Karolina Reszeli and her late mother, Zsuzsanna, received The Raoul Wallenberg Women Rescuers Medal and The Esfira Maiman Women Rescuers Medal and Diploma. Both distinctions were granted by the International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation, an educational NGO founded by Baruch Tenembaum. The ceremony was held on October 27, 2008, at the John Wesley Theological College, Budapest.
The distinction was bestowed in tribute to the courageous humanitarian feats displayed by mother and daughter during the dreaded reign of Nazi terror in Budapest. Amidst constant threat to their own lives, Zsuzsanna and Karolina gave shelter at their own home to several Jews. Among them, Mr. Steven Colman, today an Australian citizen, and his late mother.
The speakers were:
Steve Colman (one of the people rescued by Ms. Reszeli), Gabor Ivanyi, Rector of the John Wesley Theological College, former member of the Hungarian parliament, as the host of the event; Gyorgy Kaiser, executive of the Hungarian Raoul Wallenberg Association; Jozsef Szecsi, Catholic theologian, General Secretary of the Christian-Jewish Society of Hungary; Dr. Ferenc Orosz, Representative of the International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation; Domingo Cullen, Ambassador of Argentina in Hungary.
The medals and the diplomas were presented to Karolina Reszeli by Mr. Kaiser and Dr. Orosz. Ms. Reszeli accepted them on her own behalf and on behalf of her late mother.
The ceremony was also attended by Dr. Peter Feldmajer and Gustav Zoltai, President and General Director of the Alliance of Hungarian Jewish Communities, respectively; Tibor Ivanyi, Superintendent of the Evangelical Brotherhood of Hungary; Jeff Levine and Steven Fisher, Deputy Heads of Mission of the US and the British Embassy, respectively; representatives of the Israeli and Australian Embassies; relatives and friends of the Colman and the Reszeli families and press representatives.
Following the ceremony Ms. Reszeli and Mr. Colman Steve enjoyed a pleasant conversation with the guests during a reception given by the Wesley College.
The ceremony was broadcasted in the evening news by the Duna Television Network.
With the support of the Werthein Family, Argentina
