05/07/2024
Hi everyone, President gave a moving speech today, broadcast across the world. It starts at the 51:39 mark (video here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5ZwN7ukzn0) and I copied down his words below:
My dear friend Elie Weisel said quote “one person of integrity can make a difference”. You have to remember that now more than ever.
Here in Emancipation Hall in the US Capitol, among the towering statues of history is a bronze bust of Raoul Wallenberg. Born in Sweden as a Lutheran he was a businessman and a diplomat. While stationed in Hungary during World War II he used diplomatic cover to hide and rescue about 100,000 Jews over a six-month period. Among them was a 16-year old Jewish boy who escaped a N**i labor camp.
After the war ended, that boy received a scholarship from the Hillel Foundation to study in America. He came to New York City penniless but determined to turn his pain into purpose along with his wife, also a Holocaust survivor. He became a renowned economist and foreign policy maker, eventually making his way to this very capital on the staff of a first-term senator. That Jewish refugee was Tom Lantos, and that Senator was me. Tom and his wife Anette and their family became dear friends to me and my family. Tom would go on to become the only Holocaust survivor to be elected to Congress where he became a leading voice on civil rights and human rights around the world.
Tom never met Raoul who was taken prison by the Soviets never to be heard from again. But through Tom’s efforts Raou’s bust is here in the capital. He was also given honorary US citizenship, only the second person ever after Winston Churchill.
The Holocaust Museum here in Washington is located on the road in Raoul’s name. The story of the power of a single person to put aside our differences to see our common humanity. To stand up to hate and its ancient story of resilience from immense pain, persecution to find hope, purpose, and meaning in life. We try to live and share with one another.
That story endures. Let me close with this. I know these days of remembrance fall on difficult times. We all do well to remember these days also fall during the month we celebrate Jewish American heritage. A heritage that stretches from our earliest days to enrich every single part of American life today. Great Jewish American named Tom Lantos used the phrase “the veneer of civilization is paper thin. We are its guardians and we can never rest.” My fellow Americans we must - we must - be those guardians. We must never rest. We must rise against hate, meet across the divide, see our common humanity. And G-d bless the victims and survivors of the Shoah. May the resilient hearts, the courageous spirit, and the eternal flame of the Jewish people forever shine their light on America and around the world, pray G-d! Thank you all
President Biden is giving the keynote address at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum’s annual Days of Remembrance ceremony at the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday. The...
