As the years go by, commemorations that ensure that the atrocities of the Holocaust are not forgotten become more and more crucial. On January 27, International Holocaust Memorial Day will provide a worldwide platform to deepen knowledge and understanding of this senseless genocide. From attending educational events to reading eye-opening novels or discovering a local organization in which to get involved, there are a multitude of ways to remember the innocent six million Jews and millions of other people who fell victims to Nazi persecution.
Presented by the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia, here are some ways to ensure that you never forget this January.
ATTEND AN EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM
Want to learn through discussion? Join the Jewish Federation’s Jewish Community Relations Council for two conversation-based programs to explore the intersection of commemoration and activism.
Then They Came For Me: The Legacy of Martin Niemöller
January 26 | 6:00 p.m.
Virtual
Niemöller's quote is iconic, but much less is known about the individual behind it. Join the Philadelphia Holocaust Remembrance Foundation and the Jewish Federation’s Jewish Community Relations Council for a presentation by Professor Matthew Hockenos about Niemöller's complex life.
Register here.
"I Remember"
January 27 | 12:00 p.m.
Virtual
The memory of the Holocaust is facing a serious challenge as it must remain both relevant and personal, so that the younger generations will keep it alive. Adi Rabinowitz Bedein will discuss the idea of memory, and show what and how we can learn from the Holocaust in this program presented by the Jewish Community Relations Council. It is expressed in a manner that is personal and meaningful, so we can become better individuals who are active against the wrongs in our world.
Register here.
ADD STORIES ABOUT THE HOLOCAUST TO YOUR READING LIST
Looking to open your mind and a new book? Beth Razin, the Jewish Federation’s associate director of Israel and global strategies, recommends the recently published "The Escape Artist: The Man Who Broke Out of Auschwitz to Warn the World." Written by the award-winning journalist Jonathan Freedland, the novel tells the incredible story of Rudolf Vrba, the first Jew to break out of Auschwitz. Vrba was determined to warn the world and pass on a truth too few were willing to hear, elevating him to his rightful place in the annals of World War II alongside Anne Frank, Primo Levi and Oskar Schindler and casting a new light on the Holocaust and its aftermath.
LEARN ABOUT PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS THAT FOCUS ON HOLOCAUST EDUCATION
The Jewish Federation is committed to ensuring that survivors of the Holocaust age with dignity and that all the victims are honored by having their stories be remembered. Here are two local organizations that are carrying the light forward for Holocaust remembrance.
This non-profit creates an outlet for Holocaust remembrance and education in greater Philadelphia and across the Delaware Valley, focusing on the perspective of the third generation, educating diverse communities about the perils of intolerance and providing a supportive forum for the descendants of Holocaust survivors.
Click here to learn more about 3G Philly’s work.
Philadelphia Holocaust Remembrance Foundation
One initiative of the Philadelphia Holocaust Remembrance Foundation is its Horwitz-Wasserman Holocaust Memorial Plaza, a unique and innovative space in which people of all ages and backgrounds can gather to commemorate one of the worst genocides in human history, and discover how our constitutional protections shield us from from experiencing a tragedy of similar proportions on American soil. This space honors those who passed, and those who carry on their legacy.
Click here to learn more about the Horwitz Wasserman Holocaust Memorial Plaza.
***
The Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia is committed to preserving the memory of those who perished in the Holocaust, supporting those who survived and educating the next generation. Click here to assist us in this crucial work.