The St. Louis Kaplan Feldman Holocaust Museum maintains a powerful mission – to use the history and lessons of the Holocaust to reject hatred, promote understanding and inspire change. Weaved within this mission is the responsibility to ensure that the history and lessons of the Holocaust are not forgotten.
One person the museum has put great effort into making sure is never forgotten is Carl Lutz. A Swiss diplomat, Lutz was stationed in Budapest during World War II and orchestrated a sweeping rescue mission that furnished tens of thousands of Jews with life-saving documentation.
Keeping Lutz’s story alive
His story is often overshadowed by that of fellow Swedish diplomat Raoul Wallenberg, but it was Lutz who began organizing false papers and safe houses for Jewish families, and eventually showing Wallenberg how to do the same.
In a 2020 article for the Jewish Light, Amy Lutz, (no relation to Carl Lutz), director of marketing and communications at the Holocaust museum documented the extensive life history of Lutz, including his ties to St. Louis, and even consulted and appeared in a NinePBS special about Lutz in 2022. That special has been nominated for a regional Emmy Award.
Lutz’s legacy continues
Lutz’s legacy is now solidified in St. Louis with the creation of the Carl Lutz Humanitarian Award, an annual tribute named in his honor. A special program is set to take place on Nov. 2, coinciding with the museum’s first anniversary since reopening.
Posthumously awarded to Carl Lutz for his extraordinary efforts in saving lives during the Holocaust, the 2023 Lutz Humanitarian Award commemorates his heroic work. The Lutz Humanitarian Award will be given to those who embody the spirit of Carl Lutz and will be awarded annually beginning in 2024.
“The remarkable legacy of Carl Lutz stands as a guiding light for all of us committed to the fight against injustice. It serves as an important reminder that our actions, big or small, have the potential to sow the seeds of change,” said, Museum Board Vice Chair and Award Co-chair Greg Yawitz.
Since November 2022, the museum has engaged with thousands, including over 12,000 students from the state and beyond. The Lutz Humanitarian Award serves as a cornerstone initiative, bolstering the museum’s work and mission in imparting the Holocaust’s profound historical significance and lessons to the generations ahead, underscoring the pledge of “Never Again.”
Tickets for the Nov. 2 event will be available soon. Prospective award sponsors are encouraged to connect with Becky Donovan at [email protected] or call 314-442-3726.
