The President of the European Jewish Congress, Moshe Kantor, was awarded the Légion d'Honneur this week for his work combatting intolerance and racism.
The award is the highest decoration in France, established by Napoleon Bonaparte, and can be handed out to recognise an individual in any field of activity.
The award was bestowed on Mr Kantor at the Élysée Palace by President Hollande for leading the fight against antisemitism, racism, intolerance and xenophobia, and promoting interfaith relations and a more tolerant Europe.
President Hollande called Mr Kantor "a man of peace, a man of culture, a friend and a friend of France.
"You are an inspiring person in the Jewish world, a great figure of the Jewish people in Europe, heading a major institution, the EJC, which today represents 42 communities. You and the EJC are promoting Jewish culture, interfaith dialogue and tolerance, fighting antisemitism and preserving the memory of the Holocaust."
Mr Kantor said he was "humbled" by the honour.
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