Presentation of the Simon Wiesenthal Prize 2023 in Parliament: Main Prize awarded to dialogue project “LIKRAT”

Group photo with contemporary witnesses and prize winners
Parlamentsdirektion/Johannes Zinner

In addition to the winners, contemporary witnesses from six countries were honoured with a special commendation.

Vienna (PK) - The dialogue project “LIKRAT – Let’s talk!” was announced as the winner of the Main Prize of the Simon Wiesenthal Prize 2023 in Parliament this evening. National Council President Wolfgang Sobotka and jury chair Katharina von Schnurbein presented the Main Prize of 15,000 euros to representatives of the dialogue project. The project brings together Jewish and non-Jewish teenagers and young adults with the aim of breaking down antisemitic and anti-Jewish stereotypes and generating a pluralistic awareness.

Further prizes go to Spain and Austria

Asociación Cultural Mota de Judíos from Spain received the prize for civic engagement to combat antisemitism. The Spanish village of Castrillo Matajudios – which roughly translates as “fortress that kills Jews” – officially changed its name back to Castrillo Mota de Judíos (Jewish Mound) in 2015 following a referendum and the approval of the regional government. Despite being on the receiving end of various hostilities, the village of around 50 inhabitants continues to stand by its decision to discard its insulting name and honour its Jewish origins.

The Austria-based organisation CENTROPA was honoured for its civic engagement to educate the public about the Holocaust. The organisation documents the memories of contemporary witnesses of the Holocaust and of Jewish life before the Second World War. It was honoured for its efforts to continue Holocaust education in Ukraine even during the Russian war of aggression.

Contemporary witnesses from six countries receive special commendations

During the award ceremony, the contemporary witnesses Helga Feldner-Busztin (Austria), Jeno Friedman (USA), Octavian Fülöp (Romania), Naftali Fürst (Israel), Maria Gabrielsen (Norway), Viktor Klein (Austria), Otto Nagler (Israel), Katharina Sasso (Austria), Liese Scheiderbauer (Austria) and Marian Turski (Poland) were also commended for their contributions towards antisemitism prevention.

This year, the National Fund received almost 200 applications from 30 countries. Last year, the Simon Wiesenthal Prize was awarded to the Israeli initiative Zikaron BaSalon, which enables contemporary witnesses to sit together with an audience in a living room atmosphere and share their recollections of the Holocaust.

The Simon Wiesenthal Prize is dedicated to the memory of the architect, publicist and writer Simon Wiesenthal (1908-2005). Wiesenthal had an unparalleled impact around the globe on dealing with Nazi crimes. (end) adu

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