A memorial showcase and plaque to the victims of the Holocaust

On April 1998, on the first anniversary of the unveiling of the Memorial Mural to the Victims of the Holocaust inside the Metropolitan Cathedral of Buenos Aires, Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio paid tribute to the millions of people murdered by the Nazis. It was inaugurated by Cardinal Antonio Quarracino on 14 April 1997, following an idea of Baruch Tenembaum, founder of the International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation.

In a letter addressed to Tenembaum, dated 26 December 1997, only two months before his passing, Cardinal Quarracino wrote the following:

“It will soon be the first anniversary of the unveiling of this worthy monument within the Cathedral, before which I have invited all Jews to cover their heads if they wish to do so. The permanent site of emplacement of this Mural is to be close to the final resting place which I am hoping for inside the Cathedral, so that I may continue preaching for brotherhood as I have done all my life.”

“I have no doubt that once the time comes to succeed me, Archbishop Monsignor Jorge Bergoglio will continue the same road of reconciliation and fraternity with our elder brothers.”

The Mural, an impressive work of fine silversmith, is an unprecedented artistic monument in the history of the Jewish-Christian relations. Its dimensions are 1,80 mts. long by 1,20 mts. wide. It is composed of two glass panels between which are placed sheets of books of prayers rescued from the ruins of the Treblinka and Auschwitz concentration camps as well as the Warsaw ghetto. The work also pays tribute to those killed in the attacks on the Israeli Embassy in Buenos Aires (1992) and the AMIA Jewish Community Center building (1994). The Mural was unveiled by Nobel Peace Prize, Lech Walesa.

The visitor will probably be amazed when appreciating the Hebrew alphabet letters in Argentina’s main Catholic temple. Among the texts, those which illustrate a Hagadah of Pesach (ritual prayer book of the Jewish Easter), rescued from a concentration camp in the Toulouse area (France) in 1942, donated by Mrs. Myriam Kesler, daughter of one of the victims, can be appreciated. Those are the same characters which illustrate the only stamp with Hebrew letters ever issued in Argentina, launched in 1998 by the Correo Argentino postal service.

The tree of life, a Menorah (candelabrum), the Tables of the Law and the Star of David can be seen engraved in the four corners of the silver-wrought frame.

Following his wish, after the passing of Cardinal Quarracino the Mural was moved to the Virgen de Luján Chapel, where Quarracino is buried.

In 2004 a replica was inaugurated at the Vaterunser Kirche, Berlin.

On 1 November she visited the Shoah Memorial Mural installed inside the Evangelische Vaterunser Kirche in Berlin. Her hostess was Pastor Annemarie Werner, head of the congregation.

Mrs. Klarsfeld is the daughter of a Christian, German-born, regular Wehrmacht soldier. She lived in Germany during the Second World War. At the age of 21 she traveled to Paris to study and work. In 1963 she met Serge Klarsfeld whom through she joined the French intellectual milieu and became interested in the fate of the Jews during the Holocaust.

Serge Klarsfeld was born in Bucharest, Romania. He is a writer, historian and lawyer. His family moved to France at the beginning of the Second World War. In 1943, his father was arrested by the SS in a massive raid in the city of Nice, being deported to Auschwitz concentration camp, where he was murdered. Serge, with his mother and sister survived the war. He obtained a degree in advanced studies in history at the Sorbonne and in political science at the Institut d’Etudes Politiques de Paris.

The Mural, that was unveiled in 2004 in a moving interconfessional ceremony, is a replica of the one inaugurated in 1997 inside the Buenos Aires’ Cathedral.

Congressman Lantos did earn such a heroe’s farewell by his peers, countrymen, dignitaries and world celebrities.

He was a unique legislator in more than one sense. He had only one master: his passion for human rights.

Undoubtedly, the fact he was a Holocaust survivor whose life was saved by the Swedish diplomat Raoul Wallenberg, had a long-lasting impact on his personality and his career.

Lantos was committed to preserve the legacy of his savior and to fight any phenomenon that might lead to another Holocaust.

Tom Lantos died in his prime. In his 80 years, having accomplished an endless list of achievements, he remained as alert and passionate as a teenager. And yet, he died with an open wound: not knowing what has really happened to Raoul Wallenberg.

Together with Baruj Tenembaum – a distinguished Argentinean Jew devoted to multicultural and interconfessional dialogue, Tom was the co-founder of the International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation. In this capacity, he made a vast contribution to the educational programs of this NGO and strived to secure answers from the Russians about Wallenberg’s fate and whereabouts, following his abduction by the Soviet forces, 63 years ago.

Tom Lantos was a towering figure. The world shall remember him as a champion of human rights.

We, his friends at the International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation, shall remember him as a father, as a friend. We shall do our best to carry-on his message of love and peace.

Nieves Nasjleti
The International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation

Raoul Wallenberg, the Swedish diplomat who was abducted by the Soviets 63 years ago, has given us the gift of 100,000 lives. Each life is a whole world, but today we should focus on the remarkable life of Congressman Tom Lantos, who passed away a few days ago. Lantos, a Holocaust survivor, was one of the 100,000 lives saved by Wallenberg. Imagine the US Congress without Lantos. It would be fair to say that Lantos’ relentless and passionate struggle for the cause of human rights was inspired by his personal savior. The International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation, the NGO Lantos co-founded together with the Argentinian humanist Baruj Tenembaum has for a mission to develop educational programs based on the legacy of Wallenberg and to help secure answers about his fate and whereabouts. The void left by Tom cannot be measured, but we, his friends at the Foundation, shall do our utmost to keep his legacy alive.

Evelyne Noama
The International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation

Rep. Tom Lantos was a singular figure in the political landscape.

As a Holocaust survivor who was saved by the Swedish diplomat – Raoul Wallenberg, it would be fair to say that these two facts have marked his political lifelong path.

Tom Lantos was a relentless and passionate defender of human rights. He was similarly passionate when it came to educate the younger generations about the lessons of the Holocaust.

Some 10 years ago, together with his Argentinean friend, Baruj Tenembaum, Lantos has co-founded the International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation, an NGO devoted to preserve and divulge the corageous legacy of Raoul Wallenberg and the other saviors of the Holocaust.

Tom Lantos never forgot his debt to Wallenberg. Back in the 80’s he was responsible for sanctioning the bill that granted US honorary citizenship to his savior and more recently he was the first dignitary to sign our campaign – ”100,000 names for 100,000 lives” which demands from the Russians credible answers regarding the fate of Raoul Wallenberg, who was kidnapped by the Soviets, 63 years ago.

Lantos was also the driving force behind the special tribute paid by the US Congress to Baruj Tenembaum, for his lifelong contribution to dialogue and understanding beyond religion and cultural barriers.

Congressman Lantos died at the age of 80, but he was still young in spirit and fully committed to his just cause. Unfortunately, he did not live long enough to see Raoul Wallenberg back home.

Tom has left us a huge void which we shall try to fill. We are committed to pursue his struggle.

May he rest in peace.

Perla Vaisburg

The death of Congressman Lantos is leaving a huge void.

Lantos was a unique figure in the US Congress. A Holocaust survivor and anti-Nazi underground fighter who was saved by the Swedish diplomat – Raoul Wallenberg.

He never forgot the legacy of his savior, always embracing the causes in favor of human rights.

As a distinguished member of the International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation he was the first to sign our petition – ”100,000 names for 100,000 lives”, in which we demand from the Russian authorities clear and credible answers about the fate and whereabouts of Wallenberg, who after saving 100,000 lives, was abducted by the Soviets, never to be seen again.

We shall deeply miss our dear Tom Lantos, the human being and the friend who has helped us in our mission to preserve and divulge the sacred legacies of the saviors of the Holocaust.

May his memory be blessed.

Danny Rainer
The International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation

Tom Lantos was a champion of human rights.

It is fair to say that he was deeply influenced by Raoul Wallenberg, the Swedish diplomat who saved him from the Nazis, among other 100,000 Hungarian Jews.

Rep. Lantos never missed an opportunity to fight for human rights, and to instill into the younger generations the lessons of the Holocaust, while stressing the wonderful stories of the saviors.

He was a distinguished member of the International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation. As such, he has not only helped us in our educational programs, but was also instrumental in our struggle to find answers about the fate and whereabouts of Raoul Wallenberg, who disappearead 63 years ago.

We shall miss Tom Lantos dearly. Although he was 80 years old, his death was untimely. He had many more causes to fight for. We shall try to keep his legacy alive.

Prof. Jaime Krejner
The International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation

Rep. Tom Lantos was a unique figure in the US Congress and world politics at large. His passing leaves a huge void.

Lantos, a Holocaust survivor who fought the Nazis alongside the Hungarian resistance, was eventually saved by Raoul Wallenberg, the Swedish diplomat who granted life-worth visas to 100,000 Hungaria Jews and ended-up abducted by the Soviets, never to be seen again.

It would be quite fair to say that Lantos had been deeply influenced by his savior. Human rights were at the top of his agenda, regardless of the forces he had to confront.

At the same time, Tom Lantos never forgot his debt to Wallenberg.

Back in the early 80’s, he propelled the bill that granted US honourary citizenship to his saviour.

About 10 years ago, he co-founded, together with the Argentinean Baruj Tenembaum, the International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation, an NGO devoted to preserve and divulge the feats of Raoul Wallenberg and his likes.

Lantos was the first to sign our campaign – ”100,000 names for 100,000 lives”, which demands from the Russian authorities credible answers about the fate of Wallenberg.

A few years ago, he led the US Congress decision to award recognition to Baruj Tenembaum, for his lifelong humanitarian work.

In a sense, Lantos’ death was premature. He was as passionate as a 20 year-old person. Always full of plans and ready to give a good fight for just causes. On the other hand, he dreamt all his life to secure answers about the whereabouts of Raoul Wallenberg. Sadly enough, he died without getting them.

We, his friends and colleagues at the International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation, pledge to take on Lantos’ legacy.

We shall miss him dearly.

May he rest in peace.

Danny Rainer
Honourary Vice-President
The International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation
Jerusalem
Israel