International Holocaust Remembrance Week in the EAJC Communities (Overview)

Every year on January 27, events commemorating International Holocaust Remembrance Day are held worldwide. This day was established by a UN resolution on November 21, 2005. On this date in 1945, the Auschwitz death camp was liberated by Soviet troops. Five years ago, the World Jewish Congress, in partnership with UNESCO, launched the annual #WeRemember campaign. Timed to coincide with the remembrance day, it serves as a platform where people worldwide—heads of state, politicians, opinion leaders, celebrities, executives, and activists of Jewish organizations, both Jews and non-Jews—unite in an effort to preserve remembrance and educate others about the horrific events of the Holocaust.

Jewish communities and organizations in the Euro-Asian region traditionally take a highly active part in international campaigns, as well as host their own series of events and projects dedicated to the Holocaust. We present to you an overview of International Holocaust Remembrance Day events organized by EAJC member communities and organizations.

"Mitsva" Association, Republic of Kazakhstan

The EAJC Representation in Central Asia and the "Mitsva" Association of Jewish National Organizations of Kazakhstan, in cooperation with the UN Information Office, hosted the "Unquenchable Candle" international online event dedicated to the memory of Holocaust victims. The round-table meeting brought together 80 participants from Kazakhstan, Russia, Western Europe, Israel, and the USA. Attendees included heads of diplomatic missions, representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Almaty, public figures, leaders of regional Jewish communities of Kazakhstan, and youth.

Participants were shown a film dedicated to the memory of Holocaust victims and a video address by UN Secretary-General António Guterres. Key speakers at the meeting included Yerlan Iskakov, Head of the Representative Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Almaty; Liat Wexelman, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the State of Israel to the Republic of Kazakhstan; Evgeny Bobrov, President of the Diplomatic Club and Consul General of the Russian Federation in Almaty; Eric Meyer, US Consul General in Almaty; Christiane Markert, Consul General of the Federal Republic of Germany in Almaty; Michaela Friberg-Storey, UN Resident Coordinator in the Republic of Kazakhstan; Vlastimil Samek, Representative of the UN Department of Global Communications in the Republic of Kazakhstan, and many others.

Dr. Chaim Ben Yakov, Director General of the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress, noted that studying the Holocaust and preserving historical memory are among the top priorities of the EAJC. He emphasized that the rehabilitation of criminals and any revision of historical lessons cannot be permitted.

"As is well known, in some countries, individuals directly or indirectly involved in the murder of Jews have become symbols of national struggle and elevated to the rank of national heroes... Such a policy is unacceptable and contradicts international standards," the EAJC Director General stated, emphasizing that the Congress condemns Nazi collaborators and considers the defense of historical truth to be its mission.

Another online event was an international guided tour of the Yad Vashem Memorial Complex, in which the Jewish community of Kazakhstan also took part.

Additionally, Jewish communities across Kazakhstan hosted commemorative events, including round tables, memorial ceremonies, and educational meetings.

Jewish Community of the Republic of Moldova

The Jewish Community of the Republic of Moldova organized a series of events to commemorate the victims of the Holocaust. This "Holocaust Remembrance Week" featured a wide range of activities: the "Stories of the Righteous Among the Nations" video project, flower-laying ceremonies at monuments to victims of fascism, rallies and memorial events in various cities, exhibitions, round tables, online film screenings, addresses by government officials, and more.

In particular, video addresses were delivered by Alexander Bilinkis, President of the Jewish Community of Moldova, and Peter Michalko, Head of the EU Delegation to Moldova. Aureliu Ciocoi, Acting Prime Minister, spoke at the opening of an online round table dedicated to National Holocaust Remembrance Day, organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration.

The Austrian Embassy in the Republic of Moldova organized an online screening of the film "Mauthausen — Two Lives." Additionally, the exhibition of photographs and historical documents "Holocaust: Annihilation. Liberation. Rescue" was held in the main building of the Moldova State University.

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Hillel CASE

On January 27, International Holocaust Remembrance Day, Hillel CASE students organized memorial ceremonies and joined numerous mourning events in their local communities to pay tribute to the six million Jews who perished during that dark era.

Despite challenging circumstances, Hillel branches in the region held a series of events dedicated to the tragedy of the Shoah: ceremonies at locations associated with the Holocaust, educational programs, online conferences, and much more.

For instance, on the eve of Holocaust Remembrance Day, Hillel Kyiv invited participants to join an initiative by the Babyn Yar Holocaust Memorial Center and experience an audio performance dedicated to the tragic events of 1941. Meanwhile, students from Hillel Minsk shared a moving video filmed at the "Yama" Holocaust Memorial. Young people from Hillel branches in other cities throughout the region also participated in the #WeRemember campaign.

Hillel Russia

At Hillel Moscow, the events of the Holocaust were discussed through the lens of the film "Denial," which offers a distinct perspective on the historical processes of the first half of the 20th century. As part of a special Memorial Shabbat, a lecture and discussion were led by Roman Zhigun, a researcher at the Archive Department of the "Holocaust" Research and Educational Center, outlining the key phases in the development of the Holocaust.

Project Kesher

This year, as in previous years, Project Kesher supported the #WeRemember campaign, timed to coincide with International Holocaust Remembrance Week. Activists of Project Kesher from Astrakhan, Bryansk, Vladimir, Volgograd, Kineshma, Kislovodsk, Kursk, Mozdok, Samara, Smolensk, Taganrog, Tambov, and Tver hosted commemorative events.

Under the "Female Face of the Holocaust" project, a series of special videos was prepared, featuring readings of memoirs of female Holocaust survivors.

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Sefer Center

The Sefer Center organized a series of events focused on the history of the Holocaust. Notably, an online school dedicated to the history of the Holocaust and memory politics was held. The school's educational program opened with a plenary lecture titled "Jews in the Red Army, 1941–1945" by Dr. Oleg Budnitskii, Professor at the National Research University Higher School of Economics. A film discussion based on Dr. Olga Gershenson's book "The Phantom Holocaust" was also conducted. Other activities included the online quest "Flames Beneath the Ashes: From the History of the Holocaust."

Jewish Community of Armenia

On January 27, the Jewish Community of Armenia held its annual memorial ceremony, laying flowers and lighting candles at the Monument to the Victims of the Holocaust and Genocide in Yerevan, which was erected by the community in 2006. The ceremony was attended by Rimma Varzhapetyan, Representative of the Euro-Asian Congress and President of the Jewish Community of Armenia; Gersh Meir Burshtein, Chief Rabbi of Armenia; Ashot Shakhmuradyan, Honorary Consul of Armenia in Israel; a representative of the US Embassy in Armenia; a counselor from the Russian Embassy in Armenia; an official from the Department of National Minorities and Religious Affairs of the Government of the Republic of Armenia, along with other distinguished guests. The event received widespread coverage in local media.

Jewish Community of Georgia

The Jewish Community of Georgia also joined the World Jewish Congress's #WeRemember campaign.

Jewish Community of Kyrgyzstan

The Jewish Community of Kyrgyzstan also joined the World Jewish Congress's #WeRemember campaign.

"Maccabi" Union of Sports Clubs of the CIS

In St. Petersburg, the Maccabi Club honored the memory of Holocaust victims and all Jewish lives lost from 1941 to 1945 at the Museum of Tolerance. The meeting was also dedicated to the Day of Breaking the Siege of Leningrad, which is also commemorated on January 27.

Jewish Community of the Republic of Belarus

The Jewish Community of Belarus held a remembrance ceremony at the "Yama" Holocaust Memorial in Minsk. The ceremony was attended by Vladimir Makei, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus; Alex Goldman-Shayman, Ambassador of Israel to Belarus; and Rabbi Shneur Deutch, Chief Rabbi of Minsk.