On this Holocaust anniversary, say never again
Forty six presidents and Heads of State met in Israel this week to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp – declared by the UN as International Holocaust Remembrance Day. The leaders participated in the 5th World Holocaust Forum held under the theme “Remembering the Holocaust, fighting anti-Semitism.”
During World War II, the Nazis murdered 6 million Jews and millions of others fell victim to the Nazi Regime.
Only three years later the modern State of Israel was established in the ancestral land of the Jewish people fulfilling the yearnings of over two millennia.
It emerged vibrantly from the ashes of this tragedy and in spite of it, to serve as an eternal home and shelter for the Jewish diaspora.
Today as Israel’s representative in Florida I represent a state that is an example of hope, perseverance and democracy to ensure a better future for all humanity.
The Holocaust (La Shoah) fundamentally challenged the foundations of human civilization, and its unprecedented character marked a watershed, and turning point in humanity.
In the world we live in, with the increase of nationalist discourse, we must take more care of our democratic values and protect human rights, especially the rights of minorities, through education and particularly with concrete and definitive actions.
Many times evil manifests itself first with discrimination and anti-Semitism, but it never ends there. What commences with words of hate rapidly turns to the burning of books, and we have seen what happened next.
One of the greatest teachings that the Holocaust has taught us is that, “Whoever forgets his history, is doomed to repeat it.”
The consequences of this historical event have triggered through the years a series of questions that go beyond all understanding/comprehension.
Although we have left behind the century in which it occurred, we must continue studying the Holocaust in all its dimensions.
We must strive to increase the awareness of the reasons and the consequences it had.
In the past year we have evidenced an alarming rise of anti-Semitism in Europe and in the United States and this should serve as a wakeup call to action for all.
On the positive side, we have seen in the last two decades, a considerable increase in the participation of countries, governments and non-governmental actors in the objective dissemination of this historical event and in the promotion of tolerance.
Last year, the US Congress unanimously approved a law in honor of Elie Wiesel.
Named the Genocide and Atrocity Prevention Act (GAPA), this law states that, “US policy will consider the prevention of genocide and other criminal atrocities as a national security interest and a moral responsibility.”
We will have to follow this example in an increasingly polarized environment here in the U.S. and in many countries of the world.
One of the main tools at our disposal is education. In education you find the foundation to raise consciousness, and to discern between good and evil.
Here lies the hope in seeking the truth and transmitting it to our children.
The Holocaust has left us another great lesson: the hate that leads to genocide is the product of fear and ignorance. Both must be fought through education.
We must use all the tools at our disposal to combat prejudices and intolerance that emanate from lack of education, misinformation and ignorance.
Albert Einstein said: “The world will not be destroyed by those who do evil, but by those who watch them without doing anything.”
This week the Heads of State visited the Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum in Jerusalem.
There they walked on the avenue dedicated to those heroes who did not sit idle to see what happened and instead risked their lives to save Jews.
Their example serves world leaders to reaffirm their commitment to the fight against indifference, apathy and silence, and to take action against all forms of discrimination, racism, and anti-Semitism.
On this International Holocaust Remembrance Day, it is inspiring to witness a numerous international gathering in Israel, forming a coalition against anti-Semitism.
Together with the world leaders, we must all affirm these principles, at all levels of society, and commit ourselves in a unanimous voice... Never again!
Jonathan Peled is the Interim Consul General of Israel in Miami.
