Borough Park, NY – Hundreds Attend Raoul Wallenberg Street Co-Naming

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    Borough Park, NY – Hundreds attended a street co-naming ceremony today, at noon on 13th Avenue in Borough Park in honor of great humanitarian Raoul Wallenberg, who saved more than 100,000 Hungarian Jews from the Nazis during World War II.

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    The City Council approved the co-naming of 13th Avenue between 36th Street and 60th Street earlier this year at the urging of Councilman David Greenfield and Councilman Brad Lander to ensure that Wallenberg’s legacy and heroic efforts live on for generations to come. The co-naming is the centerpiece of the Raoul Wallenberg Centennial Celebration Commission’s efforts throughout the year to commemorate Wallenberg’s 100th birthday.

    Councilman Greenfield was joined in the ceremony by Councilman Brad Lander, other elected officials, the Raoul Wallenberg Centennial Celebration Commission, The event was graced by Consul General of Hungary Karloy Dan and Consul General of Sweden David E.R. Dangoor.

    “I am proud to lead the effort to honor Raoul Wallenberg. Quite literally, there are thousands of people in our community who would not be here today but for Mr. Wallenberg’s intervention. This street co-naming will ensure that generations will know of the sacrifices that this heroic individual made on behalf of so many. It is only right that our community show hakaros hatov for Raoul Wallenberg’s inspiring and selfless actions, so my thanks to my colleague Councilman Brad Lander, the Wallenberg Commission and everyone who worked to make this event a reality,” said Councilman Greenfield.

    Raoul Wallenberg was a Swedish diplomat who put his life on hold in 1944 and embarked on a mission that led to the saving of as many as 100,000 Hungarian Jews bound for death in Nazi concentration camps. Serving as first secretary at the Swedish Legation in Budapest, Wallenberg devised a plan to issue Swedish “protective passports” and establish safe houses in buildings throughout Budapest.

    “The realization of Raoul Wallenberg Way will forever be a testament to the heroism of Raoul Wallenberg and will indeed forever be a symbol of our gratitude to Raoul Wallenberg for saving 100,000 Jewish lives many of whom later re-established themselves here in Boro Park including my late grandfather, the previous Liska Rebbe of blessed memory” said Ezra Friedlander, CEO of the Friedlander Group which spearheaded the creation of the Wallenberg Commission’

    “Raoul Wallenberg saved members of my own family and today we celebrated the life of a true hero of the Jewish people who will always occupy a special place in our hearts, that’s why the street naming ceremony was a true Kiddush Hashem and on behalf of the Wallenberg Commission we thank Councilmembers David Greenfield and Brad Lander” said Peter Rebenwurzel, chairman of the Raoul Wallenberg Centennial Celebration Commission.’

    Borough Park is home to the largest population of Holocaust survivors in the United States, and many local families trace their lineage to individuals saved by Raoul Wallenberg.


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    14 Comments
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    CountryYossi
    CountryYossi
    11 years ago

    I think they shold name 13th avenue…..Bank avenue…with 17 banks fro 44th street to 55th street and 2 more on the way …..There is almost NO real shopping stores on 13th avenue..any store that is a decent size will get a bank to move in….

    11 years ago

    very nice for the street naming & for the people who went out in this rain, but do not see any hundreds of people as the headlines say.

    lawrenceyid
    lawrenceyid
    11 years ago

    Mi Ke’ amcha Yisrael. 70 years later, and we remember to show Hakaras Hatov!

    TexasJew
    TexasJew
    11 years ago

    How sad that there weren’t thousands of Jews there for this important event.

    When they name 16th and 49th St. in honor of the Bobver Rebbe they show up but for this miracle maker less than 100.

    11 years ago

    I was there and I want to make 2 points.

    1) “hundreds attend”? you must be kidding me. There wasn’t even 75 people there.

    2) I came from 13th avenue and 44th street and it took me 20 minutes to drive 5 blocks. It is a chutzpah to block off 13th avenue and 50th street, the business intersection in BP, on a Sunday afternoon because some politicians want pictures. Why couldn’t they do it on a Tuesday at 10 oclock in the morning or one weeknight? The traffic was a disaster today in BP because some machers decided to block off 13th avenue on a Sunday smack in middle of the day.

    11 years ago

    This street name is to remind us all to start teaching our kids to emulate him, and love and truly respect every Human Being, regardless which ethnicity they were born into.

    Hashem will repay us, for our love, by Never-Again instigating any Nation to hate and oppress us.

    meshigener
    meshigener
    11 years ago

    Very nice event on the wrong day.
    Where were all the mayoral candidates running for office? Just wait and see how in a half a year when they need our votes how they will all come running and blocking traffic to show us how they love us.
    What a shame