Germany awards President of the Federation of Jewish Communities in Romania MP Silviu Vexler with Cross of Merit

German president Frank-Walter Steinmeier awarded Silviu Vexler, the president of the Federation of Jewish Communities in Romania and Member of th Romanian Parliament, with the Cross of Merit in the rank of Officer of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany.

He was honored for his “tireless and successful commitment to the service of Romanian-German relations.”

German ambassador Peer Gebauer presented Silviu Vexler with the medal on October 10, 2024.

Silviu Vexler stood out for his special merits, thanks to numerous successful legislative initiatives, started in collaboration with the German minority deputy, Ovidiu Ganţ, the German Embassy to Romania said. 

One such example would be the law regarding the granting of compensation to deported persons as well as to those politically persecuted during the National Socialism period. Another law provided for the introduction of measures to prevent and combat antisemitism.

Vexler has also been committed to the field of memory culture, the same source said. One initiative targeted the establishment of the National Museum of the History of the Jews and the Holocaust, while another introduced the study subject “Jewish History. The Holocaust” in schools.

“You dedicate yourself every day, with great devotion and commitment, to Romanian-German and German-Jewish relations. You are not only a politician but also a builder of bridges between minorities, religions, and nations, and for me personally, a friend. Your close partnership with the German minority in Romania is a remarkable example and a link between our countries,” said German ambassador Peer Gebauer.

In his turn, Silviu Vexler stated: “I dedicated my entire public career to protecting the memory of the Holocaust victims, developing Jewish life, and promoting Romania internationally. I tried to do everything I could, at every moment, to bring a change for the better for the whole society. During this period, the actual encouragement and support received from the Federal Republic of Germany played a fundamental role. What started as a simple collaboration turned into a relationship, but above all into a unique friendship that connects the Jewish and German minorities, the Jews of Romania and the Federal Republic of Germany.”

related

Subscribe to EJC newsletter

Get EJC's bi-weekly newsletter, including the latest statements and news from the European Jewish communities, direct to your inbox.

European Jewish Congress will use the information you provide on this form to contact you. We will treat your information with respect and will not share it with others. By clicking Subscribe, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with these terms.

Statements

Declaration of the EJC on the 80th Anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau

The Shoah, the systematic and deliberate mission of the Nazis and their collaborators to annihilate the Jewish people, resulted in the murder of six million Jews between 1939 and 1945. This unparalleled atrocity in world history must never be trivialised, contextualised, or compared, as such acts perpetuate the suffering of its victims and their descendants.