The first day of the conference, which was opened to the public at large, drew a multi-faceted audience. Besides the regular attendants, academicians and students from Istanbul, a significant number of students and scholars from Slovenia, Greece and Cyprus attended the event, together with representatives of NGO’s and corporations.

The keynote speaker of the conference was Dr. Donna Hicks, from Harvard University and the conference focused on building bridges between Turkey, Greek Cyprus, Turkish Cyprus and Greece.

The two-day workshop that followed involved students from all four backgrounds:
Greek – Cypriot Greek – Cypriot Turk -Turk

The workshop originated 23 ideas on how to proceed with dialogue, creating an atmosphere of respect and dignity between the participants from all the aforementioned backgrounds.

A series of quantitative surveys conducted after the event, amongst Greek-Cypriots attendants and the Turkish Cypriots counterparts show that 22 % of the participants think the problem between both communities is emotional, 29 % political and historical (separately), 11 % economic and 9 % religious.

65 % of the participants stated that the current leadership in their country did not do enough things to improve the situation, 10 % think the current leadership did few things, 16 % think that the leadership did some things and 5 % believe that the current leadership did many things in the last two year.

Similarly, qualitative surveys show that most of the participants from both communities think that the problem can be resolved by furthering inter-communal relations.

These very encouraging results will be an incentive to continue with the IRWF’s Building Bridges Initiative.

Ms. Lynch, principal of the Raoul Wallenberg School, opened the assembly by narrating the story behind the naming of the school and the selection of Raoul Wallenberg as its name. She highlighted the Swedish diplomat’s values and humanitarianism as concepts worth passing upon a young generation of students.

Ms. Abigail Tenembaum, Vice President of the International Wallenberg Foundation, brought up an analogy between super heroes such as Spider Man and real heroes like Raoul Wallenberg. Ms. Agnes Adachi, who was saved by Raoul Wallenberg and helped him in the rescue of other persecuted people, was also present and shared her stories with the audience. Congressman Anthony D. Weiner sent a representative to say a few words on his behalf and express his admiration for the school’s work.

The performance included a song about Raoul Wallenberg composed by Marian Levy and other pieces that reflect Wallenberg’s legacy and traditions. The Swedish diplomat’s story was recited between songs by the students.

”We are moved by the activities organized by IRWF which reflect Raoul Wallenberg as a true role model who made a reality the words of Mother Teresa of Calcuta: ” We should give and make good till it hurts”, said Eduardo Raul Burattini, Chairman of the library.

On behalf of the Wallenberg Foundation Silvia Stisman and Rodrigo Rendo, coordinators of the educational project ”Wallenberg at School”, received the award, a statuette made by artist Marta Grimaldi. ”We spread among our readers many articles and reports published on the IRWF website”, said Ana Colombro, General Secretary of the library.

Translation: Graciela Forman

A portrait of Wallenberg, painted by renowned Mossad agent Peter Malkin, the man who captured Eichmann, was donated to the school. Malkin, who died in 2005, wrote, ”The hands that caught Eichmann, the same hands drew Wallenberg,” in the dedication of the painting to the Wallenberg Foundation.

In her speech, Abigail Tenembaum, Vice President of the Foundation, highlighted Wallenberg’s humanitarian qualities and encouraged the children to see the super hero real people. Mr.s Adachi, a Hungarian Jewish woman who lived in Budapest during the Second World War, who not only was she able to meet and be saved by Raoul Wallenberg, but who also aided him in the rescue of so many of the lives that he had saved, shared her experiences with the children, teachers and parents. She underlines the importance of understanding among people with Wallenberg’s own words ”I am color blind and religious blind”.

During the assembly, a children’s chorus sang in honor to Wallenberg, among the music selection the sang a special song in honor of the hero composed by Marian Levy, the music department teacher. Mary Zissler-Lynch, the school principal, and Keisha Stevens, the parents coordinator, were instrumental in the organization of the event. The Wallenberg school and the Wallenberg Foundation are hoping to collaborate again next year to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the naming of the School after the Swedish diplomat.

Other events and commemorations have been taking place throughout the country to commemorate the 61st anniversary of Wallenberg’s disappearance. In Boardman, Ohio, a commemoration held at Ohev-Tzedek, Rabbi Joel Berman made a congregation of Sha’arei Torah. Shalom Israel, a radio program in Miami, Florida, had a commemoration hour, featuring Mr. Glanz and Jose Weiss, a Holocaust survivor saved by Raoul Wallenberg. And in New York, two commemoration ceremonies have commenced: the first was at the Edmond J. Safra Synagogue lead by Rabbi Elie Abadie, M.D.; and the second was at the Village Temple, congregation B’nai Israel lead by Rabbi Chava Koster.

Raoul Wallenberg is known for his courageous efforts in the rescue aid of over 100,000 lives during the Second World War in Budapest, Hungary. After completing his triumphant feat, he was arrested by the Soviets and never to be heard from again.

City College students had the opportunity to listen to Judith Saly’s story of survival during a touching evening on April 13, 2005, while Columbia students gladly received Agnes Adachi on April 20th, 2005.

As a young Hungarian Jew, Judith Saly was not allowed to marry John, her non-Jewish boyfriend, but decided to follow him anyhow. When he heard about Raoul Wallenberg’s presence in Budapest, John offered him his help and Judith moved to one of the Safe Houses were she was protected from Nazi persecutions.

Agnes Adachi’s vast knowledge of foreign languages was a great help to Raoul Wallenberg and the Swedish delegation in Budapest. She became one of Wallenberg’s helpers typing protective passports Schult-pazz and even saving people thrown into the Danube alive.

The film ”Raoul Wallenberg: Buried Alive”, a documentary about the Swedish diplomat who saved 100,000 in Hungary during the Holocaust, contains a wealth of archival material that graphically shows the rise of the ruthless ”Arrow Cross Nazis” in Hungary. Astounding footage of ghetto pogroms and the enforced death marches are interwoven with interviews with survivors who owe their lives to Wallenberg, and those who have reported seeing him alive. The film won the Genie Award (Canadian Academy Award) for Best Theatrical Documentary in 1985.

Raoul Wallenberg disappeared in 1945, after being taken by the Soviets. ”In the year of the 60th anniversary of Raoul Wallenberg’s disappearance, it is important that Raoul Wallenberg’s example should be taught to a new generation of students.” said Baruch Tenembaum, founder of the IRWF.

The Foundation with branches in New York, Buenos Aires, Jerusalem and Caracas, is a non-profit organization, with the aim of promoting peace among nations and people, as well as developing educational projects based on concepts of solidarity, dialogue and understanding with the aim of rendering homage, promoting the message and remembering the actions of all those Heroes of the Holocaust who, like Raoul Wallenberg, risked their lives to save persecuted people during World War II.

For information about how to organize a screening in your educational or cultural institution, please contact the IRWF at 1 212 737 3275 or irwf@irwf.org.

Monday, March 14, 2006. 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.

His journey started at the Raoul Wallenberg School in Brooklyn where he captured the hearts and minds of hundreds of amazing fourth and fifth graders. By the end of his presentation, the students were so moved that they paid tribute to Ben Olander in a song about Raoul Wallenberg, written and composed by Ms. Marion Levy, the school’s music teacher. At the UN school, the students were equally engaged in the presentation. Mr. Olander accepted the more mature age of the students and presented a more graphic yet sententious speech. The audience gave Mr. Olander their fullest attention. By the end of the week, Ben attended the John V Lindsay Wildcat Academy Charter high school where these troublesome youths gave Mr. Olander his best audience. They were captivated by his presence and eager to hear his story. They asked questions, took pictures, and took some cds of his music to help become a part of spreading a message that Ben is so eager to relay.

Beyond his school-based presentations, Ben Olander also was given a chance to interview for several news affiliates. Steve Lipman of the Jewish Week held his most impressive interview. Mr. Olander was able to convey his purpose behind which his motivations come, all the while seeking acknowledgement for his humble deeds.

Ben Olander finds his motivation through the inspiration of his grandparents. They were Swedish resistance fighters during the Second World War, and when Ben was a child, he was educated through experience about the Holocaust and Raoul Wallenberg. The International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation considers it an honor to have hosted Mr. Olander through his visit to New York City and prides itself on being part of such a huge cause. The Foundation only hopes that they can be a part of the experience again in the future.

For more information about Ben Olander, Raoul Wallenberg, or the Foundation, please visit our website at www.raoulwallenberg.net.

Caroline Tubbs, teacher of Advanced Placement English Literature at Carthage High School in Carthage, Missouri, gave her students a project in order for them to gain an understanding of the worldwide impact of the Holocaust. For the project students Sara Stone and Samantha Pauley developed a website on Raoul Wallenberg. Stone said that through the project, she learned that it is important to not forget the Holocaust, though some may want to, otherwise history may repeat itself.

Raoul Wallenberg’s legacy and dedication to saving Jews and others persecuted by the Nazis is the core of the Wallenberg Foundation’s educational program which seeks to promote understanding of human dignity, liberty, justice and equality.

This issue caused surprise and astonishment amidst the participants who, at the same time, emphasized the civic courage of those, like the Wallenberg Foundation that had dedicated all its efforts to have this circular abolished in 2005. All those present agreed responsible actions were needed, so as to be able to change unjust and unequal situations which are still repeated in Latin America.

Translation: María Pensavalle