Dear Ladies and Gentlemen,

On this mournful day for all of us, I would like to express my most sincere condolences for the loss of Simon Wiesenthal, an outstanding person and public activist. He was an extraordinary man, a committed fighter against racism, xenophobia and any manifestations of anti-Semitism who devoted his life to tracing Nazi criminals who had escaped punishment. He was called “Nazi hunter”. Due to his efforts many Nazi criminals got just punishment for their dreadful actions.

Simon Wiesenthal is a well-known writer, architect, publicist and Talmudist. He was awarded numerous decorations and medals by many countries. He can be truly called the Man of the World who consecrated his life to fighting against Fascism in order to prevent Auschwitz, Treblinka and Majdanek from happening ever again and to severely punish the criminals. So that peoples could live together in peace and that they never forget about the atrocious crimes of the World War II, about all innocent people and six millions of Jews killed by the Nazi regime. His cause is continued by his companions and followers, there is no limitation period for crimes against humanity!

Together with the world public, we bewail the grievous loss. I would like to convey my condolences to the family of Simon Wiesenthal. He will forever remain in our memories and in the memory of the entire humankind as a man who devoted his life to honoring the memory of others and fighting for justice, peace and concord.

Zakher tzadik livrakha.

Moshe Kantor
Chairman of the European Jewish Congress Board of Governors,
President of the World Holocaust Forum foundation