memory and his incredible wife,

B. Gertrude Himmelfar, who is here with us tonight, as precious and cherished friends.

Whenever we were in Washington, they invited us to their home. They always

encouraged me and my work. They were so kind, they were so gracious, they were so generous of

spirit. I always had this cognitive dissonance because Irving was so vigorous, indeed sharp

in his writing and so gentle and loving in his personality that he and

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