Every year around 27 January, we pay tribute to the memory of the victims of the Holocaust and reaffirm our unwavering commitment to counter antisemitism, racism, and other forms of intolerance that may lead to group-targeted violence. The date marks the anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi Concentration and Extermination Camp of Auschwitz-Birkenau by Soviet troops on 27 January 1945.
In 2022, the theme guiding the United Nations Holocaust remembrance and education is “Memory, Dignity and Justice”. Holocaust commemoration and education is a global imperative in the third decade of the 21st century.
The members of the European Association for the Preservation and Promotion of Jewish Culture and Heritage (AEPJ) understand this day as paramount for the preservation of Jewish life in Europe and as an exercise of Remembrance, Dignity and Justice for a more pluralistic, inclusive and diverse Europe. Below we look back at the commemoration actions and events that took place by AEPJ members across Europe:
On Holocaust Memorial Day, The Together Plan hosted events in Belarus and in London. In Minsk – we facilitated an art exhibition “The Holocaust through the eyes of an artist”. In 1999 there had been an art competition inviting young people to submit artworks on the theme of the Holocaust. After the competition, the paintings were discarded. Recently they were discovered and we restored them and framed them for this exhibition which will now travel around Belarus. The event took place at the Kamensky College in Minsk where students are participating in our Making History Together Holocaust Education programme. In London we hosted an online event ‘Surviving the Minsk Ghetto’ with survivor Frida Reizman. We also featured some of the artwork. We have the recording for anyone who might be interested.
Screening of the documentary “Complicit” by Robert Krakow and discussion with survivors. Meeting-debate in the framework of the international day dedicated to the memory of the victims of the Holocaust. The unspeakable story of why the Roosevelt administration refused asylum to the Jewish refugees on the ship St Louis.
On 27 January in the Euronews Georgia evening news about Holocaust commemoration events in Tbilisi were interviews with : Ambassador of Israel in Georgia Mr. Ran Gidor; Chairman of Parliament of Georgia Mr. Shalva Papuashvili; Head Israeli Houze Mr. Itsik Moshe (at 19.32 to 19.36 local time); and Ms.Marine Solomonishvili, Head of Council of Jewish women in Georgia & LEA (at 19.38 to 19.45 local time).
On 27 January 2022, TV Euronews Georgia, special section of the evening news “Guest”,Ms. Marine Solomonishvili’s interview with journalist of Euronews Georgia Ms. Ana Alelishvili (at 19.38 to 19.45 local time), during the on line special interview we spoke about “International Holocaust Remembrance Day”, Holocaust memory and its significance today, prevention of anti-Semitism and any form violence, Holocaust education for young people and significance for the development of tolerance, etc. The annual celebration of the Holocaust is an eternal reminder to the public that even a small wave of intolerance can cause such an uproar that the coming of the people will bring it to the brink of extinction. The main commandment of Holocaust Remembrance Day is – remember! Remember the innocent victims! Remember those who did not lose humanity in inhumane conditions! Remember those whose inaction and indifference caused this tragedy! #NeverForget!
Lithuanian Jewish community together with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania and Vilnius Solom Aleichem ORT Gymnasium January 27th. (Thursday) invited representatives of diplomatic representatives residing in Lithuania and Lithuanian institutions to a Memorial Tour of the former Vilnius ghetto territory in Vilnius Old Town. This Memorial Tour is dedicated worldwide on January 27th for International Holocaust Memorial Day. During that time, the Lithuanian Jewish community invited to remember the Holocaust, the horrors of tragedy and to pass on the lessons of this tragedy to future generations.
The Lithuanian Jewish community sincerely thanks the respected Minister of Foreign Affairs, members of the LR Seimas, ambassadors residing in Lithuania and staff of embassy in Lithuania, representatives of Lithuanian institutions for joining the memorial campaign b hey for the remembrance of the victims of the Holocaust.
Due to pandemic restrictions in the country our events planned around the exhibition were not conducted physically. Still we can inform that the exhibition is mounted at the Agency of Interethnic Relations (AIR) of Moldova, and its virtual version was used by both Jewish lyceums of Chisinau on Jan. 27 online lectures dedicated to the Holocaust theme. It was shared by the Agency and our friends from Israeli House of Tbilisi on their Facebook pages and in fact started the week of the Holocaust remembrance in Moldova.
Also, it was filmed by Moldova 1 state TV channel program and the reportage will be shown on Jan 31 along with Michael Finckel’s comments on behalf of Agudath Israel.
Fundatia Tarbut Sighet Cultura si Educatie Iudaica, is pleased to report that reached over 600 high school students from across Romania during International Holocaust Remembrance Day , January 27, via zoom presentations. The most important part of the presentations is the questions students ask or issues raised I would like to congratulate the principals and educators that chose to devote a period on that day to honor the memory of those who were murdered just because they were born Jews. We also delivered a public presentation reaching from across USA, Canada and Israel over 100 second generation discussing memories of our “Parents Liberation at Auschwitz. I am pleased to announce that on November 18, 2021, the Romanian Parliament ruled that Holocaust Studies will be mandator Minister of Education will in collaborate with the Elie Wiesel Institute for the Study of the Holocaust in Romania.
After a decade of diverse activities organized to mark the International Day of the Holocaust, the Museum in Simleu Silvaniei offered on January 23, 2022, 10 medals as a sign of appreciation and gratitude to individuals or institutions that have a connection Tribute to constantly supporting Holocaust education. As part of the Jewish Heritage Route in Transylvania.
Commemoration of the Official Day of Remembrance of the Holocaust and the Prevention of Crimes against Humanity in the Plenary Hall of Girona City Council.
Pictures by Pedres de Girona
Every 27 January, UNESCO pays tribute to the memory of the victims of the Holocaust and reaffirms its commitment to fight antisemitism, racism and all other forms of intolerance that may lead to violent acts against certain human groups.
And as every year, the Network of Spanish Jewish Quarters joins the commemoration with different events in its cities on the International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust, and joins the #WeRemember campaign called to unite the world in their memory.
Waddesdon turned purple January 27th evening to show support for #HolocaustMemorialDay and remember those murdered for who they were. Today and every day, we stand with @HMD_UK against prejudice and hate in the world.