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 August 2024 – Summer 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 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, and present and exhibit at the 44th IAJGS International Conference in Philadelphia on August 18 - 22, 2024. Then, we are planning the next hybrid event on Spring 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 Spring 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 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 Spring 2025 – March 30, 2026, present the Forgotten Heroes of the Holocaust Congressional Gold Medal story, hold the Carl Lutz and Diplomatic Rescue in the Holocaust exhibit in Philadelphia, and to have a memorial in 2026, the 100th year anniversary of Carl Lutz' arrival in Philadelphia. For further information please see our flyer.
We are delighted to invite you to help make this events a success. Please feel free to reach out and share your ideas and recommendations with me at (484) 467-7444 or email at val@ma-rbc.org.
Stay safe, and we look forward to seeing you at Carl Lutz’ events!
Best Regards,
Val Kogan
President
Mid-Atlantic - Eurasia Business Council
