Nominations for the 2022 “Simon Wiesenthal Prize” have been confirmed. The prizes for Civil Society Engagement Against Anti-Semitism and for Holocaust Education, worth a total of €30,000, will be awarded on March 13, 2023. The winners will only be announced at this event in Parliament. The information was released by the press service of the Parliamentary Directorate in a broadcast on Thursday. The prize, launched in 2021 on the initiative of the President of the National Council, Wolfgang Sobotka, is awarded annually to up to three people or groups of people.
The account of the proposed eyewitness experiences is the most impressive and most important testimony in dealing with the Holocaust and in the commitment against anti-Semitism. The following will be honored at this year’s event: Wanda Albiska (Poland), Lucia Heilman (Austria), Tswi Herschel (Israel) and Jackie Young (Great Britain).
263 applications from 33 countries around the world were submitted to the National Fund, including national and European projects, as well as applications from Israel, USA, Argentina, Peru and South Africa. Sobotka emphasized that these are many strong signals around the world in the fight against anti-Semitism and for Holocaust education.
Jury President Katharina von Schnurbein, Commissioner for Anti-Semitism at the European Commission, also recognized the initiatives presented: “The commitment of civil society against anti-Semitism and for the commemoration of the Shoah cannot be underestimated.” It takes a lot of time, assertiveness and staying power.
Grand Prize Nominations
Four initiatives were nominated this year for the main prize for civil society engagement against anti-Semitism and for education about the Holocaust (with 15,000 euros). The Spanish village “Castrillo Matajudios”, which means “Killing Field of Jews”, officially changed its name after a referendum and the approval of the regional government back to the name Castrillo Mota de Judios (“Camp of the Hill of the Jews”) used before 1632.
The “LIKRAT” peer dialogue project brings together Jewish and non-Jewish youth. In workshops and seminars, young Jews (14 to 18 years old) are trained to attend non-Jewish schools and tell about their Jewish identity, religion, Israel, Jewish history and the Shoah. The jury explained that stereotypical perceptions can be broken and taboos and misunderstandings resolved.
The Swedish Committee Against Anti-Semitism has been working to prevent and combat anti-Semitism through information and education for 25 years. The independent NGO is one of the few organizations dealing with the issue in Sweden.
Zikaron BaSalon (“Remembrance in the Living Room”) is an Israeli initiative that invites individuals into their living rooms and gives Shoah survivors the opportunity to share memories and pass on experiences. This creates an environment that often allows survivors to talk about their memories for the first time.
Commitment against anti-Semitism
The “Association for Democracy and Information DEIN eV” was nominated for the Civil Society Commitment Award against Anti-Semitism (worth €7,500). He has been involved in the fight against anti-Semitism, historical distortion and hate propaganda since 2017. Nominees also include the European “Janusz Korcazk Academy” – a Jewish educational institution in Germany – and Professor Mohammed S. Dajani, who makes a significant contribution to historical consciousness.
Education about the Holocaust
Waltraud Barton, among others, was nominated for civil society’s commitment to Holocaust education (endowed with €7,500). The “IM-MER” association founded by Barton set out to preserve the memory of the more than 10,000 Austrians who were deported to Minsk and Maly Trostinec during World War II and murdered in the Minsk area.
The association for active commemoration and culture of memory and the association for second witnesses were also recommended by the jury. The second witness concept sensitizes people to anti-Semitism and racism. Young people in particular should be encouraged to share life stories as second witnesses.
Simon Wiesenthal (1908-2005) shaped acceptance of the crimes of National Socialism around the world. From the day he was released from the Mauthausen concentration camp, he made it his life’s work to honor the victims of Nazi terror. The award aims to honor the memory of the architect, publicist and writer. It is linked to the National Fund of the Republic for the Victims of National Socialism. (Information: www.wiesenthalpreis.at)
Source: catpress