The World Jewish Congress (WJC) mourns the sudden passing of its longest serving colleague, Hella Moritz, who passed away in São Paulo, Brazil, on Wednesday at the age of 81.
NEW YORK - The World Jewish Congress (WJC) mourns the sudden passing of its longest serving colleague, Hella Moritz, who passed away in São Paulo, Brazil, on Wednesday at the age of 81. For 45 years, until the end of 2009, Hella served as chief secretary under World Jewish Congress Presidents Nahum Goldmann, Philip M. Klutznick, Edgar M. Bronfman and Ronald S. Lauder, in Paris, Geneva and New York.
Hella Moritz was born in March 1929 in Saarbrücken (then part of the Saar, an independent territory governed by Britain and France under a League of Nations mandate). Her family later fled the Nazi onslaught to Brazil.
Ronald Lauder, the president of the World Jewish Congress, called Hella Moritz a "towering figure" at the WJC. "Without her dedication and abilities, this important organization would not have achieved what it did over the last few decades. For over four decades, Hella was present at countless meetings with heads of states and governments where important negotiations were concluded through her competent interpretation, and she met all Israeli Prime Ministers since the founding of the State of Israel in person."
WJC Secretary-General Michael Schneider declared: "Hella's tenure has been inextricably interwoven with the history of the World Jewish Congress. She has played an important role in every major episode of our organization, from the early development of the Claims Conference, the fight to free Soviet Jewry, the exposure of Kurt Waldheim, the outreach to Jews behind the Iron Curtain, the restitution of stolen Jewish assets, the Swiss banks and insurance episodes, to name but a few."
Schneider added: "Hella spoke eight languages fluently, had an extraordinary memory, a peerless anthology of Jewish jokes and a good sense of humor. At the same time she was always discreet, respectful and good natured. Until the day she died, and although she was retired, Hella still involved herself in the WJC’s daily activities. Hella Moritz was larger than life, and without her around, the World Jewish Congress will not be what it was before.”
Hella Moritz will be deeply missed by the entire WJC family. May her memory be a blessing.
About the World Jewish Congress:
Founded in Geneva in 1936, the World Jewish Congress is the international organization representing Jewish communities in 92 countries around the world. The WJC serves as the diplomatic arm of the Jewish people to governments, parliaments and international organizations.
