Congress Honors Holocaust Rescuers with Unanimous Passage of the Forgotten Heroes of the Holocaust Congressional Gold Medal Act

Congress Honors Holocaust Rescuers with Unanimous Passage of the Forgotten Heroes of the Holocaust Congressional Gold Medal Act

Edited by: Fern Sidman

In a rare display of bipartisan unity, Congress passed the Forgotten Heroes of the Holocaust Congressional Gold Medal Act on Wednesday, an act honoring 60 diplomats from around the world who risked their lives and careers to save Jews during the Holocaust. The legislation, introduced in January 2023, was championed in the House of Representatives by Reps. María Elvira Salazar (R-FL) and Ritchie Torres (D-NY) and in the Senate by Sens. Bill Hagerty (R-TN) and Tim Kaine (D-VA). With unanimous support, the bill now awaits the President’s signature to become law.

This historic legislation acknowledges the extraordinary courage and humanity demonstrated by diplomats who defied their governments’ policies and orders to shield Jews from Nazi persecution. Spearheaded by Project Legacy, founded by Ezra Friedlander, and supported by Abraham Foxman, the National Director Emeritus of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), this effort underscores a commitment to commemorating acts of moral bravery. Dr. Mordecai Paldiel, a preeminent scholar on Holocaust rescue efforts, served as the Academic Advisor for the initiative.

✅ The House PASSED my Forgotten Heroes of the Holocaust Congressional Gold Medal Act!@RepRitchie, @SenatorHagerty, and @SenTimKaine joined me on this legislation to ensure diplomats who used their positions to save Jewish lives during WWII are recognized for their bravery. pic.twitter.com/JQqQG0fvfv

— Rep. María Elvira Salazar (@RepMariaSalazar) December 5, 2024

The Forgotten Heroes of the Holocaust Congressional Gold Medal Act honors diplomats who used their positions, often at great personal and professional risk, to save Jewish lives during one of history’s darkest chapters. These individuals wielded the tools of diplomacy—passports, travel visas, and safehouses—to protect Jews fleeing Nazi atrocities. Many directly confronted Nazi authorities, placing their own safety and futures in jeopardy.

The diplomats’ efforts were instrumental in saving hundreds of thousands of Jews. They acted in defiance of their governments’ directives, demonstrating exceptional moral courage in the face of overwhelming evil. Their actions provided a beacon of hope and humanity during a time of unparalleled darkness.

Abraham Foxman, the chair of the Forgotten Heroes of the Holocaust Congressional Gold Medal Committee and a Holocaust survivor himself, delivered an impassioned statement reflecting on the importance of celebrating acts of goodness in the face of evil. “I decided a long time ago not to be a witness to the evil, to the brutality that men are capable of. I decided to bear witness to goodness, to decency, to compassion, to humanity,” Foxman said. He recounted his personal experience of being saved by his Polish Catholic nanny, Bronislawa Kurpi, emphasizing the vital importance of honoring those who risked everything to save Jewish lives.

Foxman’s words encapsulate the ethos of the legislation: to not only memorialize the horrors of the Holocaust but also to celebrate the extraordinary acts of bravery and compassion that emerged in its midst.

Art Reidel, co-chair of the Forgotten Heroes of the Holocaust Congressional Gold Medal Committee, emphasized the significance of this recognition in shaping the moral compass of future generations. “We must teach future generations not only about the evil that man inflicted on man but also the courage and heroism of a small number of decent, moral public servants—diplomats who frequently violated their own countries’ rules in order to save Jews,” Reidel said. His statement reflects a broader educational mission: to ensure that stories of heroism and decency are not overshadowed by the atrocities they countered.

The 60 diplomats honored by this act come from diverse nations and backgrounds, united by their shared defiance of Nazi policies and their governments’ often-complicit stances. They operated under constant threat, often facing the possibility of imprisonment or execution for their actions. By issuing fraudulent passports, sheltering Jewish families, and orchestrating escape routes, these individuals demonstrated a profound commitment to the values of humanity and justice.

“These diplomats risked their careers and their lives to help Jewish people flee Nazi persecution and the brutality of concentration camps,” said Rep. Torres. “I’m proud to be working in a bipartisan fashion and pass this measure to help honor those brave few souls who saved thousands of lives.”

One of the most striking examples includes the issuance of passports and travel visas in direct contravention of official orders, a practice that enabled countless Jewish families to escape Nazi-controlled territories. These acts of defiance were not merely bureaucratic decisions but life-saving interventions that required extraordinary moral resolve.

Senator Hagerty praised the passage of the legislation, emphasizing the enduring relevance of these diplomats’ sacrifices. “During a time of unimaginable darkness in the world, these diplomats went above their official obligations and beyond the call of duty to save the lives of so many,” Hagerty said. “Current and future generations of diplomats—and everyone else who hears their stories—can look to these men and women of courage and be inspired by their lives of heroism and sacrifice.”

Senator Kaine echoed this sentiment, reflecting on the universal duty to remember the Holocaust. “As living memory of the Holocaust fades with the passing of 80 years, it will soon be up to us to remember humanity’s capacity for evil alongside our capacity for empathy and courage,” Kaine said. He and Hagerty, neither of whom are Jewish, underscored the broader obligation of remembrance, stating, “The duty of remembrance isn’t on the Jewish community alone; it is on all of us.”

The bill’s passage also serves as a powerful response to rising anti-Semitism and Holocaust denial. Rep. Salazar emphasized the importance of honoring these heroes to preserve the truth and combat intolerance. “By passing this legislation, we will honor the memory of these heroes. We will preserve the truth of the Holocaust for current and future generations,” Salazar said. “We will continue to fight antisemitism in all its forms today. And we will help ensure the American people never forget what happened.”

As the bill heads to the President’s desk, it carries with it a message that resonates far beyond the halls of Congress. At a time when the lessons of history are increasingly subject to distortion, the Forgotten Heroes of the Holocaust Congressional Gold Medal Act stands as a testament to the enduring power of moral courage and human decency.

By awarding the Congressional Gold Medal—the highest civilian honor in the United States—to these diplomats, Congress affirms the importance of remembering not only the atrocities of the Holocaust but also the acts of heroism that resisted it. This legislation ensures that the legacy of these forgotten heroes is preserved and celebrated for generations to come.

The unanimous passage of the Forgotten Heroes of the Holocaust Congressional Gold Medal Act reflects a profound commitment to honoring the moral courage of those who risked everything to save lives during humanity’s darkest hour. As Abraham Foxman so eloquently stated, “It may be more important to celebrate goodness and human decency than to just condemn evil.” This act of Congress is a resounding affirmation of that principle, providing a vital lesson in the enduring capacity for compassion and courage in the face of unfathomable cruelty.

The list of diplomats honored posthumously in this legislation include: Per Anger (Sweden); Jose Maria Barreto (Peru); Lars Berg (Sweden); Philippe Bernardini (Vatican / Italy); Hiram (Harry) Bingham IV (United States); Friedrich Born (Switzerland); Manuel Antonio Muñoz Borrero (Ecuador); Carlos de Liz-Texeira Branquinho (Portugal); Eduardo Propper de Callejón (Spain); Samuel del Campo (Chile); Aracy Moebius Carvalho de Guimarães Rosa (Brazil); José Arturo Castellanos (El Salvador); Carl Ivan Danielsson (Sweden); Luis Martins de Souza Dantas (Brazil); Georg Ferdinand Duckwitz (Germany); Harald Feller (Switzerland); Francis (Frank) Foley (United Kingdom); Jean Edouard Friedrich (Switzerland); Carlos Almeida Afonseca de Sampaio Garrido (Portugal); Raymond Herman Geist (United States); Feng-Shan Ho (China); Constantin Karadja (Romania); Alexander Kasser (Sándor Kasza) (Sweden / Hungary); Elow Kihlgren (Sweden); Joseph Willem (Joop) Kolkman (Netherlands); Julius Kühl (Switzerland); Aleksander Ładoś (Poland); Valdemar Langlet (Sweden); Charles (Carl) Lutz (Switzerland); George Mandel-Mantello (El Salvador); Florian Manolio (Romania); Aristides de Sousa Mendes (Portugal); Salomon Jacob (Sally) Noach (Netherlands); Giorgio (Jorge) Perlasca (Spain / Italy); Ernst Prodolliet (Switzerland); Franjo Punčuch (Yugoslavia / Slovenia); Sebastián de Romero Radigales (Spain); Konstanty Rokicki (Poland); Angelo Giuseppe; Roncalli (Vatican / Italy); Angelo Rotta (Vatican / Italy); Albert Emile Routier (Turkey); Stefan Ryniewicz (Poland); Gilberto Bosques Saldívar (Mexico); José Ruiz Santaella (Spain); Ángel Sanz Briz (Spain); Abdol-Hossein Sardari (Iran); Henryk Slawik (Poland); Robert Smallbones (United Kingdom); Ján Spišiak (Slovakia); Chiune (Sempo) Sugihara (Japan); Ireanaeus Typaldos (Spain), Alexander (Sándor) Újváry (Vatican / Hungary); Selahattin Ülkümen (Turkey); Gennaro Verolino (Vatican / Italy); Vladimír Vochoč (Czech Republic); Ernst Vonrufs (Switzerland); Raoul Wallenberg (Sweden); Guelfo Zamboni (Italy); Peter Zürcher (Switzerland); and Jan Zwartendijk (Holland).