German President Horst Köhler presented Hubert Burda with the Federal Cross of Merit for his deep commitment to the causes of media development, social issues, cultural life and scientific dialogue extending far beyond his native Germany. The ceremony took place Monday morning at Bellevue Palace in Berlin.

The selection committee explained its decision as follows: “The Hubert Burda Foundation unites all his charitable, social, cultural and scientific activities, including the Felix Burda Foundation and the Center for Innovative Communications at Ben Gurion University in Israel. Hubert Burda supports Steven Spielberg’s Shoah Foundation in providing testimonials from Holocaust survivors to school classes. His generous donations have been vital in building a new Jewish Center in Munich.”

At the same occasion, the President also honored publisher Friede Springer, Jewish Council President Charlotte Knobloch, actor Armin Mueller-Stahl, Bishop Margot Käßmann and singer Peter Maffey who received the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany.