Awarding the Congressional Gold Medal to a Rabbi Who Saved Jews From the Holocaust (H.R. 2740)

What is H.R. 2740?

(Updated September 2, 2019)

This bill would award the Congressional Gold Medal posthumously to Rabbi Michoel Ber Weissmandl in recognition of his acts of valor during World War II attempting to save the Jews of Slovakia from the Holocaust. As a leader of the Bratislava Working Group, Weissmandl sent letters that alerted Franklin D. Roosevelt and Winston Churchill to the plight of Europe’s Jews under Nazi rule. By bribing diplomats, he managed to obtain visas for 60 rabbis to flee to Britain by bribing diplomats, and he was among those to propose a plan to bomb the rail lines leading to the death camp at Auschwitz. Weissmandl escaped from a railcar when he and his family were deported to Auschwitz, but his family was murdered at the camp.

After the war, Weissmandl founded the Nitra Yeshiva in Somerville, New Jersey which combined agricultural work with religious study. He remarried and started a new family prior to his death in 1957.

The Congressional Gold Medal is the highest civilian award in the U.S.

Argument in favor

Rabbi Michoel Ber Weissmandl’s heroic actions in World War II helped save Jews from the Holocaust, Congress should posthumously award him America’s highest civilian honor.

Argument opposed

Rabbi Michoel Ber Weissmandl’s heroic actions in World War II should be recognized in other ways than by posthumously awarding him the Congressional Gold Medal.

Impact

Rabbi Michoel Ber Weissmandl, his family, and his memory; and Congress.

Cost of H.R. 2740

A CBO cost estimate is unavailable.

Additional Info

In-Depth: Rep. Nydia Velazquez (D-NY) introduced this bill to posthumously award a Congressional gold medal to Rabbi Michoel Ber Weissmandl in recognition of his efforts to protect Jews during the Holocaust:

“At a time when the stakes could not have been higher, Rabbi Weissmandl took brave risks, ultimately saving lives. It is with the utmost respect that I’ve introduced a bill to award him witha  Congressional gold medal--the highest civilian award in the United States. A pioneer in the Jewish community of New York, Rabbi Weissmandl’s contributions to the city carry an unwavering legacy of strength and resilience. We must never forget the monumental risk and bravery displayed by a life dedicated to fighting intolerance and extremism.”

This legislation has the support of 296 cosponsors in the House, including 170 Democrats and 126 Republicans

Media:

• Sponsoring Rep. Nydia Velazquez (D-NY) Press Release
  

Summary by Eric Revell

(Photo Credit: Bookofblue / Creative Commons)