The Mid-Atlantic - Eurasia Business Council is delighted to invite you to a few events to recognize and celebrate the life and accomplishments of an often forgotten hero - Carl Lutz. His humanitarian action is considered the greatest civil rescue operation of Jews during the Holocaust. This year will mark the 80th anniversary of Carl Lutz’s great feat to save over 60,000 lives from the Holocaust during his tenure as Vice-Consul at the Swiss Embassy in Budapest.
This event series, which we initially introduced at the Summer 2019 International Business Networking Reception at the National Museum of Jewish History in Philadelphia, serves to honor Carl Lutz and numerous other diplomats from many nations who acted with bravery and courage in the Holocaust. Carl Lutz’s events are taking place in Philadelphia - the city where Carl Lutz served as Chancellor at the Swiss Consulate from 1926 to 1934. On March 30 & June 30, 2020,March 30, 2021, and October 23, 2022 we hosted public virtual & hybrid events showcasing the life and legacy of Carl Lutz and Diplomatic Rescue in the Holocaust. We hosted several excellent speakers, including City of Philadelphia, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania officials, U.S. Congresswoman from Pennsylvania & several international consuls and showed a recorded interview with Carl Lutz's stepdaughter, Agnes Hirschi. On October 23, 2022, the Mid-Atlantic - Eurasia Business Council and Jewish Genealogical and Archival Society of Greater Philadelphia co-hosted a hybrid event at Congregation Rodeph Shalom in Philadelphia showcasing the life and legacy of Carl Lutz and Diplomatic Rescue in the Holocaust, presented film "Dangerous Diplomacy", and held a discussion with the Co-Producers and Co-Directors of this documentary. Please find the links below to the "Dangerous Diplomacy" Film Sneak Peak presented during our program on Carl Lutz’ 125th Birthday.
From Summer 2024 – Fall 2025, we will continue to showcase the life and legacy of Carl Lutz and Diplomatic Rescue in the Holocaust through a variety of presentations. These events will take place both virtually and in-person at indoor and outdoor locations in Philadelphia, including the Mayor’s Reception Room in Philadelphia City Hall, Philadelphia Holocaust Memorial Plaza, and various universities and colleges in the Greater Philadelphia Area. We are planning to host international experts and guests including Agnes Hirschi, Carl Lutz’ stepdaughter and President of the Carl Lutz Society, and on August 18 - 22, 2024 we held an exhibit at the 44th IAJGS International Conference in Philadelphia. Then, we are planning the next hybrid event in Fall 2025.
For more information regarding the IAJGS conference, please click here.
For the pictures, please click here and select "Grid layout" located in the top right corner.
From December 2025 – Fall 2026, we will continue to showcase the life and legacy of Carl Lutz and Diplomatic Rescue in the Holocaust through a variety of presentations. These events will take place both virtually and in-person at indoor and outdoor locations in Philadelphia, including the Mayor’s Reception Room in Philadelphia City Hall, Philadelphia Holocaust Memorial Plaza, and various universities and colleges in the Greater Philadelphia Area. We held the "Visas for Life: The Righteous and Honorable Diplomats" exhibit at the Quaker Arch Street Meeting House in Philadelphia (320 Arch Street, PA 19106), which honored diplomats across nations who undertook heroic rescue efforts during the Holocaust. The exhibition will continue to culminate on March 30, the anniversary of Carl Lutz's birth and the centennial of his arrival in Philadelphia. We are planning to host international experts and guests including Agnes Hirschi, Carl Lutz’ stepdaughter and President of the Carl Lutz Society, have several hybrid events from December 17, 2025 – March 30, 2026, present the Forgotten Heroes of the Holocaust Congressional Gold Medal story, and to have a memorial in 2026, the 100th year anniversary of Carl Lutz' arrival in Philadelphia. For further information please see our flyer, agenda, PowerPoint, and press release. For the Visas For Life: The Righteous and Honorable Diplomats exhibition pictures, please click here and select "Grid layout" located in the top right corner.
Also, see Page 6 of the Jewish Exponent digital magazine for this article here.
The Mid-Atlantic - Eurasia Business Council and the Jewish Genealogical and Archival Society of Greater Philadelphia are proud to announce the successful opening of "Visas for Life: The Righteous and Honorable Diplomats," a powerful exhibition celebrating the heroic efforts of diplomats who risked their lives and careers to rescue tens of thousands during the Holocaust. The exhibition opened on December 17, 2025, at the historic Quaker community building, Arch Street Meeting House in Philadelphia and will re-open with the culminating events taking place on March 29-31, 2026, including the celebration of Carl Lutz's birthday and the centennial of his arrival in Philadelphia on March 30, 2026.
On March 29-31, 2026, we will host international experts and guests including Agnes Hirschi, Carl Lutz' stepdaughter and Honorary President of the Carl Lutz Society, and Consul General of Switzerland Ambassador Niculin Jager; feature hybrid and in-person events at indoor and outdoor locations in Philadelphia; present the Forgotten Heroes of the Holocaust Congressional Gold Medal story; discuss the Carl Lutz documentary "Dangerous Diplomacy" with its filmmakers; and to have a memorial in 2026, the 100th year anniversary of Carl Lutz' arrival in Philadelphia.
The culmination activities will include panels and exhibition on March 30, 2026. For more information, please see our flyer, agenda, and PowerPoint.
For additional information please contact us at (484) 467-7444 or via email info@ma-rbc.org. We eagerly anticipate your presence at "Carl Lutz and Diplomatic Rescue in the Holocaust" events!
Registration link
Carl Lutz Daughter, Agnes Hirschi, in Philadephia 2026
PRESS RELEASE
Philadelphia, PA - April 6, 2026
The Mid-Atlantic - Eurasia Business Council and the Jewish Genealogical and Archival Society of Greater Philadelphia hosted "Celebration of the Life and Legacy of Carl Lutz and Diplomatic Rescue in the Holocaust" on March 30, 2026 at the historic Quaker Arch Street Meeting House. The event marked the centennial of Carl Lutz's arrival in Philadelphia, where he served as Chancellor at the Swiss Consulate from 1926 to 1934, before orchestrating the largest diplomatic rescue operation of the Holocaust.
Carl Lutz, serving as Swiss Vice-Consul in Budapest from 1942 to 1945, is credited with saving over 60,000 lives through ingenious use of protective letters and the establishment of over 70 safe houses throughout Budapest. His courageous actions and those of his colleagues saved over half of Budapest's Jewish population from deportation to Nazi death camps.
This commemoration represented the culmination of many years of dedicated efforts to revive the names and stories of forgotten heroes of diplomatic rescue during the Holocaust. The event featured the extraordinary participation of Agnes Hirschi, Carl Lutz's daughter and Honorary President of the Carl Lutz Society, who at age 88 traveled from Switzerland to share personal memories of her father's courage and moral conviction.
The commemoration drew distinguished civic leaders, diplomats, families of Holocaust survivors, and community members, both in person and via livestream.
The program opened with remarks from Val Kogan, President of the Mid-Atlantic - Eurasia Business Council, and Mark Halpern, Vice President of the Jewish Genealogical and Archival Society of Greater Philadelphia, who emphasized the importance of preserving these rescue stories for current and future generations.
Welcoming remarks were delivered by a distinguished roster of civic and community leaders: Michael Newmuis, 2026 Director in the Office of Mayor Cherelle L. Parker, City of Philadelphia; Jennifer Gilburg, Deputy Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development; Jeffrey Lasday, Senior Chief of External Affairs at the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia; Zev Eleff, President of Gratz College; and Jennifer Gray, Education & Museum Manager at Arch Street Meeting House. The program also featured welcoming remarks from former U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania Bob Casey, who introduced the resolution honoring Carl Lutz five years ago.
The keynote presentations included three exceptional speakers who brought unique perspectives to Carl Lutz's legacy. Consul General Ambassador Niculin Jäger of the Consulate General of Switzerland in New York addressed the continued relevance of diplomatic courage. Agnes Hirschi shared personal memories of her father's character and the values that drove his heroic actions. Eric Saul, Founder and Executive Director of Visas for Life and the Institute for the Study of Rescue and Altruism in the Holocaust (ISRAH), provided historical context on Lutz's rescue operations and the broader network of diplomat-rescuers. Rabbi Andrew Baker, Director of International Jewish Affairs at the American Jewish Committee, delivered a special presentation introduced by Marcia Bronstein, Regional Director of AJC Philadelphia/SNJ. Other speakers included Sophie Don, Executive Director of the Philadelphia Holocaust Remembrance Foundation, and Dr. Walter Reich, Yitzhak Rabin Memorial Professor of International Affairs, Ethics and Human Behavior at The George Washington University, who explored the moral dimensions of rescue and resistance.
A powerful segment of the program featured personal testimonies from descendants of both rescuers and rescued families. Carol Moskot, granddaughter of László and Elizabeth Braun, saved by Carl Lutz, and Eveline Shekhman, CEO of the American Jewish Medical Association and granddaughter of survivors from Lithuania, shared family stories that brought the human impact of diplomatic rescue to life. Eric Saul provided historical context throughout this segment, highlighting the Congressional Gold Medals awarded to diplomats who saved lives during the Holocaust.
The evening concluded with a screening of "Dangerous Diplomacy," a documentary chronicling Carl Lutz's life and daring rescue activities in Budapest. Filmmaker Bryan Boorujy, Owner/Producer of Visual Legacy Productions, was present to discuss the film and answer questions.
The event was held in conjunction with the "Visas for Life: The Righteous and Honorable Diplomats" exhibition, which has been on display at the Quaker Arch Street Meeting House. The exhibition celebrates the heroic actions of more than 380 diplomats from over 40 countries who risked their lives and careers to save persecuted people during the Holocaust. Eric Saul, the author of the exhibition, provided essential remarks and answered audience questions. The exhibition will be extended through July 2026 at Congregation Mikveh Israel, 44 N 4th Street, Philadelphia.
Following this series of commemorative events, the focus of further efforts will be on creating a permanent memorial in Philadelphia honoring Carl Lutz and the diplomatic rescue during the Holocaust. This monument will ensure that these forgotten heroes take their rightful place in the memorial landscape of the city where Carl Lutz began his distinguished diplomatic career.
For more information, please see agenda and PowerPoint. For further information please visit https://ma-rbc.org/Carl_Lutz.html For additional information, please contact Val Kogan, Mid-Atlantic - Eurasia Business Council, e-mail: val@ma-rbc.org, tel: (484) 467-7444.
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