A Memorial Tree Planted on Tu BiShvat in Honor of Erika van Gelder-Révész, Who Passed Away 10 Years Ago

On the occasion of Tu BiShvat, a memorial tree was planted at the Holocaust Memorial Center to honor the memory of Erika van Gelder-Révész (1947–2015), former president of B’nai B’rith Europe.

The event was attended by Avi Nir-Feldklein, Chargé d’Affaires of the State of Israel in Hungary, and Gabriel Șopandă, Romania’s Ambassador to Budapest, along with Prof. Dr. Andor Grósz, President of the Federation of Jewish Communities in Hungary (Mazsihisz), Dr. András Zima, Director of the Holocaust Memorial Center, Péter Breuer, President of the B’nai B’rith Budapest Lodge, Magda Vadász, Vice President of the B’nai B’rith Budapest Lodge, and György Szabó, President of the Hungarian Jewish Heritage Public Foundation (MAZSÖK).

Prof. Dr. Grósz Andor

Many programs of B’nai B’rith Europe are associated with Erika van Gelder-Révész, the most well-known being Bridges of Tolerance. For her work, she received prestigious awards from the Romanian state, the Dutch royal family, and B’nai B’rith Europe’s first lodge, the Hillel Lodge of Amsterdam – as highlighted in a tribute speech by Magda Vadász.

Vadász Magda

At the event, Péter Breuer spoke about the importance of remembrance and commemoration, emphasizing that this is why the Holocaust Memorial Center was chosen as the venue.

Breuer Péter

During the commemoration, Dr. András Zima stressed that it is crucial for the institution he manages to maintain a living relationship with both religious and non-religious Jewish organizations, in Hungary and abroad, despite the fact that the Holocaust Memorial Center is not a Jewish institution.

Prof. Dr. Andor Grósz, President of Mazsihisz, quoted Erika van Gelder-Révész:

„A bridge is built in order to extend your world – wrote Erika van Gelder-Révész more than a decade ago about the Bridges of Tolerance project she led, - in order to explore the other side. On a bridge, we may walk in opposite directions and yet we are walking towards each other. This multi-purpose project is made necessary and gains in urgency with each racist manifestation, each act of discrimination and intolerance, each anti-Semitic incident, each tolerated extreme right parade through the streets of Europe!”

The Mazsihisz president stated that these words might be even more relevant today than when Erika first expressed them. As a bridge-builder, she believed that dialogue and cooperation are the most powerful tools in the fight against hatred and prejudice. Her bridges did not only span ethnic or cultural differences but also opened pathways in people’s hearts and minds.

It was emphasized that the memorial tree planted at the Holocaust Memorial Center is not only a living symbol of Erika van Gelder-Révész’s life and work but also a representation of hope, remembrance, and faith in the future. Planting a tree on Tu BiShvat is not just a tradition but also a promise—a promise to nurture our roots while growing toward the future.

Prof. Dr. Grósz Andor

Throughout her life, Erika upheld this principle: she built bridges between the past and the future, between cultures and nations. Her work is living proof that respect for the past and commitment to the future are deeply intertwined.