Legacy and Lessons of the Holocaust

A few weeks ago, I’ve had the pleasure of being invited to a reception for Dr. Racelle Weiman of the Dialogue Institute at the Temple University in Philadelphia. This event, entitled The Legacy and Lessons of the Holocaust held at the Palm Grove at Rockwell was hosted by the Embassy of Israel and the Honorary Consular-General of Sweden. And there was a special significance for this occasion considering the tension happening at the Gaza strip during that time.

During the event, Dr. Weiman presented certain individuals who stood up, embraced the Jews and offered a safe haven for them during the time of the Nazi regime in Europe. One of them was President Manuel Quezon. For many Filipinos, history defines Pres. Quezon as the President of the Commonwealth. But not known to many is the fact that he opened the doors to fleeing Jews and provided them a safe place. And these efforts were only interrupted when World War II broke out. Other personalities that Dr. Weiman highlighted were Raoul Wallenberg, a Swedish diplomat who also saved tens of thousands of Jews and Jorge Bocobo, the President of the University of the Philippines who rallied to urge Filipinos to welcome Jews in the country. People tend to remember Hitler, the Nazis and the number of Jews who were killed. But it’s also important to know the people who managed to save the Jews during this time.

Nini Avanceña and Dr. Racelle Weiman

Dr. Weiman then offered suggestions like trying to figure out what happened to the descendants of the Freider brothers, who made the request to be sheltered here. She wondered. She also suggested having a Philippine counterpart of the Open Doors Monument at the municipality of Rishon L’zion in Israel. This monument was erected to remember the close relations between the Philippines and Israel but there’s not a similar monument or structure here in the Philippines to remind the Filipinos of this relationship.

The presentation didn’t serve to judge or condemn anyone but rather emphasize the goodness in humanity regardless of culture, race or nationality. And this made this event very relevant going beyond Philippine-Israel relations and applicable also to other aspects of life.

Former First Lady, Rep. Imelda Marcos, several foreign dignitaries, government officials, members of the Jewish community and also descendants of Pres. Manuel Quezon led by his daughter Nini Avanceña were present during the reception. I’d like to thank the Embassy of Israel especially Yaniv Revach for inviting me to this enlightening evening that further strengthened the friendship between the Philippines and Israel.