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Obituary: Herbert Pundik (92) – Founder of Humanity in Action

One of Humanity in Action’s founders – journalist, activist, and refugee Herbert Pundik – has passed away.

We are deeply saddened to inform you that Herbert Pundik passed away on December 8th at his home in Tel Aviv. Herbert co-founded Humanity in Action in 1997. Our hearts go out to Herbert’s wife Sussi, their beloved daughter Michal, their grandchildren, and to all who were touched by his remarkable leadership.

Read Humanity in Action Denmark chairman Anders Jerichow’s obituary below the short film.

Pundik gave us Humanity in Action

Herbert Pundik was editor-in-chief for Danish daily Politiken from 1970-1993

One of Humanity in Action’s founders – journalist, activist, and refugee Herbert Pundik – has passed away.

Don’t waste time waiting for the initiative of others. Act yourself. This was the essence of Pundik’s attitude. This was how he lived. And keeping exactly this phrase in focus, Herbert Pundik created Humanity in Action more than twenty years ago.

Herbert Pundik was inspired by the events of October 1943, when Danish Jews were forced to flee Nazi occupied Denmark to escape an uncertain fate in Central Europe – helped by Danish countrymen to hide and make their way to safety in neighbouring Sweden.

Pundik himself was one of those refugees. Throughout his life, he never forgot the moment when the headmaster of his high school picked him out of the class to impart upon him the life-changing message that his family had to leave home before night. 

Pundik maintained several lessons from the events that followed:

First, one cannot be a refugee in the past tense. Once a refugee, always a refugee. When he woke up at night, even in his later years, it was always with the memory of October ’43 in mind.

Secondly, the assistance to the Jewish refugees in the dramatic days of October ’43 was spontaneous, not planned by the government or others. It was driven by ordinary people of their own initiative and regardless of the risks to themselves – leading to the rescue of 6,000-7,000 fellow countrymen, one of them Pundik.

Decades later, Pundik and historian Judith Goldstein, aided by the businessman Euan Baird, established Humanity in Action.

The idea was clear: To bring together young people across borders, across the Atlantic, to grow the seeds sown in October ’43: There is always something you can do yourself – rather than just sit around, waiting for governments or someone else to act.

The idea was clear: To bring together young people across borders, across the Atlantic, to grow the seeds sown in October ’43: There is always something you can do yourself – rather than just sit around, waiting for governments or someone else to act.

In that light, it became Humanity in Action’s focus to address issues of human rights and minority protection.

For many years, Pundik and his wife Sussi participated in Humanity in Action’s international conferences following the organisation’s annual Fellowships.

Just last year, Pundik helped Humanity in Action initiate the art exhibition “October ’43” to develop a Travel Grant for young people working with human rights and minority protection. A large number of Danish artists donated works to the exhibition, held in the house of Danish daily Politiken in central Copenhagen.

Herbert Pundik with his wife Sussi

The art was auctioned off with help from the famous Danish auctioneer, Bruun-Rasmussen. The initiative allows Humanity in Action to offer an annual Travel Grant of 30.000 DKK in the coming 10 years. The Travel Grant will link the memory of October ’43 to current youth initiatives for minorities and human rights today. A bridge between the past and the future. It will carry Pundik’s memory for years to come.

For Pundik, it was crucial to devote his life to meaningful issues and civil responsibility. He personally did so to a completely unseen extent.

And then, thirdly, Pundik learned from his life and youth experience of Nazism: Fight oppression and racism, when it is required. Don’t wait, it may be too late. 

Humanity in Action will work hard to follow these lessons. Serving as a creation of Herbert Pundik is an honor, a binding honor. 

ANDERS JERICHOW
Chairman, Humanity in Action Denmark

Pundik passed away quietly in his home in Tel Aviv, Israel, on Sunday, December 8, 2019.