Simon Wiesenthal, Holocaust survivor & Nazi hunter has died in Vienna, aged 96. Wiesenthal is most famous for his part in bringing about the trial and execution of Adolf Eichmann in 1961.
Rabbi Marvin Hier, dean of the Simon Wiesenthal Center has given possibly the best summary of Wiesenthal’s life’s work:
When the Holocaust ended in 1945 and the whole world went home to forget, he alone remained behind to remember
To one who found evil and tried to right it, knew of justice and sought to attain it, who had a conscience and felt morally compelled to follow it. Though often heard lamenting his inability to return to his original profession – that of an architect, he became an architect of moral conscience. Simon single-handedly designed and constructed the ultimate memorial to those who perished, through a pursuit of justice for Nazi War Criminals. Although a hand full subsequently sought to imitate him and follow in his foot steps, Simon’s conscience wasn’t bought, shaped, enhanced, or paid for by a government pay check. He was, and will remain an inspiration to those who respect and champion the cause of human rights and the dignity of all in the human community, and a standard to which moral men aspire.
To one who found evil and tried to right it, knew of justice and sought to attain it, who had a conscience and felt morally compelled to follow it. Though often heard lamenting his inability to return to his original profession – that of an architect, he became an architect of moral conscience. Simon single-handedly designed and constructed the ultimate memorial to those who perished, through a pursuit of justice for Nazi War Criminals. Although a hand full subsequently sought to imitate him and follow in his foot steps, Simon’s conscience wasn’t bought, shaped, enhanced, or paid for by a government pay check. He was, and will remain an inspiration to those who respect and champion the cause of human rights and the dignity of all in the human community, and a standard to which moral men aspire.