THE CIVIL WAR ROUND TABLE OF NEW YORK AND THE LINCOLN GROUP OF NEW YORK
PRESENT THEIR PRESTIGIOUS ANNUAL LINCOLN AWARDS TO JONATHAN D. SARNA AND
BENJAMIN SHAPELL FOR THEIR BOOK, “LINCOLN AND THE JEWS.”

(From Left to Right: Frank McKenna, LGNY; Dr. Jonathan D. Sarna; John Bodnar, LGNY; Benjamin Shapell; Richard Sloan, LGNY)

On February 10, 2016, at a special joint meeting of The Civil War Round
Table of New York and The Lincoln Group of New York, Jonathan D. Sarna
and Benjamin Shapell accepted the 2015 BARONDESS/LINCOLN AWARD from the
Round Table and were Co-Winners of The 2015 LINCOLN GROUP AWARD OF
ACHIEVEMENT for their book, Lincoln and the Jews.

The joint event was held at The 3 West Club in New York City and was
attended by over 100 members and guests of both organizations. Harold
Holzer, famed author, distinguished Lincoln scholar, Co-Chairman of The
Lincoln Bicentennial Committee, historical consultant on the Lincoln
film, and member of both the Round Table and The Lincoln Group of New
York, acted as host and moderator for a lively hour-long conversation
and question-and-answer session with Dr. Sarna.

 The 2015 BARONDESS/LINCOLN AWARD from The Civil War Round Table of New
York was presented at the Round Table’s 597st meeting by Paul Weiss,
Civil War Round Table of New York President; and Judith Lee Hallock,
Barondess/Lincoln Award Committee. The Round Table which is in its 65th
year has presented The BARONDESS/LINCOLN AWARD for the last 54
consecutive years. This special Lincoln award was established in 1960.
Dr. Barondess, for whom the award was named, was a distinguished charter
and founding member of the club, along with Bruce Catton and Fletcher
Pratt, and this award is presented in his memory. The award is given
annually “to any person or institution and for any contribution to the
greater appreciation of the life and works of Abraham Lincoln.”
Previous distinguished winners have included Doris Kearns Goodwin,
Harold Holzer, Craig Symonds, Stephen Oates, Gabor Boritt, William
Gienapp, William C. Davis, Gary Wills, William Safire, Gore Vidal, Eric
Foner and Sam Waterston, just to name a few.

The 2015 LINCOLN GROUP AWARD OF ACHIEVEMENT from The Lincoln Group of
New York was presented by Steven R. Koppelman, President of The Lincoln
Group of New York; and John Bodnar, Chairperson of the Award Committee.
The Lincoln Group of New York which is in its 48th year has presented
The AWARD OF ACHIEVEMENT since 1988. The award, in the form of a plaque,
is presented annually for doing the most to encourage the study and
appreciation of Abraham Lincoln. Previous winners have included Doris
Kearns Goodwin, Garry Wills, Governor Mario Cuomo, David Herbert Donald,
Gabor Boritt, Eric Foner, Dr. Edward Steers, Dr. Mark E. Neely, Jr.,
and, of course, Harold Holzer.

(From Left to Right: Paul Weiss, President, CWRTNY; Judith Lee Hallock,
CWRTNY; Dr. Jonathan D. Sarna; Benjamin Shapell)

ABOUT THE RECIPIENTS, JONATHAN D. SARNA AND BENJAMIN SHAPELL

Jonathan D. Sarna was born in 1951 in Philadelphia and raised in New
York City and Boston. He attended Brandeis University, Boston Hebrew
College, Merkaz HaRav Kook in Jerusalem, and Yale University where he
obtained his doctorate. Dubbed by the Jewish Forward newspaper in 2004
as one of America’s 50 most influential American Jews, he was Chief
Historian for the 350th commemoration of the American Jewish community,
and is recognized as a leading commentator on American Jewish history,
religion and life. Currently, Dr. Sarna is the Joseph H. & Belle R.
Braun Professor of American Jewish History and Chair of the Hornstein
Jewish Professional Leadership Program at Brandeis University, as well
as Chief Historian of the new National Museum of American Jewish History
in Philadelphia.

 Benjamin Shapell is the founder of the Shapell Manuscript Foundation,
an independent educational organization with offices in Los Angeles and
Herlizya, Israel, whose collection includes original documents of
world-renowned individuals, including American presidents and Mark
Twain. Mr. Shapell has initiated and overseen the creation of numerous
publications, exhibitions, and films relating to the central themes of
the collection. The Foundation has also partnered in exhibitions with
major institutions, including the Library of Congress, the National
Library of Israel, and the Smithsonian Institution. Mr. Shapell lives
with his family in Israel.

ABOUT THE CIVIL WAR ROUND TABLE OF NEW YORK

Founded in 1951, The Civil War Round Table of New York meets on the
second Wednesday of the month from September to June. Members assist
each other with research, discuss preservation strategy for endangered
battlefields, and listen to distinguished speakers talk about a
particular aspect of the war. For 2016, the club’s meeting location is
The 3 West Club, 3 West 51st Street in Manhattan.

For more information on the Civil War Round Table of New York and a
schedule of upcoming meetings and special events, please contact The
Civil War Round Table of New York at our mailing address: 139-33 250th
Street, Rosedale, New York 11422. Or, if you prefer, call 718-341-9811
or email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Check out our website at
www.cwrtnyc.org.

ABOUT THE LINCOLN GROUP OF NEW YORK

Founded in 1978, The Lincoln Group of New York usually meets three times
a year in February, April and November in New York City. Most meetings
are scheduled to coincide with a special date in Lincoln’s life. The
group presents its members with scholarly programs on the life and times
of Abraham Lincoln. The club’s meeting location is also The 3 West
Club, 3 West 51st Street in Manhattan.

For more information on the Lincoln Group of New York and a schedule
of upcoming meetings, please contact The Lincoln Group of New York at
our mailing address: 5 Leigh Court, Randolph, NJ 07869. Or, if you
prefer, call 973-349-6144 or email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Check out
our website at www.lincolngroupny.org.