Israel Honors Armenian Who Saved Jews

The Hall of Names at the Yad Vashem memorial in Jerusalem

JERUSALEM (ArmRadio)—In July of 2013, Israel’s official Holocaust memorial and institute, Yad Vashem, recognized Armenian citizen Harutyun Khachatryan’s humanitarian efforts during the Jewish Holocaust of World War II and honored him with the Jewish state’s title of “Righteous Among the Nations.” An award ceremony for the Khachatryan family by an Israeli delegation will take place in Yerevan on Feb. 4, during which a certificate of the “Righteous Among the Nations” will be handed to the family of the Armenian hero.

For more than three years the Raoul Wallenberg International Foundation, along with a number of other projects, has been involved in the identification of those Armenian heroes who displayed exceptional courage during World War II and saved the lives of those who were in the clutches of death.

The organization’s meticulous research work brought forth results. Thanks to the efforts of a RWIF volunteer, Artiom Chernamoryan, the story of this Armenian hero was revealed and the official awarding ceremony took place in Yerevan on Sep. 12 at the Presidential Palace of the Republic of Armenia with the participation of the President of Armenia Serz Sarkisian, founder of the Raoul Wallenberg International Foundation Baruch Tenembaum from New York, vice-president Daniel Rainer, and volunteer Artiom Chernamorian from Israel, as well as many accredited ambassadors and members of the Government of Armenia.

During the official ceremony, Tenembaum awarded a “Raoul Wallenberg Centennial Medal” to the granddaughter of Harutyun Khachatryan, Anna Khachatryan, who had provided the whole family archive to the foundation and along with the volunteers supported to reveal the story of the Armenian hero. Tenembaum solemnly awarded a “Raoul Wallenberg Centennial Medal” to the president of Armenia Serz Sarkisian on behalf of all Armenian heroes.

RWIF is a global non-profit organization with a primary mission to research, preserve and spread the legacy of Raoul Wallenberg and other brave men and women, who saved the lives of persecuted people during the Jewish Holocaust and other conflicts. This mission is supported by the leaders of more than 300 countries and Nobel Prize laureates. One of the honorary members of the foundation is Jorge Mario Bergoglio, now famously known as Pope Francis.

Chairman of the Raoul Wallenberg International Foundation, Eduardo Ernekian, and founder Baruch Tenembaum send their congratulations to the Khachatryan family and promise to do everything possible to shed light on the stories of more Armenian heroes.