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The President of
Austria, Heinz Fischer, and his wife Margit Fischer, recently
visited Yad Vashem. He was be accompanied by President Shimon
Peres and Chairman of the Yad Vashem Directorate Avner Shalev.
The President led a large delegation including Austrian
Foreign Minister Dr. Michael Spindelegger, Defense Minister Mag.
Norberg Darabos, and Minister of Education, Art and Culture, Dr.
Claudia Schmeid. The Chief Rabbi of the Jewish Community of Vienna
Rabbi Paul Chaim Eisenberg recited El Maleh Rahamim, a prayer for
the souls of the Jews killed in the Holocaust, during the Memorial
Ceremony in the Hall of Remembrance. At the conclusion of the
visit, the President greeted Austrian students volunteering in
Israel.
Upon exiting the Children's Memorial,
President Fischer inscribed in the Visitors' Book:
On behalf of the Republic of Austria, I have
come today to Yad Vashem, the eternal place for remembering the
six million Jewish victims of the Holocaust. They must never be
forgotten. From here, we take the message, that we have to work for
the education of the young generation towards human rights, human
dignity and mutual respect. In this spirit we have also to encourage all human beings to stand up against racism and antisemitism in any form.
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President Heinz
Fischer and his wife Margit with Chairman of the Yad Vashem
Directorate Avner Shalev in the Hall of Names |
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President Fischer
greets Austrian students volunteering in Israel
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President Heinz Fischer studies an exhibit in the Holocaust History Museum |
Memorial Ceremony in the Hall of Remembrance:
(from left to right) Margit Fischer and President Heinz Fischer, President
of the State of Israel Shimon Peres, Chairman of the Yad Vashem Directorate
Avner Shalev
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President Fischer signs the Visitors' Book
outside of the Children's Memorial
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