‘Diplomats of Mercy’ exhibit is open

The Kupferberg Holocaust Center at Queensborough Community College held a reception to usher in its new exhibit, “Diplomats of Mercy.” The exhibit honors diplomats from around the world who defied direct orders and withstood tremendous pressures, all in the name of justice. Because of their valiant efforts, many Jews were saved during the Holocaust.
“Diplomats of Mercy” opened to the public on Thursday, March 1 and can be viewed Monday to Thursday, from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Through a collage of photographs, documents and narratives, the exhibit sheds light on the extraordinary, and often overlooked, deeds of diplomats from around the world.
“As the Holocaust spread across Europe, its barbarity traumatized thousands of people,” Dr. Arthur Flug, Executive Director of the Kupferberg Center, said. “Yet there emerged in many countries diplomats who, at great risk to their careers, their families and even their lives and in opposition to their own government’s policies, mobilized their meager resources to save the lives of thousands of Jews slated to be murdered. This was not done out of financial gain or desire for public recognition, but out of a powerful belief in the dignity of the individual,” Flug said.
Six United Nations ambassadors from China, The Netherlands, Switzerland, El Salvador, Turkey and Sweden attended the reception on Tuesday, February 27, to accept certificates and pay tribute to their heroic predecessors and their selfless actions.
“It is our duty to remember the courage of the men and women from around the world during the Holocaust,” said Mehmet Samsar, ambassador from Turkey.
Finding humility in representing the heroic diplomat from his country, Anders Liden, ambassador from Sweden said, “The actions of these brave people proves to us that one person can make a huge difference.”
Frank Majoor, ambassador from The Netherlands found the experience humbling. “We must ask ourselves, what would we have done?” he said.
As the only Holocaust resource center in New York State, the Kupferberg Center takes great pride in presenting such a unique exhibit to the public. With a student body from over 135 countries, it is only appropriate that the college acknowledge the historical context of “Diplomats of Mercy.” “The Holocaust Center looks for subject matter that is not as well known in the Jewish community,” exhibit curator, Rabbi Isidoro Aizenberg, said.
“Tonight we celebrate and recognize that there are good people in this world,” said Queensborough Community College President, Eduardo J. Marti.
While the Holocaust is synonymous with stories of suffrage, it is important to know that there were those who took a stand against the horrific events of the time. In honoring the diplomats for their unheralded bravery, Rabbi Aizenberg said, “the message of ‘Diplomats of Mercy’ goes beyond the Jewish community. It speaks about justice and breaking the rules in order to save lives,” he said.