Imre Hercz
Encyclopedia
Imre Hercz was a Jewish Hungarian-Norwegian physician and public debater.
He was born in Transilvania and had his childhood years in Nagyvárad, in the Hungarian part of Romania
. At the age of 15, he was deported to Auschwitz concentration camp
in May 1944, later to Vernichtungslager Kaufbeuren
and then to Dachau concentration camp, but survived. After being hospitalized in Amberg
for five and a half years, he recovered and emigrated to Norway in 1952 as one of several Jewish Holocaust-survivors of lesser health accepted to Norway with substantial grants from Joint
to the Norwegian government. He finished
secondary education in 1955 and graduated from the University of Oslo
with a cand.med.
degree in 1961. He worked in Tønsberg
, Vinstra
and Brumunddal
from 1962 to 1970, before opening a medical clinic in Høvik
in 1971. He resided in Nesbru, and later moved to Høvik
.
He represented the Liberal Party as a deputy in Ringsaker
municipal council from 1968 to 1970, and chaired the local party branch. He was a board member of the Mosaic Religious Community (Jewish Community in Oslo) from 1972 to 1991, member of the Norwegian Refugee Council
from 1972 to 1991, national board member of the Norwegian Medical Association
from 1981 to 1993 and national council member of Allmennpraktiserende Legers Forening (General Practicians Association) from 1984 to 1991.
He is well known from the public debate on health policy, but even more so in the debate on defamation and anti-Semitism
. He has held several public speeches, among others for school students. In February 2009 he won a ruling from Pressens Faglige Utvalg, where a comedian aired on national TV 2
was admonished for defamation and breach of the Ethical Code of Practice for the Norwegian Press
. In June 2011 he was awarded the King's Medal of Merit. He received patients in his office at Høvik Legesenter even up to his death, making him, at 82 years of age, one of the oldest practicing doctor in Norway.
He was married and had four children. He died in July 2011.
He was born in Transilvania and had his childhood years in Nagyvárad, in the Hungarian part of Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
. At the age of 15, he was deported to Auschwitz concentration camp
Auschwitz concentration camp
Concentration camp Auschwitz was a network of Nazi concentration and extermination camps built and operated by the Third Reich in Polish areas annexed by Nazi Germany during World War II...
in May 1944, later to Vernichtungslager Kaufbeuren
Kaufbeuren
Kaufbeuren is an independent city in the Regierungsbezirk of Schwaben, southern Bavaria. The city is completely enclaved within the district of Ostallgäu.- Culture and Objects of Interest :* Townhall * Crescentiakloster...
and then to Dachau concentration camp, but survived. After being hospitalized in Amberg
Amberg
Amberg is a town in Bavaria, Germany. It is located in the Upper Palatinate, roughly halfway between Regensburg and Bayreuth. Population: 44,756 .- History :...
for five and a half years, he recovered and emigrated to Norway in 1952 as one of several Jewish Holocaust-survivors of lesser health accepted to Norway with substantial grants from Joint
American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee
The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee is a worldwide Jewish relief organization headquartered in New York. It was established in 1914 and is active in more than 70 countries....
to the Norwegian government. He finished
Examen artium
Examen artium was the name of the academic certification conferred in Denmark and Norway, qualifying the student for admission to university studies. Examen artium was originally introduced as the entrance exam of the University of Copenhagen in 1630...
secondary education in 1955 and graduated from the University of Oslo
University of Oslo
The University of Oslo , formerly The Royal Frederick University , is the oldest and largest university in Norway, situated in the Norwegian capital of Oslo. The university was founded in 1811 and was modelled after the recently established University of Berlin...
with a cand.med.
Cand.med.
Candidate of Medicine , Candidata Medicinae , abbreviated Cand. Med.) is an academic degree awarded in Denmark, Iceland and Norway following a six-year medical school education....
degree in 1961. He worked in Tønsberg
Tønsberg
is a city and municipality in Vestfold county, southern Norway, located around north-east of Sandefjord. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Tønsberg....
, Vinstra
Vinstra
Vinstra is the name of both a village and a river in Gudbrandsdalen. The village lies in Nord-Fron municipality in Oppland County, Norway. The administrative centre of Nord-Fron, the population is 2449. The village has rail connections via the Dovre railroad and has a high school. Highway E6...
and Brumunddal
Brumunddal
Brumunddal is the largest settlement in the Ringsaker municipality of Hedmark, Norway. It is a small, densely populated area surrounded by scenic countryside and farms on the eastern shore of Norway's largest lake: Mjøsa...
from 1962 to 1970, before opening a medical clinic in Høvik
Høvik
Høvik is a suburban centre in the municipality of Bærum, Akershus, Norway. Mainly a residential area, its population is 4,311.Høvik has a church, a small shopping area and a railway station served by Drammensbanen. Flytoget does not stop at Høvik. Nearby is the Henie-Onstad Art Centre...
in 1971. He resided in Nesbru, and later moved to Høvik
Høvik
Høvik is a suburban centre in the municipality of Bærum, Akershus, Norway. Mainly a residential area, its population is 4,311.Høvik has a church, a small shopping area and a railway station served by Drammensbanen. Flytoget does not stop at Høvik. Nearby is the Henie-Onstad Art Centre...
.
He represented the Liberal Party as a deputy in Ringsaker
Ringsaker
is a municipality in Hedmark county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Hedmarken. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Brumunddal.The municipality of Ringsaker was established on 1 January 1838...
municipal council from 1968 to 1970, and chaired the local party branch. He was a board member of the Mosaic Religious Community (Jewish Community in Oslo) from 1972 to 1991, member of the Norwegian Refugee Council
Norwegian Refugee Council
The Norwegian Refugee Council is an independent, humanitarian non-governmental organisation which provides assistance, protection and durable solutions to refugees, internally displaced persons, and returnees worldwide. NRC promotes and protects the rights of people who have been forced to flee...
from 1972 to 1991, national board member of the Norwegian Medical Association
Norwegian Medical Association
The Norwegian Medical Association was founded in 1886. It has more than 22,000 members, or about 94% of all Norwegian doctors. Torunn Janbu is the current president of the association. It is affiliated with the Federation of Norwegian Professional Associations....
from 1981 to 1993 and national council member of Allmennpraktiserende Legers Forening (General Practicians Association) from 1984 to 1991.
He is well known from the public debate on health policy, but even more so in the debate on defamation and anti-Semitism
Anti-Semitism
Antisemitism is suspicion of, hatred toward, or discrimination against Jews for reasons connected to their Jewish heritage. According to a 2005 U.S...
. He has held several public speeches, among others for school students. In February 2009 he won a ruling from Pressens Faglige Utvalg, where a comedian aired on national TV 2
TV 2 (Norway)
TV 2 is the largest commercial television station in Norway. Over 30% of the time Norwegians spend watching TV is spent watching TV 2. The station has 65% of the market for TV commercials in Norway....
was admonished for defamation and breach of the Ethical Code of Practice for the Norwegian Press
Ethical Code of Practice for the Norwegian Press
The Ethical Code of Practice for the Norwegian Press is a code regularing journalism ethics and standards in Norway.It was first written in 1936. In 1956 it was rewritten for the first time, with important contributions from Verdens Gang editor Christian A. R. Christensen...
. In June 2011 he was awarded the King's Medal of Merit. He received patients in his office at Høvik Legesenter even up to his death, making him, at 82 years of age, one of the oldest practicing doctor in Norway.
He was married and had four children. He died in July 2011.