(19 Nov 2003) SHOTLIST
1. Wide shot press briefing, zoom in to signing as Michael Garcia, acting assistant secretary Immigration and Customs Enforcement, transfers possession to Jakubovits
2. Close up Jakubovits signs, Garcia lifts manuscript and hands to her
3. Close up manuscript, Jakubovits opens, tilt up to show her
4. Medium shot pan from cameramen to Jakubovits
5. Close up manuscript
6. Medium shot manuscript, tilt up to Jakubovits
7. Wide shot press briefing
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Michael Garcia, Acting Assistant Secretary, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE):
"This really is a piece of history. Sixty-five years ago, almost to the day, this manuscript was stolen, looted by the Nazis in Vienna, horrible crime. Today we take a small step in returning what rightfully belongs to that community organisation in Vienna, in returning this manuscript and in pledging to do all that we can, continuing to go forward, in retrieving artifacts like this, that have such historical and personal value."
9. Wide shot presser
10. SOUNDBITE (English) Erika Jakubovits, executive director of Jewish Community Organization of Vienna:
"Today is a very special day for the Jewish community and Vienna and a very touching moment for myself. It is the first time since the 1950s that such a valuable manuscript is being returned to the Jewish community. The manuscript has enormous value to us because of its cultural, historical and religious meaning."
11. Cutaway photographers
12. SOUNDBITE (English) Michael Garcia, Acting Assistant Secretary, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE):
"Obviously, those are important cases in their own right and we heard explained today, in very eloquent terms, why this particular manuscript in this particular case is so important. But it also points out vulnerabilities in our border security as well, which is what Homeland Security is about. Because if people can smuggle artifacts, or smuggle other items across our borders, those same vulnerabilities could be exploited to smuggle components for WMD (Weapons of Mass Destruction) or other contraband across our borders. So at Homeland Security, we approach the cases, one, as important in their own right, because of the value of the items involved and the value to the rightful owners, and also as a broader picture, a Homeland Security picture, in terms of vulnerabilities in our border security."
13. Wide shot briefing
STORYLINE
A 14th-century Jewish manuscript seized by the Nazis 65 years ago from a library in Vienna and found in a New York auction house was returned to a representative of Austria's Jewish community on Tuesday.
The Immigration and Customs Enforcement division of the Department of Homeland Security presented the rare Kabbalistic manuscript valued at over 68-thousand US dollars to the Jewish Community Organisation of Vienna at a news conference in New York.
Erika Jakubovits, executive director of the organisation, accepted the manuscript.
Jakubovits said she first learned of the manuscript's whereabouts in March 2002 when it appeared in a catalogue of items being auctioned by the New York auction house of Kestenbaum & Company.
She called Kestenbaum & Company and asked them not to sell the manuscript, But the auction house went ahead and sold the manuscript on March 12, 2002.
Jakubovits then contacted the US Customs Department, which stepped in and prohibited the auction house from delivering the manuscript to the buyer.
In June 2002, customs officials seized the manuscript.
Kabbala is an ancient Jewish mystical tradition.
Find out more about AP Archive: [ Ссылка ]
Twitter: [ Ссылка ]
Facebook: [ Ссылка ]
Instagram: [ Ссылка ]
You can license this story through AP Archive: [ Ссылка ]
