Sousa Mendes no Jardins dos Justos, Washington, DC
 Garden of the Righteous 2015Honoring the Memory of
Aristides de Sousa Mendes from Portugal
Featuring Live Musical Oratorio Presentation
with Cantor Brown
Sunday, April 19 @ 10am For this year's annual Garden of the Righteous program, Adas Israel is proud to honor
Mr. Aristides de Sousa Mendes. Mendes was the Portuguese Consul-General in Bordeaux, France, when the Germans invaded in 1940. When Sousa Mendes received a delegation of refugees at the consulate, Mendes decided to disobey his government’s explicit instruction and promised transit visas to everyone in need. In June 1940, Mendes issued some 30,000 visas, including about 10,000 to Jews. This heroic feat was characterized by renowned Israeli Holocaust historian Yehuda Bauer as “perhaps the largest rescue action by a single individual during the Holocaust.”
The Adas Israel Garden of the Righteous is a beautiful reminder of numerous acts of decency and daring performed by many non-Jews in the midst of one of the most tragic moments in human history. The entire community is cordially invited to join us for this moving event. The Sousa Mendes Foundation is participating actively in this important event, as well as various descendents of Aristides de Sousa Mendes and of the refugees he saved. A new musical composition or Oratorio by Neely Bruce will be premiered. |
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