09 October 2013
On Thursday, October 10, 2013 at 11:00 Andrea Bartali will visit Yad Vashem. He is in Israel for the cycling event Gran Fondo Giro d'Italia taking place in Jerusalem this Friday. Andrea Bartali is the son of the late Righteous Among the Nations Gino Bartali who risked his life to rescue Jews during the Holocaust. Holocaust Survivor Giulia Baquis will participate in the visit. While in hiding in the village of Lido Camaiore in Tuscany, Baquis and her family received forged papers from Bartali.
During his visit to Yad Vashem, Andrea Bartali will tour the Holocaust History Museum and the Children’s Memorial and will unveil his father's name on the Wall of Honor in the Garden of the Righteous. A ceremony posthumously honoring Gino Bartali, including presentation of the medal and certificate of honor, will take place in Italy with the participation of family members and friends at a date to be determined.
Details of Thursday's visit:
11:00 – Tour of the Holocaust History Museum
11:30 – Photo Ops in the Hall of Names and Holocaust History Museum
12:30 – Unveiling of Gino Bartali's name in the Garden of the Righteous Among the Nations, with the participation of the Yad Vashem Director General Dorit Novak and Italian Ambassador to Israel H.E. Francesco Maria Talò
Media who are interested in covering the visit should arrive in the Hall of Names by 11:30, with valid GPO card, and RSVP to the Media Relations Department: 02 644 3410, media.relations@yadvashem.org.il.
Rescue Story:
Gino Bartali was a champion cyclist and a beloved public figure during his lifetime. During the German occupation of Italy in early September 1943, Bartali took an important part in activities to rescue Jews. He aided the Jewish-Christian rescue network in Florence, spearheaded by Rabbi Nathan Cassuto of Florence together with the Archbishop of Florence Cardinal Elia Angelo Dalla Costa (previously recognized as Righteous Among the Nations). Even after Rabbi Cassuto was arrested by the Germans, deported and sent to his death, the network continued functioning.
Gino Bartali acted as a courier for the network, risking his life by secreting forged documents and papers in his bicycle and transporting them throughout Florence and to surrounding areas as well. Recently, Yad Vashem recognized Bartali as Righteous Among the Nations, joining 563 individuals from Italy that have been recognized thus far by the Commission for the Designation of Righteous Among the Nations at Yad Vashem.
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