How to become a hero

Ever since its establishment, the State of Israel took upon itself to remember the horrors of the Holocaust and transmit and perpetuate to future generations the memory of the victims. Israel has also set its highest moral commitment to commemorate those, who at the time of „absolute evil“ have demonstrated empathy with those who suffered persecution and anguish. As many of you know, the Knesset, the Israeli parliament, decided in 1953 to establish Yad Vashem the World Holocaust Remembrance Center. One of Yad Vashem´s principal duties is to convey the gratitude of the State of Israel and the Jewish people to non-Jews who risked their lives to save Jews during the Holocaust. This mission was defined by the law establishing Yad Vashem, and in 1963 the Remembrance Authority embarked upon a world-wide project to grant the title of Righteous Among the Nations to the few who helped Jews in the darkest time in their history. Yad Vashem grants the medal and a certificate of honor and their names are commemorated on the Mount of Remembrance in Jerusalem of Righteous Among the Nations on the basis of the following fundamental principles: 1) To non-Jews who during World War 2 saved the lives of Jews; 2) Who in doing so have risked their own lives; 3) Who have not received any financial or other compensation for their deeds. For this very reason we are here today. We are here to hon-or the memory of Stefan and Elisabeth Gyulai, who saved the lives of five members of the Fischer, Perl and Steiner families. The encounter of the two families here and now perpetuates the uppermost form of humanity shown in times of darkness, when pure righteousness was an exceptional phenomenon. Being an important factor in strengthening the unique ties between Israel and Italy, this moment is meaningful and very moving to me as an individual, too. Regretfully, in those years of awfulness in Europe not many men and women acted as honest and righteous human beings like the Gyulais, who decided to take action for a just case. They did so not for any personal benefit, but because of the sense of justice which prevailed in their hearts. Until today, Yad Vashem recognized 694 Righteous persons in Italy. Stefan and Elisabeth knew - like other righteous men and women who were recognized by Yad Vashem - that they could make a choice. They showed all of us that even one individual can make the difference. At the crossroads between good and evil they have chosen the good.