INTERNATIONAL HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE DAY

“I swore never to be silent whenever and wherever human beings endure suffering and humiliation. We must take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.”

-Elie Wiesel

Today, January 27, is designated by the United Nations as International Holocaust Remembrance Day. On this day we remember the six million Jewish people, one third of the Jewish population, and other minorities killed between 1933 and 1945 by Nazi Germany.

The day is a rejection of the denial of the Holocaust as an event and condemns all religious intolerance, incitement, harassment, or violence against persons or communities based on ethnic origin or religious belief.

The day also calls for the world to educate current and future generations of the horrors of the Holocaust and to recommit ourselves to the human rights of all people. The observance is focused on the importance of educating today’s youth so that future generations will work to prevent hatred, bigotry, racism, and prejudice.

We pray also on this day for all the innocent people left behind in Afghanistan by the sudden and unexpected withdraw of U.S. troops and pray for those under the threat of war in the Ukraine.