TEL AVIV, Israel — Philippine Ambassador to Israel Aileen Mendiola opens an exhibit on the historic rescue of more than 1,300 Jewish refugees during the Holocaust by President Manuel Luis Quezon, whose 148th birth anniversary is being observed on Aug. 19.
Among the guests was Danny Weissler, son of the late Max Weissler, one of the refugees who found safe refuge in the Philippines, later known as the “Manilaners.” Danny has worked closely with the Embassy to raise awareness of this important chapter in Philippine and Jewish history.
Also joining the event was Lea Furst, a Holocaust researcher and historian who previously worked at Yad Vashem, Israel’s state memorial and research center for the Holocaust. Lea’s research led to the discovery of another surviving Manilaner in Israel, Peter Nathan.
The exhibit is part of the Embassy’s ongoing campaign to raise awareness of the story of President Quezon and the Manilaners – an important keystone of the deep friendship and shared history between the Philippines and Israel. PHL Embassy in Israel FB Page
