When Quezon opened the door to 1,315 Jews

Last Sunday, July 5, I attended “The Right Thing to Do”, a lecture by Lee Blumenthal, executive director of the Jewish Association of the Philippines and country manager of Operation Benjamin. Held at the Manila American Cemetery Visitor Center, the talk explored President Manuel L. Quezon's efforts to rescue Jews fleeing Nazi persecution, the Philippines' often overlooked humanitarian legacy during World War II, and Operation Benjamin's work with the American Battle Monuments Commission to replace the Latin crosses of wrongly identified Jewish-American servicemen with the Star of David. Among those in attendance were U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Lee Lipton, Israeli Ambassador Dana Kursh, and former senator Richard Gordon.

Manila American Cemetery Superintendent Ryan Blum opened with a brief reflection on the difference between physical and moral courage, noting that the latter is often far more difficult to demonstrate. He cited Quezon's actions during the years leading up to World War II as a powerful example of moral courage, recalling how Quezon helped save 1,315 European Jewish refugees fleeing Nazi persecution. Ambassador Lipton followed with a short message honoring the men and women who fought and gave their lives during World War II. He emphasized the importance of remembering the Holocaust --not only to ensure that its horrors are never forgotten, but also to honor those who, in humanity's darkest hour, chose courage, compassion, and selflessness over fear and indifference.

Lee opened his presentation by describing Quezon's actions between 1937 and 1941 as "a remarkable chapter in Philippine history." He argued that the Philippines' decision to welcome Jewish refugees was a story of compassion and moral leadership. More than that, it was a defining moment when Quezon and the Filipino people chose to do the right thing when it mattered most. Blumenthal explained that Quezon's rescue effort did not happen overnight, but stretched back to the late nineteenth century, when Jewish immigrants such as Emil Bachrach established themselves in the Philippines, built successful businesses, and earned the trust and friendship of influential Filipino and American leaders. Other prominent Jewish families, including the Frieders, Isaac Beck, and the Levy brothers, likewise became respected members of Philippine society.

After Nazi persecution intensified, culminating in Kristallnacht, or the Night of Broken Glass, in November 1938, many countries closed their doors to Jewish refugees. Quezon, however, chose a different path. Working with Paul V. McNutt and Jewish relief organizations, they arranged for qualified refugees --including doctors, engineers, teachers, artisans, and rabbis-- to settle in the Philippines, making the rescue both humanitarian and politically feasible.

Blumenthal emphasized that Quezon’s decision demanded genuine political courage. At a time when accepting Jewish refugees offered little political advantage and even faced local opposition, Quezon believed that saving human lives was a moral duty. He even offered part of his Marikina estate as a possible settlement for the refugees, hoping that future generations of Filipinos would always be proud that their country had extended "a hand of welcome" to people in desperate need. Many of the refugees later recalled that the Philippines was the only country willing to grant them visas, allowing them to escape Nazi-controlled Europe and find safety and hospitality in Manila. Even when the rescue effort came to an abrupt end with the outbreak of the Pacific War and the Japanese occupation, many of the Jewish refugees survived because they had reached the Philippines before the war began. Blumenthal also highlighted how the friendship between the Philippines and the Jewish people endured long after the war. In 1947, the Philippines was the only Asian nation to support the U.N. plan that created the State of Israel.

Blumenthal concluded by reflecting on Quezon's enduring humanitarian legacy. Memorials in both the Philippines and Israel commemorate the rescue, while survivors and their descendants continue to express deep gratitude. More importantly, the story reminds us that history is shaped not only by great events, but by leaders and ordinary people who choose compassion and moral courage in the face of human suffering.