Tonight, the Embassy of Israel, in partnership with Yad Vashem: World Holocaust Center, Jerusalem, will host the first ever ceremony in the United States posthumously honoring four Righteous Among The Nations. The event, which will take place at the Embassy of Israel in Washington D.C., will include remarks by President Obama.
Set to coincide with International Holocaust Remembrance Day, the reception will honor two American and two Polish citizens. This is the first ceremony of its kind to be held in the United States. The families of the four honorees will be in attendance, along with many other distinguished guests.
The designate Righteous Among The Nations is an official title awarded by Yad Vashem on behalf of the State of Israel and the Jewish people to non-Jews who risked their lives to save Jews during the Holocaust. At the ceremony, the efforts of Roddie Edmonds, Lois Gunden, and Walery and Maryla Zbijewski will be formally recognized.
Ambassador Ron Dermer: “It is a great privilege to recognize, on behalf of the Jewish state, the heroism of those to whom the Jewish people owe the highest debt of gratitude. I also deeply appreciate President Obama’s acceptance of our invitation to speak at this historic event. It will be a worthy tribute to the worthiest among us.”
The events will be livestreamed at https://youtu.be/lMjDYWdRnsk from 5.45pm today.