Law Introduced by Williamsburg Congressmember Nydia Velazquez for Rabbi’s Weissmandl’s Heroic Rescue Efforts during WWII; Hopes for Passage in Senate
Brooklyn, NY – Rabbi Michoel Ber Weissmandl is posthumously slated for a Congressional Gold Medal in recognition of his acts of valor during World War II - https://velazquez.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/house-passes-vel-zquez-bill-honoring-hero-jewish-resistance-during. The gold medal is to be presented to the Weissmandl Committee on behalf of Rabbi Weissmandl in commemoration of his heroic activity during World War II when Rabbi Weissmandl was involved in major rescue operations saving tens of thousands of Jews.
It is expected that the Senate will pass this as well so that the award can become official. Much gratitude is due to Mr. Aron Fixler of the Weissmandl Committee, the force behind the efforts to commemorate Rabbi Wissmandl and Mr. Joel Klar who assisted in the Weissmandl Committee efforts.
Past endeavors by the Weissmandl Committee to commemorate Rabbi Weissmandl’s heroic efforts during WWII included a resolution passed through the efforts of Senator Simcha Felder and Assemblyman Joe Lentol. This led to the award of the Empire State Medal in Rabbi Weissmandl’s name issued by the NY State Legislature; and the naming, by former Councilman David Greenfield, of Rabbi Weissmandl Way now a part of 15th Avenue in Boro Park.
“I am very thankful to Representative Nydia Velázquez,” says Rabbi David Niederman, Executive Director and President of the UJO, “for her sponsorship and leadership in working to award the Congressional Gold Medal to commemorate the worthy activities of Rabbi Michoel Ber Weissmandl zt’l and generating so much support in getting it passed in Congress. I am looking forward to seeing it passed in the Senate as well. The world needs to know about this great hero who rescued so many while giving no thought to the risks he was taking with his own life. It is a kiddush Hashem to publicize this story. I express deep thanks to the devoted askanaim, including Rabbi Aron Fixler and his colleagues at the Weissmandl Committee for generating the necessary support for the process leading to the award of this medal.”
