The European Parliament will hold an official ceremony commemorating the international Holocaust day

For the first time since it was established, European Parliament President, Martin Schulz, has adopted the international Holocaust Remembrance Day as part of its official ceremonies.

In a special letter sent to Rabbi Avi Tawil, President of the European Jewish Community Centre (EJCC), President Schulz acknowledged EJCC’s 7 year contribution to the Holocaust Day commemorations in the EU institutions, and promised that the European Parliament is committed to the perpetuation of the Holocaust and the promotion of democracy and human rights.

The decision to hold an official ceremony is a result of ongoing efforts by the EJCC. For the past 7 years, the EJCC took upon itself to hold an annually event in the European Parliament, commemorating the Holocaust. These events were not considered official until now, but were certainly attended by high ranked Parliament members.

Rabbi Avi Tawil, President of the EJCC and the initiator of Holocaust commemoration ceremony at the European Parliament has stated that: ” the commemoration of the Holocaust and its lessons is essential not only for the Jewish community but for all people in Europe and the entire world. Unfortunately, we are witnessing an alarming rise in popularity of hate groups across Europe as a consequence of the financial crisis.”

Rabbi Menachem Margolin, General Director of the European Jewish Organization (EJA), thanked President Schulz for his efforts to promote the lessons of the Holocaust and stated: “The European institutions have the responsibility to increase education toward tolerance in all EU member states. Education is the key to preventing the reoccurrence of such acts of horror.”

Rabbi Margolin thanked EJCC president Avi Tawil for his devotion and contribution the commemorating the Holocaust in the European institutions for the past 7 years, and expressed his appreciation for European Jewish Congress efforts for execution of the ceremonies in the past 2 years.

European Commission, Brussels, Berlaymont, Monday 28 January 2013 at 15:00.

The event will be accompanied by an exhibition “Room 28” dedicated to a group of Holocaust survivors, the “girls of Room 28” from the former children’s home L 410 in Theresienstad/Terezin.

The event will be opened with a keynote speech by Vice-President Reding and Robert Badinter, Member of French Senate, and will be followed by a cultural program. Helga Pollak-Kinsky – one of the girls from “Room 28” will read an extract from her Theresienstadt diary. Songs from the original Terezin cabaret will be performed by the ensemble “Zwockhaus”.

Online English registration form.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)