On Monday of this week, I was able to meet with the Holocaust Education Trust and sign the book of condolence that remembers Holocaust Memorial Day.
Holocaust
Memorial Day is Thursday January 27th. It marks 77 years since the
liberation of Auschwitz.
We remember the
atrocities, and reaffirm our commitment to ensure it never, ever happens again.
The passage of
77 years since the liberation of Auschwitz – Birkenau has rendered those events
no less unthinkable.
My trip to
Jerusalem a few years ago moved me tremendously, most particularly the visit to
Yad Vashem, the World Holocaust Remembrance Centre. The Centre is dedicated to
preserving the memory of Jews who were murdered, honouring Jews who fought
against their Nazi oppressors and researching the Holocaust, so that no
genocide every happens again.
Many have
uttered the words ‘never again’ - but recent events across the world have
demonstrated that anti- Jewish racism, anti- Semitism, is still a serious
problem in societies across the world.
We were
reminded only too recently that anti-Semitism is still prevalent in our
society, when a man took hostages at a synagogue in Dallas, Texas. This was an
act of anti- Semitism and terrorism, and I stand with Jewish people across the
world in defending the rights of citizens against those who spread hate.
I watched the
rabbi of the synagogue, Charlie Cytron – Walker, giving his moving account of
the attacker entering the synagogue and taking his congregation as hostages. My
thoughts are with the Jewish community, at such a salient time of year, when we
remember the atrocious events of what happened 77 years ago.
This awful
event wasn’t a one off. The toxic ideology of anti – Semitism has seen Jews
across the world murdered simply because of who they were. In France, we see
Jewish schools guarded by armed police.
Our best
defence against this poisonous ideology is education. I support the work of
the Holocaust Educational Trust; the Trust’s mission is to educate young
people in Britain from every background about the Holocaust and its meaning for
us today. I know they are working with several Tynedale schools very successfully.
Spend a few
minutes today reflecting on what happened 77 years ago. Talking and remembering
are the best way to fight anti – Semitism going forward.
