ISRAEL'S SUPREME COURT RULES CENTER FOR HUMAN DIGNITY-MUSEUM OF TOLERANCE JERUSALEM CAN BUILD ON WEST JERUSALEM SITE

“All citizens of Israel, Jews and non-Jews, are the real beneficiaries of this decision.” Rabbi Marvin Hier, founder and dean of the Simon Wiesenthal Center.

The Simon Wiesenthal Center applauded the unanimous October 29th Israeli Supreme Court decision allowing the Frank O. Gehry-designed Center for Human Dignity - Museum of Tolerance Jerusalem (MOTJ) to be built on its planned site in the center of the city. "All citizens of Israel, Jews and non-Jews, are the real beneficiaries of this decision," said Rabbi Marvin Hier, founder and dean of the Simon Wiesenthal Center. "Moderation and tolerance have prevailed. The MOTJ will be a great landmark promoting the principles of mutual respect and social responsibility." Construction on the $250 million project will resume immediately.

“Jerusalem is 3,000 years old and every stone and parcel of land has a history that is revered by people of many faiths. We are deeply committed to do everything in our power to respect that sacred past, but at the same time, we must allow Jerusalem to have a future and we are honored to be given an opportunity to be a part of that future,” Rabbi Hier concluded.

Photo: Museum site that has served as a 4-level municipal parking lot since 1960. (click on photos for hi-resolution images)

For more information and/or to schedule an interview with Rabbi Hier, contact the Wiesenthal Center’s public relations department, 310-772-2458, or email publicrelations@wiesenthal.com.

• Click here to read "Background to the Supreme Court Case..."
  
  
• Relevant Paragraphs from the ruling of the Supreme Court of Israel on the Museum of Tolerance Jerusalem
  
• From: JERUSALEM POST
  "Right of Reply: A center of hope and reason" By Rabbi Marvin Hier
• Click here to download an informational piece on the Center For Human Dignity - Museum of Tolerance Jerusalem...

The Simon Wiesenthal Center is one of the largest international Jewish human rights organizations with over 400,000 member families. It is an NGO at international agencies, including the United Nations, UNESCO, the OSCE, and the Council of Europe. Since 1993, the Wiesenthal Center has been the premiere institution teaching tolerance and mutual respect through its world-acclaimed Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles, visited by more than four million people. Additionally, the Museum’s Tools for Tolerance™ programs have trained close to 200,000 law enforcement professionals and teachers. Tens of thousands of students participate in its Steps to Tolerance and Tools for Tolerance™ for Teens programming, and each year more than 110,000 high school students visit the Museum. In 2004, the Museum of Tolerance was the recipient of the Tolerance Award from the Friends of the United Nations.