RESEARCH AND DOCUMENTATION

• Chapter on Armenia: The IRWF has opened a chapter aimed at unveiling the amazing stories of the brave Armenians. The focus is on honoring Armenians who risked their lives during the Holocaust in their efforts to save the victims of the Nazi persecution, and Turks who rescued Armenians during the 1915 Genocide. We hope that by acknowledging the heroic deeds of rescuers during the Armenian Genocide we can help build a path towards reconciliation between the Turkish and the Armenian people.

• Publication of Dossier “Roncalli”: This dossier, which includes new revelations and evidences, has been recently submitted by the Wallenberg Foundation to Yad Vashem, with the firm recommendation to bestow upon Angelo Roncalli, Pope John XXIII, the title of Righteous Among the Nations.

• Historical Archive to be Digitalize: Casa Argentina and The International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation have spent the last year digitalizing its archives with the aim of making them available to the public. The ultimate goal is to create a virtual museum recording the organizations’ activities and achievements throughout the years.

• Exhibit Righteous from Croatia opened in Zadar: The International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation, Casa Argentina en Israel Tierra Santa, and the National Museum Zadar organized an exhibit that provides evidence that there were many good and righteous people who sacrificed themselves in efforts to help the Jewish population during WWII.

• Paul and Helene (Leni) Pissarius recognized as Righteous Among the Nations: The award was presented in their honor to Werner Pissarius. This event is the results of the IRWF’s research conducted in Berlin and New York, which confirmed that Paul and Leni Pissarius sheltered Ernst Joseph and his parents, Leopold and Bertha, in their Berlin home for more than two years.

• Research on Wallenberg’s Fate: The IRWF continues its constant correspondence with The Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation as part of its campaign to clarify Raoul Wallenberg’s fate.

EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVES

• “Raoul Wallenberg at School” – 2010/2011 Academic Year: Ever since 2003, the Raoul Wallenberg at School Program is presented in high schools and universities across Buenos Aires with the support of the Secretary of Education of the City of Buenos Aires. This year, the following high schools participated: Escuela de Comercio No. 26 –nocturna, Liceo No. 1 “José Figueroa Alcorta”, Escuela de Comercio Antonio Bermejo, and Escuela Jaim Weitzman.

• “Raoul Wallenberg at School” at the UADE: The IRWF Buenos Aires organized an encounter with Ms. Hélène Gutkowski, a Holocaust survivor, at the UADE (Argentine University of Business) on June 16th. A hundred students and the chairs of the History of Civilization and Political Science Departments were in attendance.

• Holocaust Survivor Shares her Experience with College Students at Maimonides University and Austral University: The IRWF organized an encounter with Myriam Kesler at The Maimonides University and at Austral University in Buenos Aires. Ms. Kesler gave her testimony to students and faculty at both universities.

• Learning Initiatives at the UCES: The IRWF presented its educational program on Raoul Wallenberg at the UCES (University of Business and Social Sciences) in Buenos Aires. The lecture was presented by Architect Tomás Kertesz, a Holocaust survivor rescued by Raoul Wallenberg, with the journalist Nicholas Tozer. A second encounter was organized and it included the testimony of a Holocaust survivor, Mr. Jorge Klainman.

• Holocaust Survivors share testimonies at Belgrano University: Ms. Irene Dab and Ms. Hélène Gutkowski talked about their experiences in front of eighty people at the prestigious Belgrano University (Universidad de Belgrano) in Buenos Aires.

• David Galante and The IRWF at Salvador University: Holocaust survivor David Galante told his story in front of a large audience at Salvador University (Universidad Del Salvador), a prominent Catholic University in Argentina. Bishop Monsignor Oscar Sarlinga, an IRWF Honorary Member who was especially invited for this occasion, gave a moving speech.

• David Galante at Universidad Austral: The IRWF organized an encounter with Holocaust survivor David Galante at Austral University (Universidad Austral) in Buenos Aires. Mr. Galante gave his testimony and answered the questions of over fifty students at the university.

• “Raoul Wallenberg at School” in Israel: Casa Argentina in Israel and the IRWF continued its ambitious program of interactive lectures about Raoul Wallenberg’s legacy. Aimed at Israeli high-school students, the sessions expose them to the awe-inspiring feats of the Swedish savior. Over 20 lectures were given by the prominent local educator and playwright, Mr. Eli Yossef, in 2011. Participating schools include: Boyer School, Shir Bamidbar Seminary, Neshamat – Yad Malja Seminary, and the Institute for Foreign Educators.

• Book on Genocide is released: The International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation released a book by psychology professor Ervin Staub at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, featuring a comparative analysis of Armenian Genocide, the Holocaust, and Genocide in Cambodia.

COMMEMORATIVE EVENTS

• Raoul Wallenberg was remembered in Budapest: On the occasion of commemorating the 66^th anniversary of his disappearance, Raoul Wallenberg was remembered at the Holocaust Memorial Center in Budapest. This event that took place on January 17th and was opened by Dr. Josef Sebes, Chairman of the Hungarian Raoul Wallenberg Association. Greeting letters written by Larry Pfeffer, Chief Organizer of International Rescuer Day, and Baruch Tenembaum, Founder of the International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation, were read. The Ambassador of Sweden, Her Excellency Cecilia Bjorner, and the President of the Antall Jozsef Society Dr. Endre Marinovich were the speakers of the event.

• Tribute to Rescuers: On May 6 at the Tel Aviv University, The International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation organized together with Casa Argentina en Israel-Tierra Santa and The Spanish-Speaking Friends of the Tel Aviv University, a ceremony paying tribute to three rescuers: Sandra Samuel, a Catholic contemporary heroine, and to Louise and Joseph Materne, a Belgian couple that saved the life of a Jewish child in the Shoah.

• Catholic Indian rescuer receives accolade: As part of the IRWF’s mission to pay tribute to contemporary heroes, Sandra Samuel was honored. He saved the life of a child, Moshe Holtzberg, in the terrorist attack perpetrated against Chabad House in Mumbai in 2008. Moshe’s parents, Rivka and Gavriel Z’l, were murdered in the attack.

• Commemoration of Raoul Wallenberg’s Disappearance: The IRWF commemorated the day of Wallenberg’s disappearance at the Wallenberg Award Ceremony organized on January 16, at the Shoah Museum in Paris, France. During the event, the 2010 Raoul Wallenberg Award was bestowed upon Beate and Serge Klarsfeld in recognition of their devotion to document the Holocaust and their commitment to educate the younger generations.

• Honoring Holocaust Rescuers in Mineola and Newark: The IRWF, together with the Sousa Mendes Foundation, presented a series of events on April 2-3, 2011, in honor of Aristides de Sousa Mendes and Luis Martins de Souza Dantas.

• Raoul Wallenberg ‘s Ninety-Ninth Birthday Celebration: The IRWF in Buenos Aires and the Mariano Moreno High School celebrated  Raoul Wallenberg’s ninety-ninth  birthday with a special presentation by Rabbi Sergio Bergman,  who spoke in front of hundreds of fifth, sixth, and seventh grade students.

• Wallenberg was remembered in Moisesville: Leaders of the Jewish community of Moisesville gathered at the local “Raoul Wallenberg Park” to commemorate the hero’s ninety-ninth birthday.

ART ACTIVITIES

• Open call to writers: The IRWF in Buenos Aires issued an open call to non-fiction writers in Spanish to submit work related to The Holocaust or Rescuers of Holocaust victims.

• Saviors on the Screen: In May 2011, the IRWF and the JCC Manhattan presented Saviors on the Screen, a special Film Series dedicated to the rescuers of Jews during the Holocaust.

• Kinderblock 66: The International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation has made Kinderblock 66: Return to Buchenwald one of its key projects. This is a documentary film that narrates the story of several of the surviving boys from Block 66 (Buchenwald).

• The Consul of Bordeaux: This feature film tells the story of Aristides de Sousa Mendes, who saved 30,000 lives during WWII, in June 1940. Among them were 10,000 Jews. As the Portuguese General Consul stationed in Bordeaux, France, Sousa Mendes issued 30,000 visas for safe passage to Portugal. He defied the direct orders of his government and exhibited courage, moral rectitude, unselfishness, and self-sacrifice by issuing visas to all refugees regardless of nationality, race, religion or political opinions. The IRWF, together with the Sousa Mendes Foundation, proudly featured the screening of the first feature film on Aristides Sousa Mendes – “The Consul of Bordeaux”. This event took place as the Sport Club Portugues (SCP), in the city of Newark.

• Wallenberg, the musical: The International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation is proud to be one of the associate producers of Wallenberg, the Musical. This play was written by the Laurence Holzman and Felicia Needleman, with music composed by Benjamin Rosenbluth. Under the direction of Emmy Award winner Annette Jolles, Wallenberg had its premiere public presentation in March 2004 in a staged reading at Symphony Space in Manhattan and has been playing on stage since then.

• Legacy: The Spertus Institute of Jewish Studies in Chicago, Illinois, screened Legado (Legacy). The award-winning film, produced by The International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation, tells the story of the Jewish colonization in Argentina. Toward the end of the 19th century, approximately 800 Jews arrived in Buenos Aires, fleeing the persecution from Czrarist Russian pogroms.

• Heart of Stone, Heart of Flesh: Casa Argentina in Israel and the IRWF are working on the production of Eli Yossef’s play Heart of Stone, Heart of Flesh. Conceived as an educational tool, the play recreates Wallenberg’s impactful story. Heart is set to open on March 22, 2012 at Kiriat Gat Municipal Theater with a stellar cast of high school students from different Israeli institutions.

RECOGNITION

• Raoul Wallenberg Day in the US: Thanks to an initiative by the IRWF, the States of Connecticut, Illinois, Maine, Missouri, Maryland, New Jersey, New Mexico, Utah, and West Virginia joined the State of New York in proclaiming October 5th Raoul Wallenberg Day.

• Raoul Wallenberg Day in Canada: The Honorable Jason Kenney, Canadian Minister of Citizenship, Immigration, and Multiculturalism issued a statement commemorating January 17, which is celebrated annually as The Raoul Wallenberg Day in Canada.

• Raoul Wallenberg Day in Argentina: The province of Corrientes declared October 5 Raoul Wallenberg Day. In addition, the province of Cordoba and Buenos Aires City proclaimed August 4 as The Raoul Wallenberg Day.

• Baruch Tenembaum Recognized by the Austrian Government: Closing the project “Lost Neighbors” in commemoration of Kristallnacht (the Night of Broken Glass), the event awarded Baruch Tenenbaum and other distinguished personalities in Argentina for their “commitment and dedication to human rights and non-discrimination.”

PUBLICATIONS

E-Books: The IRWF published a collection of e-books available on the IRWF website.

• The Turkish Genocide Against the Armenians. By Ervin Staub
• The Holocaust of Memories. By Csaba-István Székely
• Roncalli Dossier. A documented research and petition officially submitted to Yad Vashem with a request to bestow upon Angelo Roncalli the title of “Righteous among the Nations”.
• In the Face of Evil. Based on the life of Dina Frydman Balbien. By Tema N. Merback.
• Documenting Wallenberg. A compilation of interviews with survivors rescued by Raoul Wallenberg.
• Raoul Wallenberg in Budapest. Myth, History and Holocaust. By Paul A. Levine.
• Speaking to One Another: Personal Memories of the Past in Armenia and Turkey.
• Brothers for Resistance and Rescue. By David Gur.
• Borges and the Jew. By Ilan Stavans.

E-Books in Spanish:

• En el nombre del Nombre. Por Elena Cohen Imach.
• Freud: el judío. Por Moisés Kijak.
• La comunidad judía de Coro 1824-1900. Por Isidoro Aizenberg.
• La identidad judía en la literatura argentina. Por Leonardo Senkman.
• Soliloquios de un judío. Por Máximo G. Yagupsky.
• El judaísmo como cultura. Por León Dujovne.
• León Dujovne y el Judaísmo como Cultura. Por Natan Lerner.
• La Yihad Global: El terrorismo del Siglo XXI. Por George Karim Chaya.
• Adolf Eichmann: Él vivió entre nosotros. Por Prof. Abraham Zylberman.
• Cuentos y relatos. Traducidos del idish por Salomón Resnik y seleccionados por Eliahu Toker.
• Violencia de estado, memoria y educación. Por Federico Gaitan Hairabedian.
• La filosofía de la historia en Sarmiento. Por León Dujovne.
• La Semana Trágica de Enero 1919 y los judíos: Mitos y realidades. Por Mara List Avner.
• Jacob Glatshtein: El poeta judío de la revolución interior. Por Eliahu Toker.
• Canciones de hoy día. E. Gros (texto en idish)
• …Y le contarás a tu hijo. Por Abraham Jaime Plaksin
• Saga judía. Por Eliahu Toker

WELCOME

• The IRWF welcomes Eduardo Eurnekian, a notable entrepreneur and philanthropist of Argentine-Armenian descent, as the new Chairman of the Foundation.

• In 2011, the IRWF also welcomed these new Honorary Members:

• Brian Schmidt, Nobel Prize in Physics 2011
• Jules Hoffman, Nobel Prize in Medicine 2011
• Julia Gillard, Prime Minister of Australia
• Robert Doyle, Lord Mayor of Melbourne, Australia
• Petr Necas, Prime Minister of the Czech Republic
• H.E. Mari Johanna Kiviniemi, Prime Minister of Finland
• H.E. Valdis Zatlers, President of the Republic of Latvia
• H.E. Vladimir Filat, Prime Minister of the Republic of Moldova
• H.E. Ms. Iveta Radi?ová, Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic
• Hon. Jens Beutel, Lord Mayor of Mainz, Germany
• Hon. Lutz Trümper, Lord Mayor of Magdeburg, Germany
• Hon. Torsten Albig, Lord Mayor of Kiel, Germany
• Doctor Luis R. Picón Quedo, Governor of Huánuco, Peru
• Dr. Juan Manuel Guillen Benavides,  Governor of Arequipa, Peru
• Hon. Francisco Moita Flores, Mayor of Santarem, Portugal
• Hon. Fernando Ruas, Mayor of Viseu, Portugal
• Keun-min Woo, Governor of Jeju province, South Korea
• Don Iñaki Azkuna, Mayor of Bilbao, Spain
• Doña Yolanda Barcina, Mayor of Pamplona, Spain
• Don Alfredo Sánchez Monteseirín, Mayor of Sevilla, Spain
• Don Patxi Lazcoz, Mayor of Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain
• Hon. Bo Frank, Mayor of Växjö, Sweden
• Hon. Jörgen Linder, Mayor and Chairman of the City Council of Stadskansliet, Sweden
• Konrad Graber, Senator for the Canton of Lucerne, Switzerland
• Martin Pierre Maudet, Mayor of Geneva, Switzerland
• Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf, President of Switzerland
• Doris Leuthard , Former President of Switzerland
• Daniel Brelaz, Mayor of Lausanne, Switzerland
• Ms. Corine Mauch, Mayor of Zurich, Switzerland
• Alexander Tschappat, Mayor of Bern, Switzerland
• Hon. Dannel P. Malloy, Governor of the State of Connecticut, USA
• Sam Adams, Mayor of Portland, USA

RESEARCH AND DOCUMENTATION

Wallenberg Foundation to Document Righteous Armenians

On the 19th anniversary of the Independence of the Republic of Armenia, the IRWF announced the launching of a new chapter which shall be dedicated to the study of Armenian history and focus on the preservationof the legacies of the Armenian heroes who were involved in the rescue of victims of the Holocaust, a theme which has not been properly documented so far.

The IRWF Documented Angelo Roncali’s (Pope John XXIII) Rescuing Actions

In 2010 the IRWF has researched and documented the case of Nuncio Angelo Roncalli and his actions in favor of Jewish refugees during the Holocaust. Through the International Angelo Roncalli Committee the IRWF has already worked on analyzing the historical, documentary and bibliographic materials on Angelo Roncalli. This time, an extensive research that included new testimonies and proofs on Roncalli’s rescuing actions has been performed by a team of historians and volunteers from U.S., Israel and Italy gathered by the International Angelo Roncalli Committee, Casa Argentina en Israel – Tierra Santa and the IRWF. The findings of the investigation were presented to YadVashem and the bestowal of the title of Righteous among the Nations on Angelo Roncalli was requested.

The IRWF unveils the amazing story of two children who found shelter with a Belgian couple

Zenon Fajertag was a Jew born in 1940 in Brussels, Belgium, during the Nazi occupation. In 1941, when Zenon was only one year old, his father died from an incurable illness. By mid-1942, the Nazis intensified their persecution of the Jewish population in Belgium, beginning an era of massive deportations.Zenon’s mother began looking for a safe place to hide her little son. This proved extremely difficult, as the Nazis applied harsh consequences against any gentiles who were caught hiding Jews. Eventually, she managed to find a family that was willing to take the risk of hiding Zenon.

ART ACTIVITIES

The Wallenberg Series Exhibit Inaugurated in New York

Holocaust Survivors, art connoisseurs, members of the Jewish community, and press representatives gathered on January 17, 2010, at the recently inaugurated cultural space of the International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation for the opening of ”The Wallenberg Series”exhibit.
Showcased in its totality for the first time in the U.S., ”The Wallenberg Series” by Austro-Canadian artist Armand Frederic Vallée was organized to commemorate the 65th anniversary of the disappearance of Swedish diplomat Raoul Wallenberg at the hands of the Soviet troops on January 17th, 1945.

Peter Bulow’s Exhibit at the IRWF New York

The IRWF and Casa Argentina in Jerusalem presented Blessings May Break from Stone exhibit by Peter Bulow, a sculptor artist and psychiatrist from New York.Inaugurated on April 8th, and organized in commemoration of Yom Hashoah, the showfeatured art inspired by Peter’s family’s stories from the Holocaust as well as five bronze portraits sculptures of three rescuers — Raoul Wallenberg, Angelo Roncalli (later Pope John XXIII), and Luiz Martins de Souza Dantas — which were commissioned by the IRWF and had their debut at the show.

Permanent Collection on Exhibit, New York

The IRWF and The Angelo Roncalli International Committee (ARIC) presented the organizations’ permanent collection in the form of two exhibits: ”Rescuers,” featuring bronze busts by Peter Bulow, and ”The Wallenberg Series,” of paintings by Austro-Canadian artist Armand Frederick Vallée. ”The Wallenberg Series” was donated to the Wallenberg Foundation by Vallée’s estate. The series consists of 14 paintings that narrate the Swedish diplomat’s quest to save victims. “Rescuers,” consisted of bronze sculptures of Raoul Wallenberg, Luiz Martins de Souza Dantas, and Angelo Roncalli which were commissioned by the IRWF and presented earlier as  part of Peter Bulow’s solo exhibit.

5th Annual Saviors on the Screen Film Festival, New York

IRWF joined forces with the JCC Manhattan once again to present Saviors on the Screen, a special Films Series remembering the righteous saviors of Jews during the Holocaust. Taking place on April 11-12 at the JCC Manhattan, the series is part of the IRWF’s Yom HaShoah programs, which not only honor the memory of those lost during the Holocaust, but also celebrates the life of those who survived.

IRWF and Felix de la Concha

The IRWF commissioned painter Felix de la Concha to create a portrait and interview Denis Avey, the only man to enter Auschwitz on his own. Governed by a wish to see for himself what was going on inside the camp, Avey bore witness of horrible suffering. The interview is a part of a bigger project aimed at portraying and recording Holocaust survivors that Mr. De la Concha has been carrying on since 2008.

World Premiere of Wallenberg Musical

Wallenberg, a musical on one of the greatest heroes of mankind, had its world premiere production at the White Plains Performing Arts Center from Oct. 28 – Nov. 21, 2010.
With book and lyrics by the 2006 Kleban Award-winning team of Laurence Holzman & Felicia Needleman, music by Benjamin Rosenbluth, and under the direction of Emmy Award winner Annette Jolles, Wallenberg is a groundbreaking endeavor with which the IRWF shares the same goal and vision – to bring the story of Raoul Wallenberg to every household in the U.S. The IRWF is an associate producer of Wallenberg.

Wallenberg Survivors at the Wallenberg Musical

On Sunday, November 14, 2010, a delegation of the International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation (IRWF) attended a performance of Wallenberg Musical. The joyful occasion was shared with many Holocaust Survivors who were rescued by Wallenberg who attended as guests of the organization. The IRWF has been supporting the musical since its early days.

COMMEMORATIVE EVENTS

Honoring Wallenberg in Buenos Aires

VilmaMartínez, United States Ambassador in Argentina, was the keynote speaker at the commemorative ceremony organized on February 8, 2010 in Buenos Aires, in honor of the Swedish diplomat Raoul Wallenberg, marking the 65th anniversary of his disappearance. At the event organized by the IRWF Buenos Aires office, Ambassador Martínez gave a speech next to the statue that honors the great hero of WWII. Bishop of Zárate-Campana, Monsignor Oscar Sarlinga and Nicholas Tozer, member of the Board of Directors of the IRWF, also took part in the official program.

The IRWF Interviews Dr. JánosBeér, a Man Who Worked With Raoul Wallenberg

Dr. Mordecai Paldiel, Daniela Bajar, and SeveroReynoso, from the IRWF, travelled to Cambridge, MA, to record Dr. Janos Beér’s testimony. Dr. Beér was part of the SchützlingProtokoll, a department created by Raoul Wallenberg within the Swedish Legation with the objective of rescuing Schutzpass holders and accompanying them into safe houses. The role of the SchützlingProtokoll was instrumental to the success of Raoul Wallenberg’s rescue operation in Budapest, 1944-45.

International Telelink on Wallenberg

Mr. Danny Rainer and Mr. Alexander Blonsky, Vice-President and representative of the foundation in the UK respectively, have participated in an international telelink sponsored by NovostiRia News Agency, Accu Radio and the Izvestia Magazine organized on March 4, 2010. Together with the IRWF representatives in the Jerusalem studio was Knesset Member, Dr. Marina Solodkin, who campaigns for Raoul Wallenberg is promoting a special Law of Remembrance of the Rescuers.

Sebastián Romero Radigales Honored on Postage Stamp, Israel

The Wallenberg Foundation paid tribute to the Spanish diplomat rescuer Sebastián de Romero Radigales with a postage stamp issued by the Israel Postal Company.
Romero Radigales arrived to Athens in mid-April of 1943 as the new Consul General of Spain.Since his arrival to the Greek capital, Romero Radigales put every effort in defending the Sephardic Jews – over 800 persons between the communities of Athens and Salonica.

Worldwide Religious Services to Honor Diplomat Heroes of WWII

June 17, 2010, marked the 70th anniversary of the day in which Portuguese Diplomat Aristides de Sousa Mendes decided, against the explicit orders to do the contrary, to follow his conscience and give visas to those trying to escape the horrors of the Holocaust. By doing so, he saved around 30,000 people in only a few days and forced open a new escape route to freedom for many others during WWII.This year, which also marks the 125th anniversary of Sousa Mendes’ birth, special Thanksgiving Masses and Services were held around the world -from Rome to Newark, Sao Paolo, Paris, Bordeaux, Lisbon, Buenos Aires, and many more- following the initiative of the IRWF and the Angelo Roncalli Committee.

Survivors Commemorated Wallenberg’s Birthday

To commemorate Raoul Wallenberg’s 98th birthday, the International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation invited Wallenberg survivors to share their thoughts on the man who saved their lives. A special note that compiled their messages was released on August 4, 2010.

The IRWF Celebrated Wallenberg’s Birthday

The IRWF celebrated Wallenberg’s 98th Birthday from its offices in Buenos Aires, Jerusalem, and New York.Numerous Holocaust survivors reunited on August 4th at the headquarters of Casa Argentina en Israel Tierra Santa (CAITS) in Buenos Aires. Tomas Kertesz, one of the Wallenberg survivors, was in charge of blowing the candles, while the Happy Birthday song was sang. Members of the Board and many friends of the IRWF and CAITS were present for the occasion.

A Catholic From El Salvador Proclaimed as Righteous Among the Nations

Thanks to an initiative of the IRWF, Colonel José Arturo Castellanos, a catholic and a former Consul of El Salvador in Geneva during the WWII, was declared ”Righteous Among the Nations” by YadVashem. During his tenure as Consul General in Geneva from 1942 to 1945, Castellanos saved the lives of around 40,000 Central European Jews persecuted by the Nazis, by conceding false documents that accredited them as citizens of El Salvador.

Rescuer’s Visas Registry Book Exhibited in New York

On July 21, 2010, the ”Bordeaux Registry Book,” where the Portuguese diplomat Aristides de Sousa Mendes entered the names of all the people who received his visas to freedom during the Holocaust, was unveiled during a ceremony at the Museum of Jewish Heritage – A Living Memorial to the Holocaust to celebrate the 125th anniversary of his birth.
The loan of the ”Bordeaux Registry Book” was made possible thanks to the direct intervention of Mr. Luís Amado, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Portugal, who personally acceded to a request from John Crisostomo, Vice President of the International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation, to lend the book.

Letter from the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation

The Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation addressed a letter to the Wallenberg Foundation regarding the fate of Raoul Wallenberg, following a letter to the President of the Russian Federation D.A. Medvedev. The letter is dated June 16, 2010, and it´s available on our website in its original version as well as translated into English.

Meeting with Beate Klarsfeld, Buenos Aires

On September 27, 2010, volunteers from the IRWF met with Mrs. BeateKlarsfeld, who along with her husband, Serge Klarsfeld, will receive the Raoul Wallenberg Award 2010. The couple is globally recognized as one of the most active in terms of documentation on the Holocaust and persecution of Nazi war criminals.Along with Diana Liniado and Paula Ini, volunteers of the program ”Wallenberg at School”, MrsKlarsfeld enthusiastically addressed educational issues. Mr. Gustavo Jalife, executive director of the foundation, also participated in the meeting.

Beate Klarsfeld visited the Shoah Memorial Mural in Berlin

On November 1, 2010, BeateKlarsfeld visited the Shoah Memorial Mural installed inside the EvangelischeVaterunserKirche in Berlin. Her hostess was Pastor Annemarie Werner, head of the congregation and the IRWF’s representative in Germany.

Honoring Hungarian rescuers in Budapest

On November 11, 2010, the Ambassador of Israel in Budapest Ms. Aliza Bin-Noun and the Minister of Interior of Hungary Mr. Sandor Pinter thanked 17 Hungarians and their families for rescuing Jewish victims during the Holocaust, and awarded them the “Righteous Among Nations” honorary medal.Among those honored were Karolina and ZsuzsannaReszeli, mother and daughter who saved the lives of Steve Colman and his mother. Mr. Colman, who lives in Australia, attended the moving ceremony organized at the Embassy of Israel in Budapest, Hungary.

EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVES

Wallenberg at School, the IRWF’s Buenos Aires Educational Initiative

Wallenberg at School educational program spreads the values of solidarity, civic courage and interfaith dialogue in order to promote a pluralistic and democratic society. Ever since the year 2003 the program is presented in high schools and universities across Buenos Aires with the support of the Secretary of Education of the City of Buenos Aires. In 2010 the program reached more than 8,000 students.

Ben Olander’s Special Presentation in New York

On Tuesday, November 9, 2010, Ben Olander gave a special presentation dedicated to Raoul Wallenberg in the Swedish Seamen Church in Manhattan. The presentation, organized by IRWF used inspiring ballads and stories to convey Wallenberg’s heroic legacy.

E-Books

The IRWF published a collection of e-books available on the IRWF website. ”Raoul Wallenberg in Budapest. Myth, History and Holocaust” by Paul A. Levine; ”Speaking to One Another: Personal Memories of the Past in Armenia and Turkey” and ”Brothers For Resistance and Rescue” by David Gur are just some of the titles from the vast selection published in English, Spanish, German, Hebrew, and French.

On the occasion of the 58th anniversary of Raoul Wallenberg’s disappearance, a ceremony at the synagogue of the Aventura Turnberry Jewish Center, took place on January 17th. On the same date in 1945, Wallenberg was detained by the Soviet army in Budapest and since then his whereabouts are unknown. The organization of the ceremony was in charge of Rabbi Mario Rojzman; William Landa, President of the Aventura Turnberrry Jewish Center and José Weiss, President of the Venezuelan branch of the IRWF.

The ”Rúa Raoul Wallenberg” was inaugurated in Spain

The Monforte de Lemos City Hall, in Galicia, Spain, agreed on January 31st to give a street the name ”Rúa de Raoul Wallenberg” following an initiative of historian Felipe Aira Pardo and the IRWF. The decision was enthusiastically saluted by the President of the Xunta de Galicia, Manuel Fraga Iribarne.

Cardinal Antonio Quarracino was remembered

A moving ceremony took place at the Buenos Aires Metropolitan Cathedral on January 28th to render tribute to the former Primate of Argentina in the 5th anniversary of his death. It was celebrated in front of the Commemorative Mural that remembers the victims of the Holocaust, placed next to Cardinal Quarracino’s tomb.

Tributes to Aristides de Sousa Mendes

Organized jointly by the Embassy of Portugal in Argentina and the IRWF a presentation about the Portuguese diplomat Aristides de Sousa Mendes, savior of thousands of Jews and other persecuted during the Second World War, took place at the National Library of Buenos Aires on April 3rd . Dr. Natalio Wengrower closed the conference quoting Sousa Mendes own words: ”I would rather be with God against men than with men against God.” Simultaneously, the New York branch of the IRWF presented a tribute to Sousa Mendes at the Newark Museum, New Jersey. The presentation was organized along with the Portuguese Foundation of Culture and the Mayor of Newark, Sharpe James.

Distinction to Polish Savior

On the 60th anniversary of the uprising of the Warsaw ghetto an interfaith ceremony took place at the Buenos Aires Cathedral on April 29. The IRWF paid tribute to Mrs. Janina Klein Dylag, member of the Polish underground resistance that saved the life of a Jewish family persecuted by the nazis. Mrs Dylag lives in Argentina since 1948.

Tribute to Giovanni Palatucci

The Wallenberg Foundation joined the tribute paid by the Mediterranean Institute of University Studies in Syracuse, Italy, to the Catholic saviour Giovanni Palatucci, former Chief of Police of Fiume. The tribute was paid within the frame of the ”Program of study in honor of Giovanni Palatucci” with the sponsorship of the President of the Italian Republic. Palatucci was murdered in February 1945 at the Dachau concentration camp after saving the lives of Jews, disobeying the orders of the Fascist regime.

Public debate ”Argentina and the Nazis”

Organized along with the Goethe Institute the debate ”Argentina and the Nazis” took place on May 8th. The presentation was in charge of the following panelists: Uki Goñi, writer and investigator; Dr. Carlota Jäckisch, senior researcher of the Friedrich von Hayek Foundation and Sociologist Beatriz Gurevich.

André Chouraqui was distinguished in Paris

On May 27th Professor André Chouraqui received the Wallenberg Award for his life commitment to the interreligious dialogue. The ceremony took place at the Argentine Embassy in Paris. Chouraqui is one of the most distinguished intellectuals of the XXth century. Ambassador Archibaldo Lanús, renowned lawyer and writer, Dr. Samuel Pisar, and IRWF volunteer, Jean Pierre Bendahan, presented the ceremony.

Academic meeting in Bologna

With the attendance of Baruch Tenembaum, founder of the Angelo Roncalli Committee, the International Colloquium ”Revisitare Giovanni XXIII” took place on June 3rd in Bologna, Italy. The meeting was sponsored by the Foundation for Religious Science John XXIII. Historians and scholars from all over the world attended the presentation. Tenembaum closed the meeting reading his conference ”The Hebrew World and Roncalli”.

Presentation of the Angelo Roncalli Medal

At the closure of the Bologna colloquium professor Alberto Melloni of the University of Bologna and one of the highest world authorities about Pope John XXIII, received from Tenembaum the Angelo Roncalli Commemorative Medal, a work of art specially coined by the IRWF.

Inauguration in Vienna of the Gilberto Bosques Promenade

With the sponsorship of the Municipality of Vienna, the Center of Documentation of the Austrian Resistance and the Embassy of Mexico, the ”Gilberto Bosques Promenade” was inaugurated in Vienna on June 4. Bosques was the Mexican consul saviour of Jews and other persecuted during Second World War. Dr. Kloyber presented to the daughters of the diplomat a commemorative medal on behalf of the IRWF.

First web page dedicated to Gilberto Bosques

The IRWF designed the first web page dedicated to document the work and rescue actions organized by the Mexican diplomat. The documents were given to the IRWF by researchers PhD. Renata von Hanffstengel and Cecilia Tercero, of the Institute of German-Mexican intercultural investigations.

Diplomacy and the Holocaust

On June 17th the IRWF, the ”National Arts Club”; the ”Committee for Righteous Deed of Temple Shalom for the Arts” and ”The Visas for Life Project” presented in New York the documentary film ”Diplomats for the Damned”. The films deals with the deeds of four diplomats who saved lives. The screening was coordinated by Mr. John Crisostomo, volunteer of the IRWF.

Raoul Wallenberg Lyceum was inaugurated in Uruguay

On July 29th a ceremony in Montevideo, Uruguay, organized by the Education Committee of the IRWF took place. The Lyceum 53rd was named ”Raoul Wallenberg”. The initiative followed a proposal of Uruguayan Congressman Dr. Nahum Bergstein. An allusive plaque was placed at the entrance of the lyceum. Jean Pierre Bendahan, volunteer of IRWF, delivered a speech during the ceremony.

”Raoul Wallenberg at School” educational program

Along with the Goethe-Institut of Buenos Aires, the IRWF continues with the presentation in Argentine high schools about the saviors of the Holocaust, civic courage and the preservation of individual freedom. The program received the support of the Secretary of Education of the City of Buenos Aires.

Donation of a commemorative plaque

On August 4, 2003 the IRWF donated a Raoul Wallenberg commemorative plaque to the city of Buenos Aires. It was placed next to the statue of the Swedish diplomat, a work by British sculptor Philip Jackson. Buenos Aires’ Mayor Anibal Ibarra, the Ambassador of Sweden to Argentina, Madeleine Ströje-Wilkens and Dr. Natalio Wengrower, Vice-president of the IRWF, delivered speeches. After the ceremony, ambassador Ströje-Wilkens offered a reception to more than a hundred special guests at her private residence.

Ceremony in Montevideo

The Dean and the Director of Student Affairs of the ORT University of Uruguay, Charlotte Grünberg and Dr. Miguel Bresciano, respectively, placed a bouquet of flowers next to the Wallenberg monument located in Battle Park, Montevideo.

Publishing of Wallenberg Calendars in Bolivia and Uruguay

The ORT University of Uruguay and the Israeli Circle of Bolivian dedicated their 2004 calendars to the figure of the Swedish diplomat.

Wallenberg remembered in Santiago de Chile

Coordinated by Amikam Doron, member of the IRWF, a ceremony took place in Santiago de Chile, next to the Wallenberg commemorative monument.

Tribute to Holocaust hero in New York

A moving ceremony took place next to the ”Hope” monument, opposite to the United Nations building, in New York. Worldwide leaders sent their letters of endorsement. Among them, US Congressman Tom Lantos and Israeli Minister of Justice, Tommy Lapid, both Holocaust survivors saved by Wallenberg.

Ceremony in Israel

Wallenberg was remembered in Tel Aviv, Ambassador of Sweden to Israel, Mr. Robert Rydberg, and Professor Jaime Krejner, member of the IRWF, delivered speeches. Delegations of young people placed flowers next to the statue.

Homage in Budapest

In the same city where Wallenberg was detained by the Soviet army, a tribute organized with the Wallenberg Association of Hungary (WAH), took place next to the statue carrying his name. Dr. Marcos Resnizky, IRWF special envoy, presented the ”Wallenberg Commemorative Medals” to Dr. Wimmer Gyulane, former secretary and translator of Wallenberg, as well to Andreas Sipos, chairman of the WAH.

Angelo Roncalli Postal Card was launched

The Angelo Roncalli Committee and the Argentine Postal Service presented a Postal Card dedicated to Pope John XXIII in the Apostolic Nunciature in Buenos Aires. The initiative is in recognition of the man who was called the ”Good Pope” for having saved the lives of thousands of Jews from the Holocaust during the Second World War, while he was Apostolic Delegate in Istanbul.

Tribute to Brazilian savior in Curitiba

Rabbi Simón Moguilevsky, member of the IRWF, traveled to Brazil to pay tribute to Luiz Martins de Souza Dantas, Brazilian diplomat who saved Jews during the Holocaust. There he participated in an interfaith ceremony at the synagogue of the Israeli community of Curitiba, where he distinguished with the ”Sousa Dantas” medal to Siter Adola of the order ”Evangelical Sisterhood of Mary”. Accompanied by Professor Carlos Coelho, he visited the Studium Teologicum (seminary for the formation of priests) to award Father Victor Calixto Dos Santos, enthusiastic activist of inter religious dialogue, with a medal. He also visited the Raoul Wallenberg Educational Center.

Cardinal Martino visited Holocaust memorial

On August 26th, 2003, Cardinal Renato Martino, President of the Vatican Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, visited the Commemorative Mural of the Holocaust victims installed within the Buenos Aires Metropolitan Cathedral. He was accompanied by the founder of the IRWF, Baruj Tenembaum.

Apostolic Nuncio remembered the Holocaust

On September 4th, 2003, the Apostolic Nuncio to Argentina, Monsignor Adriano Bernardini, visited the Mural in remembrance of the Holocaust victims located in the Buenos Aires Metropolitan Cathedral.

Exhibition of the film Legacy

The documentary, produced by the IRWF, was projected with great success in New York, during the months of July and October. The film was shown at Congregation B’Nei Jeshurun and was later projected at New York University. The internationally recognized film was also chosen to open the Jewish Film Festival in Buenos Aires. A special guest invited by the IRWF was the actress Shifra Lehrer, one of the stars of the film which tells the odyssey of the inhabitants of the first Jewish colonies who settled in Argentina, also known as ”Jewish Gauchos”.

Baruch Tenembaum honored in American Congress

On October 16th, 2003, the Congress of the United States awarded Baruch Tenembaum, founder of the International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation, for his more than thirty years dedication to the cause of human rights, education and preservation of memory. The tribute took place in the Capitol and was presented by Congressman Tom Lantos. Lantos and his wife Annette were saved by Wallenberg during the Holocaust.

Acknowledgement to Polish savior

On October 23rd, more than three hundred people gathered at the Embassy of Poland in Buenos Aires to pay homage to Irena Sendler, a social worker who, during the Second World War saved the lives of 2,500 children. During the ceremony a letter written by the Prime Minister of Poland, Leszek Miller, honorary member of the IRWF, especially sent for the occasion was read. The ceremony took place simultaniously with a tribute paid to the savior in Washington D.C.

65th anniversary of the ”Night of the Broken Glass” Kristallnacht

The ambassador of Germany to Argentina, Rolf Schumacher, was invited by the IRWF to visit the Mural for the Holocaust victims installed within the Metropolitan Cathedral. The Ambassador read an allusive declaration to the tragic night. The Vice-president of the IRWF, Dr. Natalio Wengrower, described the characteristics of the Mural which contains the remains of books of prayer found among the ruins of concentration camps.

Installation of a Mural replica in a Berlin Church

The Church ”Vaterunser” in Berlin confirmed that within the year 2004 a replica of the Commemorative Mural located in the Argentine Cathedral, will be installed within that church. The mural will be donated by the IRWF to the German Evangelical Church (GEC), the main religious organization in Germany.

Solidarity with the Turkish and British people

On November 18th, after the brutal terrorist attacks in Istanbul, members of the Wallenberg Foundation met with the Turkish Ambassador to Argentina, Sukru Tufan, to offer their condolences and support to the Turkish people. On November 21st, after the attack committed against the British Consulate in Istanbul, the foundation met with the Ambassador of the United Kingdom to Argentina, Sir Robin Christopher, to express its condolences. Father Horacio Moreno, President of the IRWF; its Vice-president, Natalio Wengrower; sculptress Norma D’Ippolito and the volunteer PhD. Susana Caramelo were present.

Issuance of commemorative stamps in Israel

Following a request by the International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation, two commemorative stamps were issued in Israel with the aim of remembering the heroic deeds of Raoul Wallenberg and of Angelo Roncalli.

Committee to honor the Polish saviors

The IRWF created the ”Committee to honor the Polish Saviors” with the aim of honoring the Polish Citizens who saved lives during World War II. Mr. Lech Kaczynski, Mayor of Warsaw; Mr. Slawomir Ratajski, Ambassador of Poland to Argentina; Mr. Jan Starchnik, President of the Argentine-Polish Cultural Association; Mr. Jorge Wesolowski, Argentine- Polish Cultural Association; PhD Claudia Stefanetti Kojrowicz, historian, director of the website ”The White Eagle” and Mrs. Bárbara Kaminski, publisher of ”Nasza Polska”, are among the members of the committee.

Conferences and lectures 2003

The IRWF offered the following conferences during the year: Catholic University of Argentina: ”Wallenberg and Roncalli. Two lives, the same mission” headed by historian Dr. José Ignacio García Hamilton. Austral University: ”Is there discrimination in the media?”, lecture given by the journalist Sergio Rubin.

Acknowledgement to German boxer

The IRWF honored Max Schmeling, a famous German sportsman. Schmeling, who is 98 years old and lives in Germany, received the ”Raoul Wallenberg” medal from the IRWF for having risked his life when hiding two Jewish children during the ”Kristallnacht” in 1938.

Sculpture dedicated to Raoul Wallenberg in the Jewish colony of Moises Ville

In the Argentine province of Santa Fe, on Sunday November 30th, 2003 the inauguration of a sculpture dedicated to the Swedish diplomat Raoul Wallenberg took place. The artistic piece, made by the artist Osvaldo Angeletti, was unveiled by Mr. Baruch Tenembaum in the la square of the Rabbi Aaron Halevi Museum of historic Communal and of Jewish Colonization, run by professor Eva Rosenthal.

Campaign to avoid the closure of a Wallenberg school in Berlin

The IRWF launched a campaign to avoid that educational authorities from Berlin close the Raoul-Wallenberg-Oberschule of Berlin. The decision was postponed until 2005.

Actions in Venezuela

Mr. José Weiss, President of the IRWF in Caracas, has interceded with the Venezuelan authorities for the future inauguration of a public space dedicated to the Swedish diplomat.

Collections of stamps dedicated to the saviors from Belgium

Following a proposal made by the IRWF, the Israeli Postal Service issued stamps dedicated to Gaston Champagne, Josephine Champagne, Maurice Pochet and Yvonne Verly Broche as a recognition to the rescue actions carried out by these saviors during the Holocaust.

SEPHARDIC MUSEUM LEGACY

The ”Raoul Wallenberg Medal” was sent to the Sephardic Museum Legacy of Seville in Spain where it will be exhibited permanently as a remembrance of the heroic gesture of Raoul Wallenberg.

RAOUL WALLENBERG STREET

The City Council of Monforte de Lemos, Galicia, Spain, officially communicated by means of a decree, that a street of that city would be named ”Rua Raoul Wallenberg”. The Mayor, Nazario Pin Fernandez, and Delegate Felipe Aira Pardo took charge of that initiative. A plaque in Wallenberg´s honor will be installed there.

BIOGRAPHY OF WALLENBERG IN SPANISH

With the collaboration of the Swedish Ambassador in Argentina, and of the Swedish Institute, the IRWF has for the first time translated into Spanish the Raoul Wallenberg’s biography by Jan Larsson . The aforementioned is available in IRWF website.

ANGELO RONCALLI STATIONERY POSTCARD

Following an initiative of the Roncalli Committee of our Foundation, the Argentine Postal Service has announced that it will be issuing a commemorative stationery postcard dedicated to Monsignor Angelo Roncalli, savior of Jews and others persecuted during the Holocaust. Monsignor Roncalli was elected as Pope John XXIII in l958.

WALLENBERG INVESTIGATION

The Commission of inquiry into the actions of the Swedish foreign policy leadership in the Raoul Wallenberg case has presented its report ”A failure of diplomacy”. The Argentine branch of the Wallenberg Foundation supports the international statement in which the post-war Swedish government was seriously questioned for its inaction in not firmly demanding the liberation of Raoul Wallenberg from the Soviet Union.

60TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE RESCUE OF THE BULGARIAN JEWS

We have followed the celebrations that have just taken place in Bulgaria and in all the world to commemorate a heroic event, the salvation of the Bulgarian Jews during the Holocaust in l943. With the help of the Bulgarian people that confronted the Nazis together to save their compatriots, they succeeded in preventing the Bulgarian Jews from being deported to the Nazi extermination camps.

COLLECTION OF WALLENBERG PAINTINGS

The family of the late, renowned Israeli painter, Yehuda Vardi, has made public on the internet, the 28 works of art that the artist had created after being inspired by the life of Raoul Wallenberg. Visit that collection which was exhibited the last time in l99l, at: www.yvardi.com

ANTHOLOGY OF HEBREW POETRY

We have published an anthology in the internet about Hebrew poetry during the half century before the founding of the State of Israel. The poems were compiled and translated into Spanish by Eng. Moshe Dayan. The book can be obtained free of charge at: www.poesiaprofetica.org

”REVISIT JOHN XXIII” CONFERENCE

Baruch Tenembaum was invited to participate on behalf of the Angelo Roncalli Committee at the Conference ”Revisit John XXIII”, that will be held on June 2, 2003 in Bologna, Italy. Tenembaum will speak about the humanitarian actions of Nuncio Roncalli (later named Pope John XXIII) in favor of the Jews persecuted during the Second World War.

COMMEMORATIVE MURAL IN BERLIN

With the approval of the German Evangelical Church – EKD – the IRWF will donate a replica of the Commemorative Mural to the victims of the Holocaust, installed in l997 in the Cathedral of Buenos Aires. The replica will be located within the Church of Our Father. In this way, Berlin will become the second city in the world to possess a monument with such characteristics, unique in the history of Jewish -Christian relations.

Historian José Ignacio García Hamilton and journalist Nicholas Tozer presented at the Swedish Embassy in Buenos Aires the IRWF educational program titled, ”Diplomacy and the Holocaust”, a project that seeks to disseminate the life rescuing actions of the diplomats who saved thousands of lives during the Holocaust (1933-1945), among them Raoul Wallenberg’s legacy.

Public Space named after Raoul Wallenberg

The joint effort of the Municipal Government of Montevideo, the Central Jewish Committee of Uruguay and the Uruguayan Department of External Affairs yielded the unveiling of a public space dedicated to the heroic deeds of Raoul Wallenberg in Montevideo, Uruguay.

Sculpture-Homage to Raoul Wallenberg

The International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation requested a sculpture be created titled, ”Homage to Raoul Wallenberg” from the renowned Argentine sculptress, Norma D’Ippólito.

Raoul Wallenberg Portrait

At the homage that took place at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris, the painting of Wallenberg done by Peter Malkin, the man who captured the high ranking Nazi official, Adolf Eichmann, was exhibited. Malkin declared in reference to the work, ”with the same hands that I captured Eichmann I have painted the face of the hero of the millennium: Raoul Wallenberg.”

Educational Center

An educational center was named after Raoul Wallenberg in the state of Paraná, Brazil, after the International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation made a suggestion to local Governor Jaime Lerner.

UNESCO, Paris

Homage was given to Raoul Wallenberg by UNESCO at its headquarters in Paris. The International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation participated by awarding Federico Mayor, General Director of UNESCO and U.S. Congressman, Tom Lantos with the sculpture ”Homage to Raoul Wallenberg”, created by Argentinean artist Norma D´Ippólito.

Monument in New York

On November 9, 1998, ´Hope´, a monument dedicated to Raoul Wallenberg, was unveiled in Manhattan, New York, on the corner of 47th Street and First Avenue. The monument is the work of Swedish artist Gustav Kraitz.

Koffi Annan and the IRWF

On November 6, 1998, Baruch Tenembaum, founder of the IRWF, visited the United Nations and was the guest of a reception at the office of UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan.

Homages to Wallenberg in Buenos Aires

On November 15, 1998, The IRWF held a remembrance service in homage of Raoul Wallenberg. The service was organized jointly with the Archbishop of Buenos Aires in the Metropolitan Cathedral. This Catholic church is the only one with a mural remembering the victims of the Holocaust.

Wallenberg statue in Buenos Aires

On November 17, 1998 the Argentine government unveiled a statue in Raoul Wallenberg’s honor on the corner of Figueroa Alcorta Avenue and Austria Street in Buenos Aires (picture enclosed). The statue is the work of British sculptor Philip Jackson and is similar to the one set up in London in 1997

Argentine Postal Stamp

On November 21, 1998 a postal stamp remembering Raoul Wallenberg was issued by the Argentine Postal Service (Correo Argentino) based on a suggestion made by the International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation (IRWF). It is the fourth stamp of its kind, the others being issued in Israel, Sweden and the US.

On December 14, the Swedish Ambassador to Argentina, Peter Landelius and Oscar Vicente, Perez Companc Holding CEO, received the ”Raoul Wallenberg 2000” Award.

Papal Greeting

During the ceremony for the Raoul Wallenberg 2000 Awards, Papal Nuncio, Santos Abril y Castelló transmitted a blessing sent by Pope John Paul II from Rome.

Creation of the Web Site

We have developed an exclusive site on the Internet on Wallenberg where it is possible to obtain information, links to other Wallenberg Centers, bibliography, etc.

”Wallenberg” Sculpture at the German Embassy

The IRWF bronze sculpture titled, ”Homage to Wallenberg” was presented on September 28 and installed at the German Embassy in Buenos Aires as historic testimony.

Roncalli Project

The IRWF formally postulated that Angelo Giusseppe Roncalli be declared, ”Righteous Among the Nations” for his rescuing actions during the Holocaust. It was held on September 7 at the Mission of the Holy See to the UN. Present at this event was the Secretary of the Vatican State, Cardinal Angelo Sodano. ”Angelo Roncalli International Committee”, a commission was created in charge of gathering documentation on the rescuing role of Monsignor Roncalli during the Second World War in coordination with other Apostolic Nuncios of various nations.

Commemorative Wallenberg Postal Piece

At the proposal of the IRWF, the Postal Service of Uruguay issued the sixth postal piece dedicated to Raoul Wallenberg in the world, -after Hungary, Sweden, Israel, USA and Argentina- on September 4.

Diplomacy and the Holocaust

The educational program titled, ”Diplomacy and the Holocaust” was presented at the Argentine Foreign Office on August 25.

Latin American Tour

Jack Fuchs, Auschwitz survivor, visited Guatemala, El Salvador, Paraguay and Panama in order to speak about the Holocaust

Righteous Diplomats

IRWF delegates at the Palace of the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. Visas for Life Exhibit

Internet Publications

First book: ”Prophetic Poetry”. Author: Uri Tzvi Grinberg. Spanish version. 100 pages.‘Poesía Profética’.

IRWF sculpture presented to Latvia

At an early morning meeting held May 15th at the headquarters of the United Nations in New York, the International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation presented the President of the Republic of Latvia, H.E. ”Vaira Vike Freiberga with the ”Homage to Raoul Wallenberg” sculpture.

Raoul Wallenberg files

The International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation has asked the Russian government and the Vatican to release all files concerning ”Missing Persons”- among them Raoul Wallenberg’s. The Foundation will exhaust all resources to arrive at the information regarding Raoul Wallenberg’s whereabouts. The Foundation is working closely with Raoul Wallenberg’s family and its actions are supported by U.N. Secretary General, Kofi Annan, whose wife is Raoul Wallenberg’s niece, and by politicians worldwide.

Monument to the ”Saviors of Humanity”

The creation of a monument titled, ”Saviors of Humanity” is planned by the IRWF. The monument will be built in the riverside of the Río de la Plata in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The project is under the direction of Nora Vitorgan Maltz and Claudio Veckstein, prominent urban architects and volunteers of the Foundation.

IRWF

The International Raoul Wallenberg Committee goes through the motions of the Not-for-Profit Corporation Law and becomes ‘The International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation’, whose purpose is defined as ”perpetuating the memory of Raoul Wallenberg and fostering the ideals and aspirations that characterize his life by the encouragement of educational excellence through financial assistance to students, institutions and other organizations and to encourage artistic and cultural activities through grants, bequests, or gifts.”

IRWF sculpture to the USA

The International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation donated a sculpture dedicated to the outstanding actions of the Swedish diplomat, who used his power to salvage tens of thousands of innocent lives during World War II, to the United States Embassy in Argentina. The ceremony took place at the residence of the United States Ambassador in Buenos Aires.

Interview of the CNN with Baruch Tenembaum

CNN Correspondent and reporter Viviana Fernandez conducted an interview with Mr. Baruch Tenembaum, founder of the International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation. The purpose of the interview was to provide the extensive viewing audience an idea of what the IRWF thought about the public apology made on March 12th by the Pope John Paul II.

Germany’s asks for forgiveness

Two days after the German President, Johannes Rau, delivered a speech in front of the Knesset in Jerusalem asking for forgiveness from the Jewish people for the crimes committed against them by the Nazi regime, the IRWF met with the German Ambassador in Argentina, Adolf Ritter Von Wagner, in order to express his recognition at his president’s momentous statement.

IRWF sculpture to La Nación Newspaper

In an event held at the headquarters of ”La Nacion”, a leading Argentine daily newspaper, the International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation presented the President and Director of that newspaper, Dr. Julio Saguier, the sculpture titled, ”Homage to Raoul Wallenberg”. This gesture was accompanied by a plaque commemorating the heroic deeds of the Swedish diplomat between 1944-1945.

An index dedicated to the Second World War hero, Raoul Wallenberg, is now available. It is a remarkable project of encyclopedic profile with the aim of covering all the homages and tributes to Raoul Wallenberg around the world. The first countries which became part of this unprecedented work are: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Holland, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Norway, Poland, the United Kingdom, the United States, Russia, Slovakia, Sweden, and Uruguay.

Raoul Wallenberg remembered in Budapest

On October 8, 2001 a Raoul Wallenberg commemorative plaque was unveiled (1912 – ?), next to the entry of the Austrian Embassy in Budapest. Wallenberg was kidnapped by Soviet troops at this site on January 17, 1945 after having saved tens of thousands of Jews and other persecuted people condemned to death by Nazism. Among the people who attended the ceremony were Baruch Tenembaum, founder of the IRWF and the president of the Raoul Wallenberg Association in Hungary, Ferenc Orosz. Others present included the daughter of Vilmos Langfelder, Wallenberg’s driver, also kidnapped in 1945 and Dr. Yoav Tenembaum, vice-president of the IRWF as well as numerous ambassadors and government officials.

Angelo Roncalli International Committee

On the 120th anniversary of Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli’s birth, the IRWF distributed and published in English, Spanish and French the conclusions of the investigation looking into the humanitarian actions accomplished by the then Apostolic Delegate (later Pope John XXIII) on behalf of Jews persecuted by the Nazi regime. The investigation, which uncovered several hitherto unknown revelations, was carried out with the collaboration of the renowned intellectuals such as Professor Stanford Shaw, Professor Andre Chouraqui, Rabbi Simón Moguilevsky and Dr Shalom Rosenberg, among others. It will be presented in the year 2002 in Vatican City.

Itinerant Exhibition ”Spared Lives”

Aristides de Sousa Mendes, the Portuguese diplomat who helped thirty thousand people escape from Nazism, was commemorated with an exhibition held in Buenos Aires on July 26. The Portuguese Embassy in Argentina and the International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation presented the exhibition ”Vidas Poupadas” (Spared Lives), a compilation of documents, letters and testimonies from the Diplomatic Historic Archives of the Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The renowned writer Marcos Aguinis was the main spokesman at the ceremony.

Rescuing Jews in National Socialist Germany

The IRWF and the Center for Research on Anti-Semitism at the Berlin Technological University, directed by Dr. Wolfgang Benz, launched a worldwide promotion campaign to record the names of German saviors who rescued persecuted people in Germany between the years 1933 and 1945. The aim of the project is to provide a new definition of the concept of ”resistance” as for many Germans the only way of expressing their disobedience towards National Socialism was helping persecuted Jews. The IRWF has published the first chapter of this project on its website.

Worldwide Raoul Wallenberg Schools Campaign

The IRWF has launched an international campaign so that schools around the world can carry the names of Raoul Wallenberg and other Saviors of the Holocaust. The goal of this initiative is to stimulate the educational authorities in dozens of countries. Mrs. Nina Lagergren, Wallenberg’s sister, has given her support to this project. This initiative aims at transmitting to the future generations the humanitarian values of the Swedish diplomat and of many other saviors The campaign was launched using Raoul Wallenberg commemorative stamps on the letters that were posted around the globe.

September 11

The International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation expressed its solidarity with the United States of America after the terrorist attacks of September 11.

”Saviors of Humanity” Monument

On August 3, a meeting with the Mayor of the City of Buenos Aires, Anibal Ibarra, was held. Members of the IRWF Board presented an update on the evolution of the project to erect a monument ”Saviors of Humanity”, dedicated to the memory of the thousands of men and women who saved the lives of Jews and other persecuted people during the Holocaust. Architects Nora Vitorgan Maltz and Claudio Vekstein are responsible for this project.

Series of conferences ”The Holocaust: Politics and Moral”

On July 1, a series of conferences ”The Holocaust: Politics and Moral” were successfully held in our Jerusalem branch. More than two hundred people attended these conferences. The closure was carried out with a presentation entitled: ”The Catholic Church: Lights and Shadows”.

Homage to Cardinal Antonio Quarracino

On August 8, a ceremony was held in remembrance of the former Cardinal of Argentina, Antonio Quarracino, on the 78th anniversary of his birth. Cardinal Quarracino was one of the founders of the IRWF and inaugurated the Commemorative Mural to the Victims of the Holocaust. Placed within the main Catholic Cathedral of Argentina, the Mural has no precedents around the world in the history of Jewish-Christian relationships.

Guy Sorman visits the Mural

The French intellectual Guy Sorman visited Argentina in the framework of his on going research into the situation of the main Jewish communities in the world. On August 13, the IRWF held a meeting with the prestigious thinker organized by the former Argentine Ambassador to France and member of the Foundation, Juan Archibaldo Lanús. Guy Sorman later visited the Commemorative Mural to the Victims of the Holocaust, which is installed within the Buenos Aires Metropolitan Cathedral. The Mural consists of a glass panel displaying pages from prayer books rescued from the ruins of the Treblinka and Auschwitz extermination camps and the Warsaw ghetto as well.

Day of the German Unity

October 3. Representatives of the IRWF attended the celebrations held at the German Embassy marking the Day of the German Unity.

Documentary Film ”Legacy”

A preview of the documentary film ”Legado” (Legacy) produced by the IRWF, was screened on December 15 at the Palais de Glace Exhibition Hall, within the framework of the ”Gauchos Judíos” (Jewish Gauchos) Exhibition, organized by the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sports. The film shows the places where Jewish colonists settled, their customs, religion, and the exchange of cultures that favored the growth of the country

Havana Film Festival

Vivian Imar and Marcelo Trotta, IRWF volunteers and directors of the documentary film ”Legado” (Legacy) were invited to participate in the Havana Film Festival. The work was also projected at synagogues and community auditoriums around the city.

Refuge and Exile

On November 6 the Goethe Institute and the IRWF organized the conference ‘Argentina: Refuge and Exile’ to mark the 63rd anniversary of the ”Night of the Broken Glass”. Rudolf Barth, Director of the GI and Dr. Natalio Wengrower, Vice-president of the IRWF, chaired the conference. Dr. Andreas Nachama, former President of the Jewish community in Berlin, talked about the situation of Jews in the Germany of the thirties and the social movement towards exile. Later, Johanna Hopfengärtner, a scholar of the International Raul Wallenberg Foundation, addressed the public on the case of Jewish-German exile in Argentina.

280.000 ”Raoul Wallenberg” Stamps

On an IRWF initiative the Argentine Post Office issued a Raoul Wallenberg commemorative stamps. So far some 280.000 stamps have been sent around the world on letters posted by our organization.

New Zealand and the IRWF

The Prime Minister of New Zealand Helen Clark attended a meeting with IRWF representative Nicholas Tozer who welcomed the Prime Minister as an Honorary Member of this organization.

Following Wallenberg’s Steps

Rabbi Mario Ablin visited Mexico City where he met with the daughter of the Mexican diplomat and savior Gilberto Bosques. Dr Ablin was presented with a vast amount of documentation about the humanitarian actions carried out by Bosques. In his capacity as Mexican Consul to France and later as Business Representative in Marseilles, Bosques granted more than ten thousand Mexican visas between the years 1939 and 1942. Homage to Gilberto Bosques is being organized together with the Mexican State Department. The President of Mexico Mr. Vicente Fox Quesada, himself an honorary member of our Foundation, has given his support to this initiative.

Portuguese Tour

On December 2001 John Crisostomo, member of the IRWF, traveled to Portugal on behalf of the IRWF. In Lisbon he had a meeting with the family of Aristides de Sousa Mendes, former Portuguese Consul to Bordeaux and savior of thousands of refugees, mostly Jewish, in 1940. In Fatima he met with Bishop Serafim Ferreira to whom he presented an important IRWF project. He also held a meeting with Cardinal José de la Cruz Policarpo and with the East Timor Commissioner, Victor Melicias.

Farewell to the Swedish Ambassador

In July, 2001 the Swedish Ambassador, Peter Landelius, winner of the Raoul Wallenberg 2000 Award, concluded his diplomatic mission to Argentina after a successful five years period. The IRWF participated in the farewell and welcomed the new Ambassador, Madeleine Ströje – Wilkens.

”Raoul Wallenberg” School

The IRWF presented a proposal to the Government of the city of Buenos Aires requesting that they give the name Raoul Wallenberg to a school within the city. This initiative aims to transmit to the future generations the humanitarian values of the Swedish diplomat and of many other saviors.

Names of Saviors

The IRWF has launched a campaign among the leaders of the secular and religious communities so that they consider proposing to the parents of newly born children, the possibility of choosing the names of the Savior Heroes for their new born children.

The man who stopped the trains to Auschwitz

The IRWF promotes the book ‘The Man who Stopped the Trains to Auschwitz’ by the historian David Kranzler. The author tells the little known story of El Salvador diplomat to Switzerland George Mantello saving actions during WWII. Throughout the pages of this book the author mentions the names of other saviors such as Raoul Wallenberg (Sweden); Carl Lutz (Switzerland); Florian Manoliu (Romania) and Angel Sanz-Briz (Spain).

Yiddish culture before and after the Holocaust

At its Jerusalem branch and with the participation of important intellectuals, the IRWF organized the series of conferences ”The Yiddish culture before and after the Holocaust”.

President of the Federal Republic of Germany Johannes Rau, held a meeting with the founder of the IRWF, Baruch Tenembaum on March 2001 at the Presidential Residence in Berlin. Tenembaum praised President Rau for his speech before the Israeli Parliament in Jerusalem when in February 2000 he pleaded for forgiveness for the crimes committed by the Nazi Regime. On the occasion Tenembaum presented the sculpture ‘Homage to Wallenberg’ to the German President.

Advisors to German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder held a meeting with members of the IRWF at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Berlin. On behalf of the Chancellor they expressed the German Government’s satisfaction by the successes achieved by the IRWF and offered total collaboration to its mission.

The Mayor of Berlin Eberhard Diepgen held a private meeting with Mr Baruch Tenembaum on March 7th at the Berlin City Hall. Mayor Diepgen agreed to promote the humanistic examples of the German rescuers and of other nationalities in order to create awareness about the necessity of understanding, dialogue and co-existence in an increasingly globalized world. Mayor Diepgen was presented with the canvas ‘Basilica of the Nazareth Annunciation‘ by the renowned Argentine artist Raúl Soldi, reproducing the fresco painted in 1968 on the walls of the Basilica of Nazareth in Holy Land at a request of the interfaith organization Casa Argentina.

Ministers of Education of the world were requested on April 2001 by the IRWF to name at least one school after Raoul Wallenberg or after the names of others Holocaust’s rescuers. This worldwide campaign encouraging. Ministers of Education from all over the world has the whole-hearted support of Mrs. Nina Lagegren, Raoul Wallenberg’s sister.

Historical Research The IRWF has carried out an exhaustive historical research in relation to the different events associated with Nuncio Roncalli’s interventions on refugees’ behalf during the Holocaust. The IRWF continues seeking testimonies and documentation of survivors, churches, organizations, and foreign relations ministries to widen the information about the rescuing actions took by Nuncio Angelo Roncalli, later Pope John XXIII, during the Holocaust. The IRWF wishes to thank the collaboration of Dr André Chouraqui (translator of The Bible, The Torah and The Koran into French); Dr. Mordechai Arbel and Professor Stanford Shaw.

Homage to Aristides de Sousa Mendes in Manhattan On the 47th anniversary of the death of the Portuguese diplomat who saved 30.000 refugees, a homage was held by the IRWF at the Portugal Delegation in Manhattan. Apostolic Nuncio Monsignor Renato Martino, the Consul of Portugal Ambassador José Carlos de la Cruz Almeida and the UN Portugal Representative Ambassador Antonio Monteiro attended the ceremony. The President of Portugal Jorge Sampaio sent his endorsement for the ceremony. The sculpture ‘Homage to Raoul Wallenberg’ was presented to Sheila Fleischacker, Sousa Mendes’ granddaughter.

Sousa Mendes‘ portrait a canvas painted by artist Peter Malkin, member of the IRWF, was exhibited at the Portuguese Delegation in New York.

Courses and Conferences ‘The Holocaust: Ideology, Politics and Moral’ were organized by the IRWF between April 29 and July 1st, at the Jerusalem headquarters, 3 Antebi St. The IRWF took this initiative with the aim of creating a critical and interdisciplinary framework about the Holocaust, with special stress to the ideological, political and moral aspects of that tragic process. Special attention was given to the figure of diplomats and ecclesiastic dignitaries who, at their own risk, saved the lives of thousands of persecuted people, most of them Jewish, during the Shoah. Renowned scholars, intellectuals, writers, journalists and even Ambassadors of several countries attended the ten chapters of the program.

A Tribute to Jan Karski underground resistance World War hero, was organized on June 20th at the Polish Embassy in Buenos Aires. As a courier Karski, a Catholic, Jesuit-educated Polish, went through Europe permanently risking his life. He was probably the first non-Jewish and hence entirely objective and reliable eyewitness of the Holocaust who informed the Allies about the Nazi’s atrocities. The testimony of Karski to the filmmaker Claude Lanzmann for the movie SHOA was projected during the ceremony. Swedish Ambassador Peter Landelius and renowned writer Marcos Aguinis presented to the Polish Ambassador Eugeniusz Noworyta the sculpture ‘Homage to Raoul Wallenberg’.

Specially commissioned by the International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation a Commemorative Medal was coined to celebrate the life of Raoul Wallenberg. The medal is to be presented to personalities coming from all walks of life and of all social, religious and racial backgrounds who have demonstrated through their work an unwavering commitment to upholding the humanitarian values which Raoul Wallenberg stands for. The Medal shows a profile of Raoul Wallenberg embossed on a rough texture with the legends ”The International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation” on its face and ”A Heroe without a Grave”-”90th Anniversary of Raoul Wallenberg’s birthday, 4 August 1912 -? on the reverse side.

Presentation of the Raoul Wallenberg Medal to Kofi Annan

Baruch Tenembaum, founder of the IRWF, presented the Raoul Wallenberg 90th Anniversary Commemorative Medal in a meeting that took place on August 4 at the residence of the Secretary General of the United Nations in New York. Mrs. Nane Annan, wife of the world leader and niece of the Swedish diplomat who also attended the meeting, showed to Mr. Tenembaum a family album containing photographs of Wallenberg and a book with letters written by the diplomat, mostly to his mother, Maj Von Dardel.

Opening of a branch in Venezuela

A branch of the IRWF opened in the city of Caracas presided by José Weiss, who was saved by Raoul Wallenberg. The new branch is located at Ibarras A. Veroes, Urdaneta Avenue, Torre Alfa Building, Fourth floor, Office 4 -A, Caracas, Venezuela.

Prayer at a Synagogue in Venezuela

To mark this 90th anniversary, Mr. José Weiss – who was himself rescued by Raoul Wallenberg and is now President of the Venezuelan Branch of the IRWF – and Rabbi Pynchas Brener organized a prayer in honor of the Swedish diplomat that was held on August 2nd at the Israeli Union Synagogue of Caracas. During the ceremony the Chancellor of Venezuela, H.E. Roy Chaderton, spoke about the heroic actions of Raoul Wallenberg and his tragic and mysterious disappearance.

Venezuela announced the unveiling of a plaque

H.E. Roy Chaderton, Chancellor of Venezuela, announced on August 2 that a commemorative plaque to Raoul Wallenberg is to be installed within the premises of the Foreign Ministry of Venezuela.

Special anniversary edition

Dr. Gustavo Arnstein, editor of the Venezuelan newspaper Nuevo Mundo Israelita, issued a special number dedicated to Raoul Wallenberg with photographs of the heroe on the cover containing articles on his life and work written by prestigious international personalities.

Inauguration of a Raoul Wallenberg School

The Venezuelan branch of the IRWF inaugurated on September 18th the Raoul Wallenberg Kindergarten Unit, becoming the second school in Latin America bearing the name of the Swedish diplomat. The new school is located at Ecuador Street, between El Cristo Street and Panamerican Nº 114, Catia, Caracas, Venezuela. Directors Anabel and Jorge Aquino are responsible for this project.

Wallenberg Venezuela on Internet

The IRWF created an internet site for the Venezuela branch. News and articles about its activities are published in it.

Mass in honor of Wallenberg

A special Mass in honor of Wallenberg was held at the Metropolitan Buenos Aires Cathedral. During the Mass the President of Casa Argentina en Jerusalem (the IRWF´s parent interfaith organization) Father Horacio Moreno recalled the work of the Swedish diplomat and led the congregation in prayers celebrating the life of Raoul Wallenberg.

Gathering at the Memorial Mural to the Victims of the Holocaust

Following the Mass the congregation gathered at the Memorial Mural installed at the main Catholic Cathedral of Buenos Aires. The Mural- presented as a gift from the IRWF to the Cathedral – contains pieces of Jewish prayer books rescued from concentration camps.

Press coverage of Raoul Wallenberg 90th birth commemorations

Articles were published in the following publications: Nuevo Mundo Israelita, El Mundo, El Universal, Ultimas Noticias (Venezuela). Griechenland Aktuell (Greece). Rundschau (Russia). Clarin, Crónica Digital, Mundo Israelita, Buenos Aires Herald, Provincia 23 (Argentina) Tiempos del Mundo (Chile). Tribuna Israelita and CDI (México) El Diario (New York). Tachless (Switzerland), Estonian News Agency (Estonia). Channel 2 – Israel programme IBA News interviewed Dr. Yoav Tenembaum.

A thousand 5763 year calendars in Bolivia

IRWF volunteer, Mr. Leo Bokser organized the special edition of a calendar for the Jewish community of Bolivia with a central page dedicated to Raoul Wallenberg’s 90th birthday. The calendar will be distributed throughout Bolivia.

Educational centre in Israel will carry saviour’s name

Tali Livneh, President of the female organization Na´Amat announced the opening and/or renaming of an educational centre that will carry the name of Raoul Wallenberg, thus fulfilling one of the wishes of Wallenberg’s sister, Mrs. Nina Lagergren.

Street in Spain to be called Raoul Wallenberg

The Town Council of Monforte de Lemos will give the name Raoul Wallenberg to a street in the old quarter of the city, a district where the Monforte Jews lived until their expulsion from Spain in 1492, Monforte de Lemos thus becomes the first city in Spain to have a street remembering the Holocaust Heroe.

”Wallenberg at School” Educational Programme

The educational programme is being carried out by the IRWF at secondary schools in Argentina. Its objective is to help preserve individual freedom by understanding the examples of solidarity provided by the saviours during the Second World War. The educational programme is an initiative of Dr. Natalio Wengrower, Vicepresident of the Foundation, and Dr. Jean Pierre Bendahan.

Project of Law enters Lower House in Argentina

In tribute to Raoul Wallenberg national deputies Melchor Posse and Alfredo Allende presented a project of law in which they seek to pay homage to the Swedish diplomat who saved the lives of thousands of persecuted Jews.

Donation of a Commemorative Plaque

To mark the 90th Anniversary of the birth of Raoul Wallenberg, the IRWF will donate to the City of Buenos Aires a commemorative plaque that will be placed alongside the statue to the Swedish diplomat -by British sculptor Philip Jackson- unveiled in Buenos Aires in 1997.

Passing of Ambassador Per Anger

The IRWF regrets to announce with profound sadness the death of its Honorary Member, Per Anger at the age of 89. Per Anger, Swedish diplomat, worked with Raoul Wallenberg in the struggle to save Hungarian Jews during the Second World War. For over forty years he never ceased to search into the fate of his friend and colleague Raoul Wallenberg.

Angelo Roncalli Committee Publication

Thousands of copies of this publication were distributed internationally. The publication contains the more outstanding points of an investigation into the work aimed at saving the lives of Jews persecuted by the Nazi regime carried out by Nuncio Angelo Roncalli, who later went on to become Pope John XXIII.

Holocaust Memorial to be installed inside a German Christian Church

The International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation will donate – with the approval of the Evangelical Church of Germany (EKD) – a replica of the Commemorative Mural to the Victims of the Holocaust installed in 1997 at the main Catholic Cathedral of Argentina. The replica will be placed inside the Our Father (Vaterunser) Church of Berlin. Thus, the German capital will become the second city in the world to host a monument of such characteristics in the history of the Christian-Jewish relationship.

”Nuncio Angelo Roncalli” stamp

During 2003 the IRWF will sponsor the edition of a commemorative postal stamp remembering Monsignor Angelo Roncalli on the 40th anniversary of his death. Roncalli, who later went on to become Pope John XXIII, organized numerous activities to save the lives of Jews persecuted by the Nazis while Papal Nuncio in Istanbul in 1940.

Sousa Mendes Prize 2002

The International Sousa Mendes Prize 2002 will be presented to Argentine historian José Ignacio García Hamilton and to British journalist Nicholas Tozer. Aristides de Sousa Mendes, while Portuguese Consul in Bordeaux, France, saved the lives of dozens of thousands of refugees fleeing from Nazi persecution, putting his own life at risk. The winners have been awarded this prize for their work in clarifying, extending and educating while upholding the humanitarian values for which Sousa Mendes is renowned.

Cultural interest award for film ”Legacy”

Some two hundred people recently attended a screening of the film Legacy (Legado), which describes the lives of the Jewish colonists who settled in Argentina. The documentary was awarded the ”cultural interest” distinction and will now be screened in several provinces of Argentina.

Homage to murdered Jewish writers

To mark the 50th anniversary of the murder of Jewish-Soviet writers, Baruch Tenembaum wrote an article headlined ”Martyrs and Heroe”, in which he describes the events that took place in July 1952 when the Soviet Military Committee of the Supreme Court sentenced a twenty-four poets and intellectuals to death.

Publication of Poetic Anthology in Spanish

Further to the recent publication of his book, Prophetic Poetry (Poesía Profética) by Uri T. Grinberg, the IRWF will now publish Combative Poetry (Poesía Combativa), a poetic anthology of works by Haim Nachman Bialik, Saul Chernijovsky, Zeev Jabotinsky, Yaacov Cahan, Yair Stern, among other famous Jewish writers.

Conference re-visit John XXIII

Baruch Tenembaum was invited to take part in the International Conference Re Visit John XXIII to be held in June 2003 in Italy in representation of the Angelo Roncalli Committee. The symposium is organized by the John XXIII Religious Science Foundation (Fondazione Per le Scienze Religiose Giovanni XXIII) and the University of Bologna.

Documental film promotes co-existence

The documentary film First Primate Pilgrim, that describes the historic visit which Cardinal Antonio Quarracino made to the Holy Land in 1992 and his visit to Jerusalem, Nazareth y Bethlehem is to be re-issued. The film will be distributed at schools, universities and religious institutions.

EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM ”WALLENBERG AT THE SCHOOLS”

The educational program implemented by the International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation in high schools in Argentina finished the year 2002 very successfully. The program consisting of a series of conferences about the ´´Saviors and the Holocaust” will continue in 2003. Dr. Natalio Wengrower and Dr. Jean Pierre Bendahan are in charge of this initiative.

THE RAOUL WALLENBERG CONTEST

In the Tarbut School of Buenos Aires, the ”Raoul Wallenberg Contest”, a competition about facts related to the Second World War and the Holocaust, was held on October. Mr. Nicholas Tozer (photo) presented the winning students with ”Raoul Wallenberg Medals”.

RAOUL WALLENBERG COMMEMORATIVE PLAQUE

With the 90th Anniversary of the birth of the Swedish diplomat as a motive, the International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation decided to donate a Raoul Wallenberg Commemorative Plaque to the City of Buenos Aires. The Plaque will be placed next to the statue that bears his name.

DOCUMENTARY FILM ”FIRST PRIMATE PILGRIM”

We have just edited the English version of the documentary ”The First Primate Pilgrim”. The film narrates the historical trip of Cardinal Antonio Quarracino to Israel in l992. It will be distributed in schools, universities and religious institutions.

THE OPENING OF THE PESHEV MUSEUM

The Peshev Museum in Bulgaria was inaugurated in November 25th. Dimitar Peshev, public official of the Bulgarian government during the Nazi occupation, helped save the lives of thousands of Bulgarian Jews condemned to extermination. In order to commemorate this event, we have sent the ”Peshev Medal” to the Bulgarian Museum where it will be permanently exhibited.

NOSTRA AETATE

In October 2002, the 37th Anniversary of the historic Declaration of the Second Vatican Council of l965 ”Nostra Aetate” was celebrated. With this in mind, the Dionysus Center of Italy organized a meeting with rabbis, theologians, and experts in inter-religious dialogues. As recognition of the work of the Dionysus Center in favor of the Jewish-Catholic dialogue, we delivered the ”Angelo Roncalli Medal” (Pope John XXIII’s name) to the Director, Maria Nicoletta Gaida (photo, left).

NEW INTERCONFESSIONAL CENTER

Father Horacio Moreno, President of the Interreligious Institution ”Argentine House in Jerusalem”, inaugurated in November the Interconfessional Center for Services to the Human Being. Its objective is both, the physical and spiritual recovery of the person, as well as the development of educational undertakings in the field of interconfessional dialogue.

FAREWELL TO NUNCIO RENATO MARTINO

The International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation organized a farewell in New York in honor of Archbishop Renato Martino, who completed his posting as Vatican representative before the world organization to take over as President of the Pontifical Council for Peace and Justice at Vatican City. On the occasion, the ”Angelo Roncalli Medal” was presented to Monsignor Martino.

THE 2002 SOUSA MENDES PRIZE

The Institute of Foreign Service of the Nation and the International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation organized on November 18th a ceremony dedicated to the memory of the Portuguese Diplomat, savior of thousands of lives during the Holocaust. During the ceremony Dr. Natalio Wengrower presented the ”Aristides de Sousa Mendes Prizes” to: Argentine writer, Dr. Jose Ignacio Garcia Hamilton; British journalist Nicholas Tozer; Portuguese Ambassador to Argentina, Antonio Almeida Ribeiro; Dean of the ISEN, Ambassador José Sanchís Muñoz and to Alvaro de Sousa Mendes, grandson of the Portuguese savior.

FILM LEGACY

The film ”Legacy” participated in the Latin Film Festival of San Francisco and in the Miami Jewish Film Festival. The documentary narrates the experiences of the first Jewish immigrants that started the agricultural colony in Argentina, with the help of the Jewish Settlement Association, a philanthropic organization created by Baron Hirsch.

ANNIVERSARY OF THE BIRTH OF NUNCIO RONCALLI

On November 25, the 102nd Anniversary of the birth of Monsignor Roncalli was celebrated. To commemorate the event, we completed a series of educational and cultural activities on a worldwide level.

PORTUGAL

Mr. John Crisóstomo, in a special mission to Portugal, had the ”Aristides de Sousa Mendes Medals” delivered to the President of Portugal, Dr. Jorge Sampaio, to Dr. Mario Soares, former President of Portugal, and to Monsignor Antonio Monteiro, Archbishop of Viseau, birthplace of Sousa Mendes.

THE 2002 RAOUL WALLENBERG PRIZE

The Swedish Ambassador in Spain, Lars Grundberg, his wife, Gunnel Grundberg, and Baruch Tenembaum were the hosts at the presentation which took place in Madrid on December 9 at the Swedish Embassy. During the ceremony they presented the ”2002 Raoul Wallenberg Prizes” to the Israeli Ambassador to Spain, Herzl Inbar, and to the spokesman of the Commission on Foreign Policy of the Congress of Deputies of Spain, Gustavo Manuel de Aristegui y San Roman.

COLLECTION OF MEDALS

The IRWF coined a series of medals in recognition of the actions of the Saviors of the Holocaust. We have already issued the pieces dedicated to Raoul Wallenberg, Angelo Roncalli, Aristides de Sousa Mendes, Dimitar Peshev, and Luis Martins de Souza Dantas.

The Swedish ambassador to Argentina between 1997 and 2001, Peter Landelius, was honoured by the International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation (IRWF) and by the General Economic Confederation (CGE in Spanish). The CGE president, Ricardo Faerman, distinguished Landelius ”for his exemplary conduct, his condition of solidarity person and his support to the NGO’s”. 150 people assisted to the event, among them Marcos Aguinis and Carlos Escudé, both IRWF members.

Wallenberg was remembered on a new anniversary of his disappearance

The 59th anniversary of the disappearance of Raoul Wallenberg, arrested by the Soviet army in 1945, took place on 17 January 2004. His actions were remembered in Hungary, United States, Australia and Argentina. In Buenos Aires, Thomas Kertesz and Laszlo Ladanyi, saved by Raoul Wallenberg in 1944, placed a bouquet next to the monument commemorating the Swedish diplomat.

Raoul Wallenberg at school

We have been implementing the educational program ”Wallenberg at School” in South America for the past three years. The initiative has the aim of preserving individual freedoms by taking as role models the actions of solidarity of thousands of saviors during the World War II. After the success obtained in South America, we are now starting to implement the program in the United States and other countries.

Campaign to pay homage to Peruvian saviors

The International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation has launched an international campaign to search for Peruvian saviors in order to pay homage to them. ”The Peruvian heroes deserve the same international acknowledgement than the Swedish diplomat Raoul Wallenberg, Nuncio Angelo Roncalli and the Portuguese Aristides de Sousa Mendes, among many other distinguished per! sonalities of world history”, mentioned Mr. Baruch Tenembaum, founder of the IRWF.

Meeting in Jerusalem with Minister saved by Wallenberg

Louise von Dardel, Raoul Wallenberg’s niece , met in Jerusalem with Yosef (Tomy) Lapid, Minister of Justice of Israel and Holocaust survivor saved by Raoul Wallenberg in 1944. The meeting took place at the Minister’s office thanks to the intervention of the IRWF.

Tribute paid to Spanish saviors

Tribute was paid to eight Spanish diplomats who saved refugees during the Holocaust, in a ceremony organized by the Spanish Embassy in Argentina and the IRWF. The ceremony took place in the Spanish delegation headquarters on March 30th., 2004.

”The Reconciliation”: the Jewish- Catholic dialogue

Clarin, the newspaper with the largest circulation in Latin America, gave an outstanding coverage of this issue. The relationship between Catholics and Jews has been marked by prejudices and distrust for centuries. Argentina has become an example of fraternity between religions.

”Wallenberg”, the musical

The story of Raoul Wallenberg, the hero of the World War II, has been adapted for the stage as a musical written by Laurence Holzman and Felicia Needleman, directed by Annette Jolles. Music in charge of Benjamin Rosenbluth.

Homage paid to a Polish savior on the International Women’s Day

The International Women´s Day was celebrated on March 8th. On that very day and celebrating her birthday, a tribute was paid to Juana Dylag, the savior of a Jewish family living in Warsaw when it was occupied by the Nazis, in the presence of the Polish Ambassador in Argentina, Slawomir Ratajski.

Sousa Mendes postage stamp issued in Israel

A new postage stamp issued by the Wallenberg Foundation has been dedicated to the figure of the Portuguese savior Aristides de Sousa Mendes. The stamp, issued in Israel, is added to the other issues boosted by the Foundation like the collection dedicated to the Belgian saviors, John XIII, and others.

Picture at an exhibition

An exhibition dedicated to Raoul Wallenberg and sponsored by the IRWF opened on March 31st., in Budapest. The exhibition was organized by the Raoul Wallenberg Association (RWA) of Hungary in the Palace of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Andras Sipos, the President of the RWA, and Andras Heiszler, the President of the Jewish-Hungarian Communal Alliance, broke the band in the exhibition. Among the people attending the ceremony there were Bengt Ludborg and Judit Varnal Shorer, the Sweden and the Israel Ambassadors respectively. The exhibition included a portrait of Wallenberg painted by the artist Peter Malkin, the Mossad agent who captured the war criminal Adolf Eichmann in 1990.

Portuguese savior remembered in New York

On the 50 anniversary of Aristides de Sousa Mendes´death, Portuguese General Consul to Bordeaux in 1940 and savior of thousands of persecuted by Nazism, the International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation presented the ambassador Gonçalo Santa Clara Gomes, Permanent Representative of Portugal to the United Nations, with a portrait by the artist Peter Malkin.

International seminar ”Diplomacy and the Holocaust”

The international seminar ”Diplomacy and the Holocaust” took place with the presence of the French and Polish Ambassadors to Argentina, Francis Lott and Slawomir Ratajski, respectively, organized by the International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation and the Department of Public Law I of the University of Buenos Aires.

Wallenberg school inaugurated in Ecuador

Ecuador became one of the countries with schools named after Raoul Wallenberg. The promoter of this initiative is Patricia Vecilla Mackliff.

Sousa Mendes Award to Father Bernard Jacques Riviere

The Wallenberg Foundation has announced the 2004 Sousa Mendes award which will be given to Father Bernard Jacques Riviere on June 17, the date Sousa Mendes started issuing the visas that finally saved almost 30,000 people. Father Riviere has issued a number of programs on the radio of Bordeaux dedicated to the deeds of the Portuguese savior of the Holocaust, Aristides de Sousa Mendes. Inspired by the articles about Sousa Mendes that Father Riviere published in the French newspaper Le Monde, the journalist Jose Alain Fralon wrote the book ”Le Juste de Bordeaux” already translated into several languages. Father Riviere is one of the founders of the National Committee to honor Sousa Mendes in France and member of the Sousa Mendes Foundation of Portugal. The name of the second person to be awarded will be revealed on June 17.

Wallenberg educational center inaugurated in Argentina

The First ”Raoul Wallenberg” Community and Educational Center in Argentina was inaugurated on May 14. The ceremony took place in 4650 Juan B. Justo, La Juanita, Km 27.7 of route 3, in the city of Gregorio Laferrere, La Matanza county, Buenos Aires province.

Tribute to murdered diplomats

On May 13 the International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation paid tribute to the UN diplomats and officials murdered in 2003. The ceremony took place at the Embassy of Chile in Buenos Aires and the host was the head of the diplomatic legation, Ambassador Juan Gabriel Valdés.

Wallenberg’s sister visited the United States

Nina Lagergren, Raoul Wallenberg’s sister and Honorary Member of the International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation, traveled to Minneapolis, USA. Mrs. Lagergren visited the Israel Temple where she spoke about the life and deeds of the ”Hero without a Grave”, savior of tens of thousands of persecuted in Hungary, during the Nazi occupation. Mrs. Lagergren’s visit was sponsored by the Raoul Wallenberg Living Memorial, an initiative of the Swedish Institute of the United States. The inauguration of the Raoul Wallenberg Educational Center in Argentina was announced during the ceremony.

The Wallenberg Foundation changes on the Net

The IRWF announces the launch of its new website. Among the changes it is worth mentioning a re-design following the most modern visual and web surfing standards; a powerful search engine; unique characteristics of accessibility that follow WAI (Web Accessibility Initiative of the Word Wide Web Consortium) international rules and U.S. Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act that guarantee the use of the site by visually impaired people with the same level as all users. New ways of surfing and linking of contents. The site is presented in complete English and Spanish versions with 700 pages organized in 90 sections each language.

Tribute to Aristides de Sousa Mendes. International ceremonies

In the year of the 50 anniversary of Aristides de Sousa Mendes’ death (1885-1954), the International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation and the Angelo Roncalli Committee organized a great number of celebrations around the world. Tens of religious, cultural and educational activities took place in the five continents. Among the many countries that joined the remembrance are France, the United States, the Vatican, China and Israel.

Hungarian heroes remembered

Hungarian heroes of the World War II, saviors of people persecuted by Nazism, were remembered at the Hungarian Embassy to Buenos Aries.

Revelations about the policeman in process of beatification who saved thousands of jews

The creator of the International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation has revealed details about Giovanni Palatucci’s life, an Italian policeman who gave his life to save about five thousand Jews during the World War II, at present in process of beatification.

Looking for people rescued by Thomas Preston

The FIRW has launched an international campaign to search for people saved by Preston. In 1940, Thomas Preston, the British Consul in Kovno, Lithuania, issued 400 illegal certificates to persecuted Jews, allowing them to travel to Palestine, through Istanbul. Thanks to this action of solidarity and courage, hundreds of people saved their lives, many of them crossing the Baltic Sea to find safe refuge in Sweden.

Cardinal Walter Kasper inaugurates kindergarten

On Saturday, July 10, 2004, Cardinal Walter Kasper, President of the Pontifical Council for the Relations with the Jews, inaugurated the ”Monsignor Angelo Roncalli” Kindergarten at the Raoul Wallenberg Community Center of the Movement of Unemployed Workers of La Matanza (MTDLM), in Gregorio de Laferrere, province of Buenos Aires.

Cardinal Kasper receives accolade

On Saturday, July 10, 2004, at the Latin-American Rabbinical Seminary of Buenos Aires, the International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation and the Angelo Roncalli Committee presented to H. E. Cardinal Walter Kasper the ”Memorial Mural Award”, for his lifetime dedication to the causes of understanding and reconciliation between Jews and Catholics.

”LEGACY” in Prague

The documentary film ”Legado”, produced by the International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation, directed by Vivian Imar and Marcelo Trotta, following an idea by Baruch Tenembaum, was presented at the ”9 Gates” film festival in Praga, Czech Republic. Legado was screened on June 21st before a selected audience of diplomatic officials, film-makers, dramatists and historians from several countries. Directors Imar and Trotta attended the festival and presented the film. They answered questions from the audience and were warmly praised after the screening of the documentary.

Looking for Chinese saviors

Continuing with its work of searching for people who have rescued those persecuted by the Nazi regime during the 1933-1945 period, the Wallenberg Foundation launches a campaign that will focuse on the recollection and classification of information of men and women of Chinese nationality who have helped Jews and other persecuted anywhere in the world.

Worldwide commemorations on Raoul Wallenberg’s birthday

On August 4, 2004, with the world coordination of the Raoul Wallenberg International Foundation, numerous commemorative ceremonies to honor the ”Hero without a Grave”, savior of thousands of persecuted and condemned to death by Nazism, took place on the 92nd anniversary of his birth. New York, Buenos Aires, Montevideo, Santiago de Chile and Jerusalem were the main stages.

Historical Event

In a ceremony of deep inter-religious content on September 26th 2004, a commemorative monument to the victims of the Holocaust was inaugurated in the Vaterunser church in Berlin.

New Wallenberg school in Budapest

An educational institue that was recently renovated at a cost of 7,5 millon dollars was named ”Vocational and Grammar School Raoul Wallenberg.” Michael Wernstedt, grandson of Raoul Wallenberg’s sister, Nina Lagergen, attended the inaguration, together with the Mayor of the city and IRWF member, Gabor Demszky; the Swedish Embassador, Bengt Lundbog; and the leaders of the Wallenberg Association of Hungary, Jozsef Sebes, Bela Huff and Ferenc Orosz.

Max Schmeling turned 99

During his visit to Germany, on the occasion of the inaguration of the Memorial Mural for the Victims of the Holocaust, Baruch Tenembaum made a toast to the 99th birthday of the former boxing champion Max Schmeling. In 2003 Schmeling received the Raoul Wallenberg medal in recognition of his actions to rescue two Jewish brothers during the ”Kristallnacht”, in 1938.

”Wallenberg at school” Program

Fourteen presentations in just thirty days took place at different high level schools of the city of Buenos Aires since the beginning of a new stage of the educational program ”Wallenberg at School”. The presentations, conducted by specialized volunteers, aim at preserving the individual freedoms and the promotion of the values of solidarity and civic courage taking as role models the actions of solidarity carried out by thousands of saviors during the Holocaust.

2004 Participating Schools:

• 3/11: ”Jean Mermoz” French-Argentine Lyceum
• 7/10: ”Raggio” Technical School ; T.I.O. 5º
• 5/10: ”Raggio” Technical School ; T.C.P. 5ºB
• 30/9: ”Raggio” Technical School ; T.C.P. 5ºA
• 29/9: ”Reino de Suecia” (Sweden Kingdom) Commercial School; 5º1
• 28/9: ”Derqui” Nº 9 Lyceum ; 4º 3 T.M.
• 28/9: ”Raggio” Technical School ; Electromechanic 5º
• 24/9: ”Raggio” Technical School ; T.I.G. 5º
• 22/9: ”Reino de Suecia” (Sweden Kingdom) Commercial School; 4º1
• 17/9: ”Derqui” Nº9 Lyceum ; 4º 2 T.M. y 4º 3 T. M.
• 16/9: ”Raggio” Technical School ; T.D. y P.I. 5º
• 15/9: ”Reino de Suecia” (Sweden Kingdom) Commercial School; 4º2
• 14/9: ”Derqui” Nº 9 Lyceum ; 4º 1 T.M.
• 14/9: ”Raggio” Technical School; Constructions 5ºB
• 03/9: ”Nuevo Horizonte” (New Horizon) Educational Center; 3º y 4º.

Dissertations in charge of Jean Pierre Bendahan, Gustavo Jalife, Gabriela Pauer, Horacio Menestrina, Rodrigo Rendo, Nicholas Toser and Francisco Boggiano.

Raoul Wallenberg classroom was inaugurated in Argentina

In a moving ceremony carried out on Friday October 22, a kindergarten classroom of the Minister Zarini School at the city of La Plata, Capital of the Province of Buenos Aires, was named after Raoul Wallenberg. The ceremony was organized by the International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation (IRWF) and the Argentine General Economic Confederation (CGE), presided by Mr. Ricardo Faerman.

The documentary Legacy opens in Buenos Aires

On October 14th the commercial opening of the documentary film produced by the Wallenberg Foundation took place in the Hoyts cinema of the Abasto Shopping Mall of Buenos Aires. For this special date, the exclusive guests enjoyed two showtimes.

Legacy during 2004:

Festivals: International Festival of Biarritz – Biarritz, France / Festival Internacional del Nuevo Cine Latinoamericano – La Habana, CUBA / Festival de Málaga – Málaga, España / Latin Festival of Trieste, Italy / Latino Film Festival of the San Francisco Bay Area – San Francisco, USA / 9 Gates Festival – Prague – Czech Republic / Miami Jewish Film Festival – Miami, USA / Spring Festival – National Center for Jewish Film of the Brandeis University / Festival Cinematográfico Internacional de Uruguay – Montevideo, Uruguay / Festival de Cinema Judaico – Sao Paulo, Brasil / Festival Internacional de Cine Judío en la Argentina – Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Other Projections: Bnei Jeshurum Synagogue, New York, USA / Moisés Ville, Prov. de Santa Fe / Villa Clara, Entre Ríos, Argentina / Domínguez, Entre Ríos, Argentina / Villaguay, Entre Ríos, Argentina / Menorah Temple, Miami, USA / First Hebrew Congregation of Peekskill, New York, USA.

Wallenberg Day in New York

October 5th has been established in New York State as the Raoul Wallenberg Day. It was october 5th 1981 when the ”Hero without a Grave” was named honorary citizen of the United States. Wallenberg disappeared on January 17th 1945 after being stopped by the Soviet army in Budapest, city in which he saved tens of thousands persecuted by nazism, most of tehm jews.

Wallenberg Foundation receives accolade

At a ceremony carried out on 25 November 2004 at the Olivos Yacht Club in Buenos Aires, the Argentine Asociación of Private Education (AAPE) distinguished the International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation with the ”2004 Excellence” award due to the services brought to the community through its educational programme ”Wallenberg at school”.

Zenit News Agency. Information service on Judeo-Christian Dialogue

The International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation announced the creation of a news service on Judeo-Christian dialogue. The news bulletin will be produced in collaboration with ZENIT news agency and will be published initially in Spanish and English.

Raoul Wallenberg, Honorary Citizen of San Francisco

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors conferred honorary citizenship on Raoul Wallenberg, the Swedish diplomat who saved the lives of tens of thousands of Hungarian-born Jews during World War II. ”Raoul Wallenberg’s example sets a standard of humanitarianism that deserves recognition in generation after generation,” said Rep. Tom Lantos (D-San Mateo), who was saved by Wallenberg. ”With this rarely granted honorary citizenship, the City of San Francisco declares that we should all remember and emulate Wallenberg’s legacy of courage, self-sacrifice and compassion.”

Imminent launching of world-wide campaign

January 17th. 2005 marks the 60th anniversary of the disappearance of the ”Hero without a grave” Raoul Wallenberg, captured by the Soviet Army. Since then, his fate remains unknown. The International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation announces the imminent launching of the world-wide campaign to discover the final destiny of the Swedish diplomat, savior of lives during the Holocaust: ”100,000 names for the 100,000 lives saved by Raoul Wallenberg”. All the collected signatures will be presented to the Secretary General of the United Nations to urge the solution of one of the most controversial cases in the history of humankind.

Brazilian savior honored

Commemorating the 50th anniversary of the death of brazilian diplomat Luiz Martins de Souza Dantas, the International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation honored him at the Consulate General of Brazil on December 6th 2004. The ceremony included the presentation of Fabio Koifman’s book on Souza Dantas, ”Quixote nas Trevas” (Quixote in the Darkness). The presentation of the ceremony was in charge of Gustavo Jalife, IRWF Executive Director whereas Koifman and Ambassador Gomes dos Santos delivered speeches before an enthusiastic attendance which included diplomatic delegations of the Holy See, Sweden, Argentina, Israel, Switzerland, Belgium, Bulgaria, Mexico, Turkish, Czech Republic, China, El Salvador and Angola.

Founder of the IRWF receives accolade

The radio show ”Música y Vida de Israel” (Music and Life of Israel) presented to Baruch Tenembaum the ”Award to Merit 2004” for his work at the International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation. The award was presented by the show’s host, Daniel Olkenitzky, at the AMIA (Main Jewish Community Center of Argentina) building in Buenos Aires. Tenembaum, in turn, dedicated the award to Father Horacio Moreno, President of the IRWF, and to writer Uki Goñi, author of the book ”The Real Odessa”.

Wallenberg Foundation receives donation of historical documents

The archives of the International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation received a series of important documents, part of late Carl Levine’s personal collection, after his wife’s death. Mr. Levine was very active in spreading Raoul Wallenberg’s legacy. In 1997 the United States Postal Service issued a Raoul Wallenberg Stamp following his initiative. Original letters, as well as material from the Second day issuance ceremony were donated to the IRWF. The Foundation will add the documents to its own collection of stamps issued in Argentina, Sweden and Israel, among other countries.

The International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation launched a worldwide campaign to determine, once and for all, the fate of the Swedish diplomat. The signatures obtained will be submitted to Mr. Vladimir Putin, the Russian President, and to the General Secretary of the United Nations, requesting the elucidation of one of the most controversial cases in history. Tom Lantos, the North American Congressman and his wife Annette, both saved from the Nazis by Raoul Wallenberg, lead the signature campaign.

Wallenberg was remembered throughout the world

Six decades after his arrest and disappearance in the hands of the soviet army, on January17th different events organized and sponsored by the International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation, took place throughout the world in remembrance of the Swedish diplomat, saver of tens of thousands of lives during the Holocaust. The

United States

More than two hundred people attended the premiere of the musical ”Wallenberg”, based on the life story of the Swedish diplomat. Amidst those present was Marjorie Bloomberg Tiven, sister of the Mayor of New York and Commissioner for New York before the United Nations, as well as diplomats representing the following countries, Hungary, Switzerland, Germany and Italy, amongst others.

Israel

A tribute to Wallenberg was played in front of the monument in his memory placed in the city of Tel Aviv. Between those present were Gabriel and Daniel Sykora, whose grandfather, Joel Sykora, had been saved by Wallenberg.

Argentina

Survivors saved by Wallenberg in 1944, placed flower arrangements in front of the Wallenberg statue, as a token of respect and remembrance for the vanished hero.

Hungary

The Hungarian Wallenberg Association organized a celebration in the new Museum of the Holocaust in the presence of Louise von Dardel, Wallenberg’ s niece. Students from the Raoul Wallenberg High School held an artistic show upon the stage.

Uruguay

The Principal Headmistress of the Uruguayan ORT School, Mrs. Charlotte Grunberg, placed flowers in front of the monument that honors Wallenberg’s memory, in the city of Montevideo.

China

Samuel Tenembaum, representative of the International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation in the Far East, held a work meeting with the Swedish Ambassador, in the capital city of China.

Canada

Archbishop Hutchison, Canada’s Primate of the Anglican Church, spoke a few words during the event sponsored by the Swedish Embassy in Canada.

Australia

In St. Kilda’s Superintendence, tribute was rendered to the memory of Raoul Wallenberg, in the presence of a Swedish representative. This meeting was headed by the Mayor of Port Phillip and by Dr. Frank Vajda.

Slovakia

The people responsible for the erection of the ”Wallenberg” monument in Bratislava got together in Slovakia’s capital to dedicate a prayer to the Swedish diplomat.

Wallenberg School in Ecuador

Thanks to the International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation’s cooperation, the Raoul Wallenberg School in Ecuador has begun the building of new installations, which will include a sports field, a swimming pool and science labs.

Disappeared in action

Public summons to people who might have specific information on the whereabouts of Raoul Wallenberg, so as to be able to send him back to his home to be reunited once again with his family. All information must be sent to Raoul Wallenberg’s brothers and to the Swedish and Israeli Foreign Offices.

Historical Day for a dialogue between Catholics and Jews

The Argentine founder of the International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation, Baruch Tenembaum, has been a constant driving force in improving the dialogue between Jews and Catholics. He considered the day of the private audience granted by the Pope to 160 rabbis and Jewish representatives of all over the world as a ‘historical day’. The above mentioned visited the Pope to thank him for his contribution towards the reconciliation between the sons of Abraham and the struggle against anti-Semitism.

The Zero Hour of the Holocaust

The journalistic chronicle established that on January 30th, 1933 Hitler had reached the peak of power in Germany and one of the most tragic chapters of history had begun. If we may use this expression, the Wallenberg Foundation renders homage to the sunny side of that incommensurable tragedy; to the heroic exploits of thousands of savers, as well as the luck and the life histories of those, that thanks to the solidarity and courage of others, managed to escape from a sure death

Price awarded to a Rabbi for his interreligious activity

The Jewish Community in Berlin and the International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation co-sponsored a ceremony during which Rabbi Dr. Nathan Peter Levinson was awarded a prize for his untiring actions in favor of an interreligious dialogue. The prize was handed over by Mr. Baruch Tenembaum, founder of the International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation. Rabbi Levinson founded the University of Jewish Studies in Heidelberg; during 20 years he was co-president of the German Council of Christian-Jewish Cooperation and since 1976 he was president of the International Council of Christians and Jews, of which at present, he is the honorary vice-president.

Interreligious Ceremony in Las Palmeras

Diocesan Bishop Carlos M. Franzini gave Jorge Buchitari, Parson of Tacural, who has the responsibility of looking after the synagogue of Las Palmeras, a precious and unique canvas. The piece of art, a reproduction of a mural executed by the great painter Raul Soldi in the Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth in 1968, was a gift that Mr. Tenembaum had given Bishop Franzini during that locality’s centennial.

A Defender of the Spanish people, a new member of the Wallenberg Foundation

In a letter addressed to Baruch Tenembaum, the Defender of the people of Spain, Enrique Mujica Herzog, accepted to be part of the Honorary Committee of the International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation. ”I am very pleased to accept such a generous offer which also constitutes a personal satisfaction, and I hope to contribute, as far as I possibly can, to reach the objectives that you have planned, above all to render known the life and deeds of those who risking their own lives, displayed all the potential of their intelligence and good will to help their neighbors in the dark days of the Holocaust.”

Homage for Sousa Mendes and Souza Dantas

The Portuguese diplomat Aristides de Souza Mendes, who saved the lives of approximately 30.000 Jews and other people during the Holocaust and, Luis Martins de Souza Dantas, Brazilian diplomat who issued hundreds of visas in France, putting at stake his own career, were honored in the Museum of the Jewish Heritage (MJH) in New York, in a reception organized by the International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation (RWIF) and the Portuguese and Brazilian Consulates in New York. During the ceremony, Ambassador Felix Rohatyn, who managed to escape from the Nazi Europe at the age of thirteen with a Brazilian passport issued by Souza Dantas, made a very emotional speech, honoring the man who had saved his life. His Excellency Pedro Catarino, Portuguese Ambassador in the United States, attended this event on behalf of the President of his country, Jorge Sampaio. Amongst those present were diplomats of Portugal, Brazil, Germany, Rumania, Hungary, Switzerland, Japan, Chile, Turkey, Angola and Eastern Timor.

Jose Ignacio Garcia Hamilton in New York

The lecture on ”Bolívar, San Martín, Latin American Independence and Authoritarianism” took place on the 27th of April 2005 at the Juan Carlos I of Spain Center of New York University, before a distinguished group of students and academicians.

Marcel Marceau was honored by the Wallenberg Foundation

In Buenos Aires, on the 5th of April 2005, the International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation honored the mime Marcel Marceau, who saved Jewish children persecuted by the Nazis, for his solidarity and courage shown during the Second World War. The popular French artist received a plaque from Natalio Wengrower, vice president of the IRWF as a memento of his worthy actions.

Interreligious Prayer in Argentina

The national meeting for peace, organized by the Argentine Episcopal Committee of Universality, took place on the 18th of April on the esplanade in front of the Faculty of Law of the National University of Buenos Aires; it was an interreligious celebration during which pigeons were let loose as well as balloons containing messages of peace. Monsignor Justo Laguna, President of the Episcopal Committee of Universality, sustained that this encounter ”was drenched with the spirit of Asis,” referring to the meeting of Pope Juan Pablo II with religious leaders of the whole world to dedicate a joint prayer for peace. In February 1999, Bishop Laguna gave a conference in the International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation in Jerusalem. On this occasion, he presented the book entitled ”All roads lead to Jerusalem and to Rome as well,” together with Rabbi Mario Rojzman.

A polemic plaque was removed from the Chancery

The Chancery had to remove a controversial plaque from its building in which homage was paid to 12 Argentine diplomats for their actions in ”favor of Jews” during the Second World War; one of the diplomats is accused by the community’s organization of having done exactly the contrary. The decree N. 999 signed by the Chancellor Rafael Bielsa, arranged for the removal of the plaque placed in the Chancery’s building, as a preventive measure. This decree bears in mind the gravity of the accusation and for ”reasons of its source and institutional responsibility,” he took preventive measures until the committee finished its investigation. This accusation had been impulsed for many years by the Wallenberg Foundation and was aimed against the controversial plaque, which had been inaugurated, with great pomp, by Adalberto Rodriguez Giavarini, at the moment Chancellor, on July 2005. This plaque paid homage to a group of argentine officials who ”stood out during the regime of the Third Reich, thanks to their signs of solidarity and humanity with the Nazi victims”.

A Swiss diplomat saver of lives during the Holocaust, was remembered in New York

The life and actions of Carl Lutz (The Just), a diplomat who saved 60.000 Jews in Budapest in 1944, were celebrated before more than 200 diplomats, survivors and other guests. Amongst those present were Mrs. Agnes Hirschi, Lutz´s daughter who had come especially from Switzerland for the occasion; leaders of the Jewish community and diplomats representing Switzerland, Hungary, Belgium, Sweden, Colombia, Guatemala, Brazil, Ecuador, between others. Likewise, many survivors of the Holocaust saved by Carl Lutz were present, including Mr. Michael Vertes who shared his memories of Budapest with the audience. Andrew Simon and Michael Furst, who used to live in the same protective home in Switzerland, met again during the celebration after years of not knowing anything about each other.

The IRWF congratulated the Secretary of the Vatican State

The International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation congratulated Cardinal Angelo Sodano for having been confirmed in his post as Secretary of the Vatican State by the Pope Benedict XVI, who also named him the Dean of the School of Cardinals.

Announcement of the Pope’s historical visit to a synagogue in Germany

In a special meeting summoned by the International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation´s (IRWF) directives, the Angelo Roncalli International Committee (ARIC) and the Interfaith- Jerusalem Association, which took place in New York, it was reported that the new Pope Benedict XVI had stated his intentions to visit the synagogue in Cologne, Germany, next august. The spirit of brotherhood radiated by the mural in remembrance of the victims of the Holocaust in the Cathedral of Buenos Aires and its replica in the Evangelic Church in Berlin, will celebrate in the near future, the historical visit of Pope Benedict XVI when he visits the synagogue in Cologne, as a symbolic testimony of the dialogue and fraternity that must prevail amidst all human beings, no matter what differences might exist: religious, ethnical, of gender, nationality or language. These are the exact ideals that inspire the activity of the International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation and those of the Angelo Roncalli International Committee.

Argentina eliminates two sad traces of its past

On Wednesday 8thof June, 2005, in the South Reception Room in the Government House, in an act lead by the Argentine President, Néstor Kirchner, the Argentine Chancellor Rafael Bielsa signed the derogation of a secret document, strictly confidential and deeply discriminatory, which had been kept hidden during sixty six years. This was Circular N. 11,one of the jealously guarded secrets by the Argentine State, an order signed in 1938 by the Chancellor José Maria Cantilo and sent to all Argentine delegations throughout the world, to prevent Jews and other people persecuted by the Nazis to enter Argentina. This Circular N. 11 was discovered in 1998 by the Argentine researcher Beatriz Gurevich. Notwithstanding, when she reported her discovery to the authorities of the State Department, the document was archived and most probably destroyed. It was only when the Wallenberg Foundation decided to make public a copy in its Internet website, that Circular 11 began to be known in Argentina and the rest of the world.

Unemployed gave the name of Raoul Wallenberg to a community kindergarten

The International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation cooperated in the functioning of the kindergarten of the Unemployed Workers Movement (UWM) of La Matanza, situated in the locality of Laferrere. One of the leaders of the UWM of La Matanza, Héctor ”Toty” Flores stated recently, ”We have recovered work and dignity, but we are against political patronage”. According to his judgment, if a worker accepts a gift and has to give part of it to a political leader, he loses his moral authority and afterwards he cannot teach his children the path to authentic dignity.

42nd. Anniversary of the death of the Good Pope, Juan XXIII

The 3rd of June was the commemoration of the 42nd anniversary of the death of Devout Juan XXIII, who will be remembered in history as the Pope who summoned the Vatican Ecumenical Council II, contingency that brought to light the encyclical letter ” Nostra Aetate”. This document emphasized the Jewish root of Christianity, trying to mend centuries of hostility between both religious currents. In the year 2000, the International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation created the Angelo Roncalli International Committee in an act celebrated in the Vatican Delegation to the United Nations, in the presence of the Secretary of the Vatican State, Cardinal Angelo Sodano, in order to render homage to the humanitarian actions displayed by Nuncio Roncalli, later Pope Juan XXIII, to save Jewish refugees persecuted by the Nazi regime during the Second World War. The Angelo Roncalli International Committee is composed by renowned international personalities, such as Cardinal Walter Kasper, Professor André Chouraqui, Cardinal Renato Martino, amongst other public figures. Nuncio Roncalli´s outstanding humanitarian actions to save the lives of thousands of Jewish refugees during the Holocaust, together with his determined attitude of religious rapprochement and dialogue towards Judaism. In his capacity as Pope Juan XXIII, turn him into an undying symbol of love for mankind and of an interreligious colloquial meeting.

Delegates of Monsignor Capovilla visit the seat of the Raoul Wallenberg Foundation

On the occasion of the commemoration of the 42nd anniversary of the death of Nuncio Angelo Roncalli, the Raoul Wallenberg Foundation in New York was visited by a delegation composed by Mr. Marco Aggazi, Mr. Srinivas P.Ghandi and Mr. Luis Maria Girón from Italy. The visitors brought with them a letter from Monsignor Capovilla, who had been the Private Secretary of Pope Juan XXIII, together with a medal, which was handed over to the founder of RWIF, Mr. Baruch Tenembaum.

Conference given by the Director of Interreligious Matters of the AJC

The Israeli Interfaith Association sponsors the conference by Rabbi David Rosen, international director of interreligious relations of the American Jewish Committee, on the subject ”From one Pope to another: the Catholic church between Juan Pablo II and Benedict XVI, a Jewish point of view”. This conference will take place on the 7th of July, at 19.00 hours in the site of the AJC in Jerusalem.

In New York the Portuguese diplomat that saved thousands of people during the Holocaust, was remembered

In remembrance of the 120 anniversary of the birth of the Portuguese savior Arístides de Souza Mendes, the International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation held an event commemorating the heroic actions of the diplomat. Mrs. Sheila Fleischacker Abranches, granddaughter of Sousa Mendes, represented his family on this occasion. The Jewish Heritage Museum was the place chosen for the commemoration: a book used by Sousa Mendes to register the thousands of visas issued and the pen that he used to inscribe those names, are on display.

National Hebrew Poet inspires believers of different creeds

The International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation has created the web page:
www.bialikencastellano.com so as to offer the Spanish speaking public, the poetic work of Jaim Najman Bialik. Mr. Baruch Tenembaum, founder of the International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation, counts on Mrs. Belkis Rogovsky´s efficient and persevering coordination. The work of the Hebrew national poet obviously interests the Jewish world- in Israel and the Diaspora- but also the Christian side, orientated towards revaluating the Jewish religious contents as part of its own tradition of faith

Legacy, an argentine documentary film with an interreligious perspective, was awarded a prize in Berlin

The Argentine film LEGACY – I never left my village- sponsored by the IRWF and its associated institutions, Casa Argentina in Jerusalem and the Angelo Roncalli International Committee, was awarded a prize in Berlin due to its humanitarian message of intercultural and interconfessional characteristics. The IRWF summoned the film producers Vivian Imar and Marcelo Trota to direct the film and provided them, as well, with the whereabouts of Jewish colonies dispersed in different countries, including Israel. The story focuses on a chapter of life in the pampas, practically unknown, where Jewish immigrants who were running away from persecutions in Europe, settled down in the beginning of the 29th,century. LEGACY, whose subtitle is significantly ”I never left my village”, describes the newly arrived, most of them with no agricultural experience, who had to start a new life in this country helped by the natives ”criollos” of Catholic faith and who had never met any Jews with a millenary tradition. The Evangelical Church in Berlin, religious Christian community that took the decision of awarding the prize to the film LEGACY emphasizes, in its resolution, the achievements of the argentine interconfessional center with an international projection that financed the production of the film, with the contributions of private collaborators derived from Jewish colonization. The prize to be awarded to the film carries with it significant symbolic contents, whilst at the same time, it reasserts the ideal of cohabitation and Jewish-Christian dialogue in the place where the Nazi genocide, that exterminated millions of Jews, took place.

Send a letter to President Putin

The year 2005 marks the 60thanniversary of Raoul Wallenberg´s disappearance. On the 17th of January 1945, Wallenberg was captured by the soviets and was never seen again. The only person who can solve this mystery and help us to send Wallenberg back home once again, is Russia’s President Vladimir Putin. The International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation has launched a campaign asking everybody to write to President Putin so as to be able to discover the fate of the disappeared Swedish diplomat.

Wallenberg was remembered in Buenos Aires

An act of remembrance for Raoul Wallenberg was held in Buenos Aires, on the 93rd anniversary of the birth of the greatest saver of human lives in history. The event was organized by the International Raul Wallenberg Foundation (IRWF) in the corner of Figueroa Alcorta and Austria where the monument of the ”Just of Humanity” stands. Together with the President of the Foundation, Father Horacio Moreno, were his Vice President, Natalio Wengrower, as well as Ricardo Faerman and Rabbi Simón Moguilevsky, both members of the Board of Directors of the Wallenberg Foundation. Also present amongst others were Guillermo Nielsen, Financial Secretary of the Nation; Rafael Eldad, the Israeli Ambassador; Alejandro Micula, Rumanian Ambassador; Monseigneur Nicola Girasoli, Apostolic Nunciature; Stefan Schlütter, German Embassy; Zolta Baca, Hungarian Embassy; Samuel Ossa Dietrich, Chilean Embassy; Isabela Matusz, Polish Embassy; the President of the political party ”Unión para todos”, Patricia Bullrich; the leader of the ”Movement of the Unemployed Workers of La Matanza, Toti Flores; Jorge Kirszembaum, President of the DAIA; Mario Feberbaum, President of the Foundation Memory of the Holocaust; Mario Ringler, President of the Rabinic Latin American Seminary; Marshall Meyer, pedagogue and survivor of the Holocaust; Jack Fuchs and those saved by Wallenberg in Hungary, Mr Tomás Kertesz and Laszlo Ladanyl.

Argentine Cardinal is incorporated in the Hebrew Calendar

For the first time the Wallenberg Foundation remembered a Catholic priest according to the date of the Hebrew Calendar, on the 3d of av 5765 (august 2005). As every year the Wallenberg Foundation remembered the birth anniversary of the Argentine Primate Cardinal, Antonio Quarracino. The act of remembrance took place by the Cardinal’s grave, in the Chapel of the Virgin of Luján, in the Metropolitan Cathedral of Buenos Aires, next to the commemorative Mural for the victims of the Holocaust and the victims of the criminal attacks against the Israeli Embassy and the AMIA.

Santa Fe renders homage to Baruch Tenembaum.

On September 29th 2005, at a meeting in the White Reception Room of Santa Fe´s Government building, the Governor Jorge Obeid handed the title of Illustrious Citizen of that Province to Baruch Tenembaum, founder of the International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation.

Homage for the Mexican Savior, Gilberto Bosques

The Mexican diplomat Gilberto Bosques was honored in a ceremony organized by the General Consulate of Mexico in New York and the International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation. Many important diplomats, leaders of the Jewish community and members of the Latin community, attended this celebration. Gilberto Bosques, General Consul of Mexico in Marseille, France, during the years of the Nazi occupation, favored the escape to Mexico of a great number of Jews and other persecuted people of different origins. During the event, the guests had the opportunity to meet Jacqueline and Doris Weitz. Daughters of Herman Weitz, who had received one of the many visas issued by Bosques, thus saving his life. The Weitz sisters traveled especially from Los Angeles to render homage and express their gratitude to the Mexican savior and to the people of Mexico who had made it possible for their family to start a new life.

The Wallenberg Foundation honors a Catholic Savior

A group of volunteers of the International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation, who search for people that helped Jews persecuted by the Nazis during the Holocaust, honored Lela Sopianac, a Croatian lady who has just turned 90, and who hid forty Jewish families in her house in Zagreb during the Second World War. The grandmother arrived in Argentina in 1940, escaping from the Nazis. Due to her activity, she was sent to a concentration camp together with her husband. As a result of all the tortures inflicted on her, she lost a kidney and the thumb of her right hand. When they were taking her to the Croatian frontier with Italy to execute her, she escaped and immigrated to Argentina. Lela says ”my house was open to all my brothers and sisters, you can’t say he is Jewish or the other one is a Christian. One must put in practice God’s Word, which is one and only word for everybody”.

The Bulgarian church receives recognition for saving Jews during the Second World War

Members of he Bulgarian church were acclaimed for the part they played in interrupting the deportation of Bulgarian Jews to concentration camps. The Metropolitan Bishops Stephen and Kiril received a homage during a ceremony in New York, after the premiere of the film

”The Optimists,” that narrates the story of the rescue of Bulgarian Jews during the Holocaust. This event was sponsored by the Israeli General Consulate in New York, the General Consulate of Bulgaria in New York, the American Society of Yad Vashem, the Jewish American Committee, the American Sephardic Federation, the Center for Jewish History and organized in collaboration with the International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation.

A prize was awarded to an activist of the Jewish Christian dialogue

The Wallenberg Foundation rendered homage to sister Rose Therin for her untiring work in promoting Jewish-Christian Dialogue. During the celebration in the Museum of Jewish Heritage in New York, on Sunday October 16th 2005, after the screening of the documentary film ”The Passion of Sister Rose,” based on her life.

Results of the program ”Wallenberg at school”

During the year 2002, in the midst of a political, economical and social crisis, the educational program ”Raoul Wallenberg at school” began to develop in Argentina, thanks to the initiative of the International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation. It is addressed to young people and its objective is to build a space in which to learn and spread fundamental values, so as to consolidate a pluralist and democratic citizenship.

Art inspired in the actions of a Brazilian Saver

The renowned artist Susi Cantarino is going to create a painting inspired on the Brazilian diplomat Luis Martin de Souza Dantas, who saved 800 lives from Nazi persecutions during the Second World War. Ms. Cantarino volunteered to create this piece following a request launched by the International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation, who wants the art world to express the spirit of the Brazilian hero. The artist, who lives in Brazil, is already working on this project.

For the first time a Wallenberg Day was proclaimed in an Argentine Province

For the first time, an Argentine province dedicated a day to commemorate Raoul Wallenberg, the Swedish diplomat savior of tens of thousands of people persecuted during the Holocaust. The Governor of Corrientes, Ricardo Colombí, declared October 5th of each year as a day dedicated to Wallenberg´s memory.

Wallenberg Day in U.S.A.

The States of New York, Connecticut, Michigan, Nebraska, Maryland and Nevada declared the 5th of October as the official Raoul Wallenberg Day, following the suggestion of the International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation.

Turkish Diplomats Honored in New York

Mr. Kent traveled to New York to participate in the homage rendered to his heroic father’s memory, Necdet Kent, Vice Consul in Marseille, France, during the Second World War and to other Turkish diplomats whose role was decisive in the task of saving Jewish lives. The celebration organized by the International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation, the American Sephardic Federation with the Sephardic House (ASF), and the Consulate General of the Turkish Republic in New York, was the first of a series in honor of the saviors of the Holocaust, who came from the region known as Sepharad. Mr. Kent, President and Operative Chief of the Coca Cola Company in the north of Asia, Eurasia and the Middle East said, ”When they asked my father why he had done what he had done, (it was difficult for M. Kent to go on speaking) he answered, ”I did it because it was the correct thing to do.”

Volunteers Honored by the IRWF

The educational program ”Wallenberg at school” has completed its fourth consecutive year. To end a cycle of intense activities during the year 2005, the group of volunteers of the International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation made a toast in the site of the institution in Buenos Aires.

”LEGACY – I never left my village” was distinguished by the AMIA

The documentary film ”Legacy- I never left my village,” produced by the International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation and based on an idea of its founder, Baruch Tenembaum, was distinguished on November 30th by the Israeli Argentine Mutual Benefit Association (AMIA), during an act that took place in the main auditorium of the central Jewish Argentine community.

The film ”First Primate Pilgrim” available on-line

”First Primate Pilgrim,” a documentary that narrates the first trip to Israel of an Argentine Primate Cardinal can be seen on the Internet. The film was directed by Vivian Imar and Marcelo Trotta, and produced by the International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation. (http.//video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3347698560162222124)

The International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation greets new members.

Chiefs of State:
Mari Bim Amude Alkatiri, Prime Minister of the Independent Republic of East Timor; Mariano Arana, Minister of Housing, Urbanism and Environment of Uruguay; Wolfgang Boehmer, Minister President of Sachsen-Anhalt, Germany; Wolfgang Clement, Former Minister of Economics and Labour, Germany; Blaise Compaore, President of Burkina Faso; Hans Eichel, Former Minister of Finance of Germany; Armando Emílio Guebuza, President of the Republic of Mozambique; Ferenc Gyurcsany, Prime Minister of the Republic of Hungary; Frank Hsieh, Prime Minister of Taiwán; Janez Jansa, Prime Minister of Slovenia
Roland Koch, Minister President of Hessen, Germany; Renate Kuenast, Minister of Consumer Protection, Food and Agriculture, Germany; Pearlette Louisy, Governor General of Saint Lucia; Jack McConnell, First Minister of Scotland; Enrique Múgica Herzog, Ombudsman of Spain; Zurab Nogaideli, Prime Minister of Georgia; Juergen Ruettgers, Minister President of Nordrhein-Westfahlen, Germany; Konstantin Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, Director of Rothschild Spain; Otto Schily, Former Minister of Interior of Germany; Renate Schmidt, Minister for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth; Heide Simonis, Minister President of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany; Peter Struck, Former Minister of Defense, Germany; Vasile Tarlev, Prime Minister of the Republic of Moldova, and Brigitte Zypries, Minister of Finance of Germany.

Nobel Prizes:
Alexei A. Abrikosov, Nobel Prize Laureate in Physics 2003; Paul Berg, The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 1980; Leon N. Cooper, The Nobel Prize in Physics 1972; Johann Deisenhofer, The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 1988; Robert F. Engle, The Nobel Prize in Economics 2003; Nadine Gordimer, The Nobel Prize in Literature 1991; David Gross, Nobel Prize Laureate in Physics 2004; H. Robert Horvitz, The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2002; Robert Huber, The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 1988; Harry M. Markowitz, The Nobel Prize in Economics 1990; Douglass C. North, The Nobel Prize in Economics 1993; Yuan T. Lee, The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 1986; Douglas D. Osheroff, The Nobel Prize in Physics 1996; John C. Polanyi, The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 1986; Irwin Rose, The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2004; Bert Sakmann, The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1991; Paul A. Samuelson, The Nobel Prize in Economics 1970; Thomas Schelling, The Nobel Prize in Economics 2005; Myron S. Scholes, The Nobel Prize in Economics 1997; Bishop Desmond Mpilo Tutu, The Nobel Peace Prize 1984, and Jody Williams, The Nobel Peace Prize 1997

Mayors and Governors:
Carlos Alvarez, Mayor of Miami, USA; Alfonso Alonso Aranegui, Mayor of Vitoria Gasteiz, Spain; Phil Bateman, Mayor of Wolverhampton, United Kingdom; Juan del Granado Cosio, Mayor of La Paz, Bolivia; Paco Moncayo Gallegos, Mayor of Quito, Ecuador; Alain Juppé, Mayor of Bordeaux, France; Fabienne Keller, Mayor of Strasbourg, France; Petra Roth, Mayor of Frankfurt, Germany; Joe Mitchinson, Mayor of Gateshead, United Kingdom; Karlheinz Ospelt, Mayor of Vaduz, Liechtenstein; Kerry Prendergast, Mayor of Wellington, New Zealand, and Darren Ray, Mayor of Port Phillip, Australia.

The World Remembered Wallenberg on the 61st Anniversary of his Disappearance. The 61st. anniversary of the disappearance of the ”Hero without a Grave” was remembered in Buenos Aires with the attendance of approximately one hundred people, summoned by the International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation. Read the report

Holocaust Remembrance Day for the Greek Jewry. Under the auspices of the Consulate General of Greece in New York, The American Sephardi Federation with the Sephardi House, The American Friends of the Jewish Museum of Greece, and The Hellenic-American Chamber of Commerce, The International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation marked the commemoration of Holocaust Remembrance Day for the Greek Jewry, as designated by the Greek Parliament, the European Union, and the United Nations, in a ceremony attended by 400 guests. Read the article

Exhibition ”Ein Visum furs Leben.” The opening of the exhibition ”Ein Visum furs Leben” (Visas for Life), of the Israel Foreign Ministry, took place on January 26th at the Vaterunser Kirche in Berlin, Germany. Pastor Annemarie Werner, leader of the congregation, and Baruch Tenembaum, founder of the International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation, hosted the event. Read the report

The International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation Now in Chinese Territory. The International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation has developed new representation in China. Xu Xin, professor of the Department of Religious Studies/Department of Philosophy and Director of the Center for Jewish Studies at Najing University, has graciously accepted the offer as representative of the new development in China. Read the article

Saviors On The Screen: Holocaust Day Memorial Film Marathon. From April 24th to April 25^th, the Jewish Community Center and the International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation presented ”Saviors on the Screen,” a Holocaust Memorial Film Marathon. A diverse audience that included students and survivors attended the screenings of four films that depicted the Holocaust through the rescuers’ perspective. Read the article

Screening of ”Journey to Jerusalem.” The Jewish Community Center and the International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation presented ”Journey to Jerusalem,” which narrates the story of two German children escaping the Nazi regime and arriving safely in Jerusalem with help from Bulgarians. The film is determined to educate the audience about the Bulgarian involvement with the saving of more than 50,000 Jews during World War II. The screening of the film was part of the Bulgarian – American Festival for the Arts and Culture. Read the article

The Wallenberg Foundation pays tribute to five Saviors of World War II. The IRWF honored five Saviors of Portuguese speaking countries, together with the Consulates of Portugal and Brazil in New York, on Holocaust Remembrance Day. The homaging ceremony took place on Wednesday, April 26th at the Brazilian Consulate. Read the article

Eduardo Propper de Callejón Honored by the IRWF. In conjunction with the Instituto Cervantes and the Spanish Consulate in New York, the IRWF paid tribute to Diplomat and savior of the Holocaust Eduardo Propper de Callejón at the Institute’s branch in New York City. The event had a tremendous turnout with approximately 180 people in attendance. Read the Article

Catholic Saved Thousands During Holocaust. In honor of Father Marie Benoit’s actions to save thousands of lives during the Holocaust, the IRWF sponsored a mass on December 1st, the fortieth anniversary of Benoit’s designation as a ”Righteous Among the Nations,” at St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church. Members of the IRWF gathered in the Church’s Hall afterward to greet guests and provide further information on Holocaust saviors. Read the article

Wallenberg’s Birthday Commemorated in New York. The International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation celebrated Raoul Wallenberg’s 94th birthday with a series of activities around the world. In New York, two different events were planed to commemorate such a special occasion. On Friday August 4th, friends and volunteers of the IRWF gathered to place flowers at the Hope monument. Some of the visitors included Agnes Adachi, a woman saved by Wallenberg; Lars Ostling and Helen Daun Rosengren, Consul for Economic and Commercial Affairs and Information Officer of the Consulate of Sweden; as well as Baruch Tenembaum and Elin Borg, the founder and a Swedish volunteer of the International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation, among many others. Read the article

Child’s Day in the Raoul Wallenberg Center. Child’s Day was celebrated in Argentina on August 13th. On the occasion the Wallenberg Foundation visited the Wallenberg Center located in ”La Juanita” neighborhood in Gregorio de Laferrere, headquarters of the Movimiento de Trabajadores Desocupados de La Matanza (Unemployed Workers Movement of La Matanza), a non-governmental organization led by Toty Flores and Soledad Bordegaray. Read the article

Minister of Culture Remembers Raoul Wallenberg. The ceremony organized by the IRWF took place on August 4th, in Buenos Aires. The event markrd the 94th anniversary of thr diplomat’s birth. The tribute took place next to the statue that commemorates the ”Hero without a Grave,” located on the corner of Figueroa Alcorta and Austria. Read the article

Congreswoman Remembers the Saviors of the Holocaust. On the 94th anniversary of Raoul Wallenberg’s birth, Member of Congress Elisa Carrió (ARI) remembered the Saviors of the Holocaust. The ceremony, organized by the International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation, took place at the Hannah Arendt Institute, a non-profit organization presided by Carrió.

Wallenberg Musical Performed in New York. A staged reading of the musical Wallenberg was presented to a full house on Sunday, September 17th and Wednesday, September 20th as part of the 2006 New York Musical Theater Festival. Based on the true story of Raoul Wallenberg, the musical has a book and lyrics by Laurence Holzman and Felicia Needleman, the 2006 winners of the prestigious Kleban Award, and a musical score by Benjamin Rosenbluth. The production is directed by Emmy Award winner Annette Jolles.

The Wallenberg Foundation Greets Pope Benedicto XVI. A delegation of the International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation (IRWF), led by its founder Baruch Tenembaum, greeted Pope Benedict XVI on September 27th at the Vatican. On the occasion, the Pontiff was presented with the educational program ”Father Alfonso Durán.” Read the article

Campaigns

Letters to President Vladimir Putin. The International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation reached out to its some 200 members, who include Heads of State and Nobel Laureates, and to all individuals urging them to send letters to the President of Russia, Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, asking him to resolve Raoul Wallenberg’s mystery. Within a few weeks, copies of letters sent to the office in Russia have been received at the foundation’s offices, including one signed by the Presidente of Croatia, Stepan Mesic, who urged his Russian coleague to give closure to the mystery. Read the article

Putin Received over 22,000 Requests to Liberate a Prisioner. The International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation presentd a 425 pages document with the interim result of their signature campaign to President Vladimir Putin, as well as to other leaders around the world and the United Nations. The ongoing ”100,000 Names for 100,000 Lives” campaign has already accumulated over 22,000 signatures in an effort to solve the mystery of Raoul Wallenberg. Read the Article

Wallenberg Day in the United States. The state of Michigan proclaimed October 5th as Raoul Wallenberg Day, signed by Governor Jennifer M. Granholm, following a campaign launched by the International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation. Governor of Maine John E. Baldacci and Governor of Illinois Rod R. Blagojevich also joined the campaign in memory of the Swedish diplomat’s humanitarian efforts to save tens of thousands of lives in Hungary during World War II. Read the Article

Raoul Wallenberg Day in Buenos Aires. On September 14, the Buenos Aires City Congress passed a law proclaiming August 4th as ”Raoul Wallenberg Day.” For the first time in South America, a capital city dedicates one of the calendar days to remember the deeds of the diplomat that saved tens of thousands of lives during the Holocaust. Read the article

Educational Initiatives

Tribute to Raoul Wallenberg in New York. Agnes Adachi, who aided WW II hero Raoul Wallenberg, spoke to students at the Raoul Wallenberg School, in Brooklyn, New York on January 24th. Adachi, 87, joined members of the IRWF in a unique commemoration of the ”Hero without a Grave,” who was captured by the Soviets on January 17th, 1945. Read the report

Holocaust Day Seminar. The Raoul Wallenberg Foundation was invited to speak at the Holocaust Program organized by The Israel America Foundation. Abigail Tenembaum talked about the Saviors phenomena before an audience of about 60 men and women, many of them survivors of the Holocaust. The seminar was held at the Workmen’s Circle in Manhattan. Other speakers included survivor Simon Taylor and filmmaker Gabriela Moraru, as well as excerpts of the film ”Unsung Heroes” about Jewish people who saved Jews from the Nazi regime. The seminar concluded with the lighting of 6 candles in remembrance of the 6 million Jewish people who perished during the war.

Ben Olander’s Inspirational visit to New York City. Ben Olander, a renowned Swedish folk singer, educated many students during his visit to New York City. In association with the International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation, Ben featured two schools a day for four consecutive days spreading Holocaust awareness to children as young as eight years old to young adults as old as twenty-one years of age. His message was clear, concise, and riveting, guiding students towards one united goal: to be kind to others, to be accepting of the people who appear different, and to stand up for what we believe in, constantly fighting against evil. Read the article

Folk Artist Returns Home to Promote Understanding Through Song. After completion of his inspirational and successful tour of New York City schools, renowned Swedish folk artist Ben Olander brough his lectures back to his home country of Sweden under the auspices of the International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation. Olander gave presentations in schools and government institutions around Sweden through November.

Wallenberg at School Educational Program. Rabbi Dario Bialer represented the IRWF at the ”International Congress for Leadership, Creativity, and New Trends in the Classroom.” The event took place in Argentina before hundreds of educators, scholars, school principals, and education professionals from Latin America. Rabbi Bialer lectured on the educational programs developed by the Wallenberg Foundation.

Educators Distinguished. The ”Wallenberg at School” educational program marked its fourth year since it was instated. To close the year’s intense cycle of activities, the team of volunteers working for the International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation met on December 28th at the premises of the institution to make a toast. Read the article

Awards

President of Croatia Received Wallenberg Award. In a ceremony attended by high dignitaries, the International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation (IRWF) presented Mr. Stjepan Mesic, President of Croatia, with the Raoul Wallenberg Award 2006 for his concern for the fate of Raoul Wallenberg and other saviors of the Holocaust. The event was held at the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Croatia to the United Nations during President Mesic’s visit to New York to attend the General Assembly. Read the article

Wallenberg Foundation Receives Accolade in Buenos Aires. On September 23rd, the ”Biblioteca Popular Madre Teresa” (Mother Teresa Popular Library) presented the IRWF the ”National Award Mother Teresa,” for its efforts aiming at ”building up bonds of friendship, justice and memory among peoples, in the search of the truth and the importance of dignity of human being, as well as for developing and spreading educational projects, promoting solidarity and citizen courage values, like the Holocaust Saviors did”. Read the article

Governor Blanco Gives Special Recognition to IRWF. Governor of Luisiana Kathleen Babineaux Blanco signed an official statement recognizing the International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation in acknowledgement of the 61st anniversary of Raoul Wallenberg’s disappearance. Read the article

Wallenberg Foundation’s Founder Received Polar Star. King Carl XVI Gustaf from Sweden decided to grant the recognition to Argentine Baruch Tenembaum. The award recognizes the contribution made by the founder of the Raoul Wallenberg International Foundation to keep alive the memory of the Swedish diplomat who saved tens of thousands of people persecuted by Nazism. This distinction also rewards Mr. Tenembaum’s efforts for fostering dialogue among different religions. The Order was presented by Arne Rodin, Swedish Ambassador in Argentina. Read the article