Rabbi Meir Soloveichik to Receive Bradley Prize in May
Rabbi Meir Soloveichik will receive the 2026 Bradley Prize on May 14 from the Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation, a conservative philanthropic organization recognizing public figures and scholars whose work promotes the ideals of American democracy, free markets and civil society.
Soloveichik is one of three recipients, alongside former Sen. Phil Gramm (R-Texas) and Harvard professor James Hankins. According to the foundation, the recipients were selected from 60 nominations by the prize selection committee. Each awardee will receive a $300,000 stipend.
“Rabbi Soloveichik is one of the country’s most thoughtful and compelling voices on the roles of
faith and tradition in America’s founding,” Rick Graber, president and CEO of the Bradley Foundation, said in a press release.
Soloveichik is the director of the Straus Center for Torah and Western Thought at YU. He is also the rabbi of Congregation Shearith Israel, the oldest synagogue in the United States, also known as the Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue. In addition, he serves as a senior fellow at the Tikvah Fund.
Last May, he was appointed by the president of the United States to the Religious Liberty Commission, and he previously served as vice chair of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom.
In a statement to The Commentator, Graber credited Soloveichik with having “distinguished himself as a leading voice on the importance of religious liberty in sustaining a free and vibrant society.”
“His writing and teaching have challenged Americans to think more deeply about the principles that undergird our nation,” Graber said. “At a time when antisemitism is resurging in troubling ways, it is especially meaningful to recognize Rabbi Soloveichik, whose work reflects both intellectual rigor and the courage to speak clearly in defense of enduring truths.”
“I’m profoundly grateful for the honor The Bradley Foundation has chosen to bestow upon me,” Soloveichik said in a statement published by the foundation. “It is humbling to be linked to the brilliant scholars and courageous leaders who have received the Bradley Prize, and even more so considering the stature of those who make the decision regarding the prize.”
Notable past recipients include former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, former U.N. Ambassador John Bolton, historian Victor Davis Hanson and economist Thomas Sowell.
“As a Straus Scholar and student of Rabbi Soloveichik, it is deeply gratifying to see his work recognized with the Bradley Prize,” Elisha Price (YC ’28) told The Commentator. “He provides us with an exemplary model of intellectual integrity and rigor, demonstrating how to bridge Jewish tradition with the foundational ideas of the American project.”
“This honor justly celebrates his impact as both a premier voice in our national discourse and a dedicated mentor to everyone at the Straus Center,” Price said.
“As a Straus scholar, I have the real privilege to learn from Rabbi Meir Soloveichik in so many different areas,” Noam Schechter (YC ‘27) told The Commentator. “Every time you learn from him, you walk away gaining not only fascinating knowledge, but humor, insight, a deeper understanding and a greater appreciation of our values and who we are, both as Jews and Americans.”
Photo Caption: Rabbi Meir Soloveichik
Photo Credit: Yeshiva University
