NEVER AGAIN!!! In capital letters … International Holocaust Remembrance Day.
January, 27. 2015. Budapest.
The liberation of the Auschwitz Nazi concentration camp memorial service was held on the occasion of the 70th anniversary on Sunday at the Holocaust Memorial Center in Budapest.
During the event Lieselore Cyrus, Germany Ambassador emphasized, Auschwitz was inhuman of suffers, disenfranchisement, this was absolutely nadir in the history of civilization. The liberation of the former camp fills our soul in mourning and shame and we must never forget of the Jews and other victims who had been deprived of their rights, their lives, their human dignity. Human dignity is inviolable and the most precious treasure. The German ambassador stressed out that Europe to-day is no place for intolerance, xenophobia and racist ideologies.
Ilan Mor, Israel’s ambassador to Budapest, he said that anti-Semitism has increased over the past few years. Physical security of Jews all around the world in danger. The fight against anti-Semitism is not just a matter of the Jews, but the overall challenge. Added, that those who value the fundamental human values, freedom, must work together to combat anti-Semitism. The diplomat pointed out that those who deny the Holocaust, Israel is considered illegitimate, and all forms of denying Holocaust is a form of anti-Semitism. European leaders have to assess what they can do against anti-Semitism, and must work together in this fight. The ambassador believes the anniversary is a good occasion to remember the past and commit ourselves in building a better future.
Roman Kowalski Polish ambassador to Budapest sent a message read by Katarzyna Sitko, director of the Polish Institute in Budapest. The diplomat noted the Holocaust is in the Polish nation’s memory. It is an important part in the Polish history. Even though the past history can not be changed, but it can and must be done by deducting from the lessons and to learn all about what happened … for this tragedy there is no excuse. The ambassador underlined, have to get all manifestations of hatred, and responsibility is our duty to remember what happened.
György Haraszti – the Holocaust Documentation Center and the Chairman of the Memorial Collection Foundation Board of Trustees has pointed out that to-day’s commemoration is not about our grief, the sorrow, but about our better common future which will be pledge for our survivors who are here after so many terrible horrors. He has high hopes that history taught the lesson and managed to learn something from what happened and they do not repeat it.
After the commemoration concert was given with well-known songs to the ears for the public, as the theme of the Schinlder’s List that was played by Zoltán Mága – violinist, accompanied by the symphonic orchestra. Maga’s friends also attended the concert, as: Béla Lakatos Szakcsi – pianist, Miklós Szenthelyi – violinist, Zoltán Maga’s 11 years old son played the violin and teenage daughter sung in Hebrew language the Jerusalem of Gold – Yerushalayim shel Zahav, which she learnt in one day for especially this concert with the assistance of Béla Lakatos Szakcsi – pianist. Following the event, light a candle for the victims took place at the memorial wall.
Update and snaps by Aggie Reiter
Rolling in Budapest 