Simon Wiesenthal Prize 2025: Main Prize awarded to “The Question Wall” for its educational campaign on Jewish life

The "Question Wall" is an educational campaign run by ELNET (European Leadership Network), a German association focusing on Jewish life and Israel. The campaign aims to promote knowledge and understanding, and foster a sense of connection, while combatting hatred, discrimination and ignorance. This evening, the project was awarded the Main Prize of the 2025 Simon Wiesenthal Prize in Parliament. Johannes Czwalina, founder of the Riehen Memorial, won the prize for educating the public about the Holocaust this year. The Kreuzberg Initiative against Antisemitism was also honoured for its civic engagement to combat antisemitism. The awards were presented by Peter Haubner, Second President of the National Council and Chair of the Board of Trustees of the National Fund of the Republic of Austria for Victims of National Socialism. He presented them together with Katharina von Schnurbein, Chair of the Jury, and jury members Oskar Deutsch and Barbara Stelzl-Marx. The awards are endowed with a total of 30,000 euros.
This marked the fifth time that the Simon Wiesenthal Prize has been awarded. Named after the architect, writer and journalist Simon Wiesenthal, it honours civic engagement to combat antisemitism and educate the public about the Holocaust. For this year's award ceremony, the National Fund of the Republic of Austria received around 270 applications from more than 30 countries.

Haubner: Remembrance and responsibility for the present and the future

Peter Haubner, Second President of the National Council and Chair of the National Fund’s Board of Trustees, welcomed the guests and, in particular, the eyewitnesses who were being honoured today. He emphasised that what had happened to them could never be undone. “But we can take responsibility for ensuring that your experiences are not forgotten and that future generations learn from them,” said Haubner. One eyewitness who was due to be here today, Erika Kosnar, had sadly passed away last Sunday. Her testimony remains an important part of our shared memory, Haubner noted.

This week, we are commemorating the November pogroms of 1938. Haubner reminded the audience that the crimes committed against Jewish men and women at that time took place out on the streets, in full view of the public. He described the current global rise in antisemitic incidents as alarming. This made the pledge “Never again” all the more of a duty for each and every one of us. For a democracy that tolerates antisemitism loses its very foundation, Haubner emphasised.

One of the most encouraging signs of the evening was the commitment shown by the nominees for the Simon Wiesenthal Prize. They were taking responsibility, standing up against antisemitism, educating people about the Holocaust and combating the risk of forgetting. Given the impressive diversity of the candidates for the prize, selecting the winners had not been an easy task for the jury, noted the Second President of the National Council.

Simon Wiesenthal, a survivor of the Holocaust, dedicated his life to bringing Nazi criminals to justice and fighting against the forgetting of their crimes. One of his most notable quotes was: “The foundation of a democracy is, above all, the truth.” “Without truth, there is no sense of direction; without a sense of direction, there is no responsibility; and without responsibility, there is no strong democracy,” said Haubner. The Simon Wiesenthal Prize and its many initiatives embody this sense of responsibility. “You carry forth the memories of the eyewitnesses and demonstrate that they invoke a sense of responsibility for our present and future,” Haubner told the prize winners.

Kreisberg: The prize carries forth Simon Wiesenthal’s values

In her welcoming remarks, Simon Wiesenthal’s granddaughter, Racheli Kreisberg, also addressed the significance of the Simon Wiesenthal Prize. She expressed her pride in the fact that the Austrian Parliament had established the Simon Wiesenthal Prize as a permanent institution. The prize ensures that Simon Wiesenthal’s name is not just a memory of the past. Instead, it is also linked to individuals and organisations that are shaping the future. According to Kreisberg, the prize carries forward the values that guided her grandfather throughout his life. It combats antisemitism and Holocaust denial, promotes education and historical truth, and defends human dignity. Wiesenthal’s life taught us that remembrance is not passive. “Remembrance is responsibility,” Kreisberg emphasised.

As the founder of the SWIGGI (Simon Wiesenthal Genealogy Geolocation Initiative) memorial project, she emphasised that it has also become an important educational tool. In collaboration with the Austrian Parliament and with the support of the National Fund and the Future Fund, educational tours are organised in Vienna for schoolchildren, amongst other activities. The children visit houses where Jewish families once lived and learn about the people who lived there. This helps them to realise that the Holocaust took place not only in distant places, but right here, in these very streets and buildings.

Von Schnurbein calls for action against antisemitism

An address titled “More than just an award. A Mission”, was held by the Chair of the Jury and the German Federal Government’s Commissioner for Jewish Life in Germany and the Fight Against Antisemitism, Katharina von Schnurbein. She sees it as her mission to empower those committed to fighting antisemitism even further. Every nomination for the Simon Wiesenthal Prize recognises individuals who research life stories, develop educational programmes, facilitate encounters, challenge antisemitic claims, and find new ways to engage with young people. Often, this involves years of work or overcoming resistance. The significance of their commitment extends far beyond the Simon Wiesenthal Prize decision.

Ms von Schnurbein referred to the EU strategy to combat antisemitism and promote Jewish life, emphasising that Europe can only flourish if Jewish life also flourishes. However, he noted that we are currently a long way from that. Ironically, the Hamas massacre on 7 October 2023 has not led to empathy, but rather to the projection of a distant conflict onto Jewish people in Europe. Von Schnurbein said that hatred of Jews is at its highest level since the Holocaust, criticising the exclusion of people on the basis of their Jewish heritage, as well as the rapid spread of hatred on the internet.

She pointed out that exclusion begins quietly, referring to the November pogroms of 1938, which were preceded by a series of steps. Although the situation is different today, the jury chair said she felt there was a lack of expressions of solidarity and a public outcry. “We must stand up and inspire others,” she said. “We must openly show our solidarity with Jewish people and defend democracy.”

The "Question Wall”: Main Prize for Spreading Knowledge about Jewish Life

The "Question Wall", which won the Main Prize today, was launched by the ELNET association in 2023 as an educational campaign focusing on Jewish life and Israel. The association collects questions about Judaism and Israel, publishes them, and provides answers. The "Question Wall" is designed to be accessible and humorous. It informs and encourages dialogue. Its aims are to contribute to humanity, tolerance and social cohesion, as well as combatting antisemitism, strengthening social freedom and promoting democracy. To date, over 1,800 questions have been submitted to its website. The original print advertising campaign has also been expanded in several phases to include an advert for cinemas, TV and social media, an Instagram channel, poster designs, two book editions and, most recently, a Pixi book. These materials aim to educate people about Jewish life and antisemitism, while also highlighting common ground with other groups, such as Muslims.

Jury chair Schnurbein emphasised that the campaign had attracted considerable attention in both Germany and Austria thanks to its professional yet accessible approach. The "Question Wall"' is an innovative and effective educational initiative for a variety of target groups. In his words of thanks, a representative of the ELNET association expressed his belief that knowledge dispels uncertainty and thus removes the basis for hatred.

Prizes for the Riehen Memorial and the Kreuzberg Initiative against Antisemitism

Johannes Czwalina, founder of the Riehen Memorial, won the award for Holocaust education. Fifteen years ago, he established a memorial for Jewish refugees in Riehen, Switzerland, using substantial personal funds. In doing so, he created a place of learning and reflection that sheds light on historical responsibility, individual fates, and shared social responsibility.

Barbara Stelzl-Marx noted that the memorial is impressive for its outstanding commitment to coming to terms with a largely unknown chapter of the Holocaust: the historic Swiss border where Jewish refugees were turned away during the Second World War. Czwalina said that he looked back on challenging and difficult years. However, he encouraged everyone to pursue what is important to them without compromise.

The Kreuzberg Initiative Against Antisemitism (KIgA) was honoured for its work in combatting antisemitism. The initiative has been fighting antisemitism, racism, hatred and intolerance for over 20 years. It develops educational materials and games, designs exhibitions and publishes books. Through initiatives such as the “Jewish Salon” in Berlin and the “Kaleidoskop” in Brandenburg, it raises the profile of Jewish life in Germany and creates spaces where Jewish culture can be experienced and shared.

Oskar Deutsch, President of the Jewish Community of Vienna, emphasised that the project is helping to break down prejudices and promote social cohesion. Particular mention should be made of the initiative’s consistent outreach to migrant communities and deprived urban neighbourhoods. In his acceptance speech, a representative of the initiative stressed that universal humanity and concrete responsibility towards Jewish life are not contradictory. It is about "being human". Hatred and intolerance must be combated – “always and together”.

Honouring eyewitnesses

Today’s event included a special tribute to the following eyewitnesses, who initiated a minute’s silence for the victims of National Socialism: Hedi Argent (United Kingdom), Heinz Rudolf Adolf Böhme (Austria), Greta Elbogen (USA), Eva Erben (Israel), Gertraud Fletzberger (Austria), Erika Freeman (USA), Elisabeth Ganglberger (Austria), David Gur (Israel), Roman Haller (Germany), Benno Kern (Austria), Thomas Lachs (Austria), Siegfried Loewe (Austria), Eveline Elisabeth März (Austria), Harry Merl (Austria), Theodor Much (Austria), Elisabeth Schipek (Austria), Regina Sluszny (Belgium) and Josef Sznajer (Belgium). Peter Haubner, Chair of the Board of Trustees of the National Fund of the Republic of Austria for Victims of National Socialism, presented the tribute together with the two members of the Fund’s Executive Board, Hannah Lessing and Judith Pfeffer.

David Gur, who celebrated his 100^(th) birthday this year and was part of the Hungarian underground movement "Zionist Youth Resistance Movement", conveyed his thanks on behalf of all the honoured eyewitnesses via a video message. He recalled the movement's resistance, which saved around 1,000 Jewish people in 1944.

ORF journalist Lisa Gadenstätter hosted the evening’s proceedings. The call for entries for the next Simon Wiesenthal Prize opens tomorrow.

Source: Parlamentskorrespondenz Nr. 1069 vom 12.11.2026 (in German)