Moscow Hosts Inaugural Theater Competition Commemorating Victims of the Holocaust

Yesterday (April 25), the final of the first All-Russian competition of theatrical productions dedicated to the memory of Holocaust victims, "Memory of the Nation," was held in Moscow at the Conference Hall of MGIMO University. The competition was organized by the Youth Parliament of the State Duma in cooperation with the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress, headed by Mikhail Mirilashvili. The event was also co-organized and supported by MGIMO University, the Federation of Jewish Communities of Russia, the Russian Peace Foundation, and the Russian Union of Jewish Students.

EAJC Director General Haim Ben-Yakov addressed the guests of the evening: "The Euro-Asian Jewish Congress welcomes the holding of the All-Russian theatrical festival-competition dedicated to the memory of Holocaust victims ('Memory of the Nation'). It is the duty of each of us to preserve the memory of the horrific events of the Second World War. Awareness of this terrible tragedy in the history of the Jewish people and humanity as a whole must be preserved forever. We remember that the Red Army played a leading role in the victory over Nazi Germany and the liberation of the death camps, and modern Russia has done much to study the history of the Holocaust and perpetuate the memory of the victims. Our duty is to preserve the memory of the suffering of the victims, the heroism of the victors, and to never forget this unique act of genocide in human history — the six million men, women, and children who were destroyed solely for being born Jewish."

The winner of the competition and recipient of the "Best Performance" award was the only theater studio in Russia established within an orphanage. The production "Memory," presented by the "Detsky Ostrov" (Children's Island) theater studio of the Ivanovo Special (Correctional) Children's Home "Raduga," received the majority of the jury's votes.

The organizers and partners of the "Memory of the Nation" competition announced that the event will become annual.