Latvian Holocaust survivor and historian Marģers Vestermanis was presented with a letter of commendation at Riga Castle for his lifelong work in creating the historical memory of Latvian society, documenting the history of Latvian Jews and the Holocaust in Latvia.
Latvian President Egils Levits congratulated Vestermanis, founder and former director of the museum “Jews in Latvia”, on the occasion of his 95th birthday and honouring his contribution to the state of Latvia. Levits also pointed out that Vestermanis is a Latvian patriot and custodian of the cultural and historical heritage of the Latvian Jewish community. In the opinion of the President, the Latvian Jewish community has made its contribution not only to Latvia, but also to the entire Jewish community in the world. Levits emphasized that Vestermanis has preserved the memory of the Holocaust.
“We have had both light and dark events in Latvia, and of course this event is also a part of Latvia’s history, and it is important that the public knows about it. Therefore, I would like to give you a commendation, which is a personal recognition of your work so far,” said Levits.
