On Tuesday, the 66th anniversary of the Budapest ghetto liberation was marked by the Jewish Community in Hungary. The keynote speaker at the event was Rabbi Israel Meir Lau, Tel Aviv's Chief Rabbi and President of Yad Vashem and himself a survivor of the Holocaust.
Rabbi Lau said that at the time of the Holocaust, the world was divided into three groups: the Nazis and their supporters; the victims, and those who "stood by and did nothing in order to save the victims."
Lau warned of rising anti-Semitism today, and said that the survivors have not forgotten the Holocaust, and now the world's leaders must understand how important it is to remember and remind people of the the horrors of the Holocaust. Remembrance is crucial to building mutual respect and friendship, and a foundation for the brotherhood of Jews with other peoples.
Lau stated that there is a growing interest in the world to learn more about the events of the Holocaust. He hailed the growing interest among young people and the opening of Holocaust memorial centers in a number of countries.
Israel Meir Lau spoke about how, when he met Pope John Paul II the Catholic Church leader told him: "Primitive anti-Semites will be shocked to see photos of the Pope shaking hands with chief rabbis."
The commemoration event was attended by Semjén Zsolt, Hungary's Deputy Prime Minister (pictured) and by former Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Boross.
Main photo caption: Stunned Jewish survivors after the liberation of the Budapest ghetto in January 1945.
On Tuesday, the 66th anniversary of the Budapest ghetto liberation was marked by the Jewish Community. The keynote speaker at the event was Rabbi Israel Meir Lau, Tel Aviv's Chief Rabbi and President of Yad Vashem and himself a survivor of the Holocaust. In his words, he said that during the Holocaust the world was divided into three parties: the Nazis and their supporters; the victims and those who "stood by and did nothing in order to save the victims ."
Lau warned of the growing anti-Semitism and slammed those who turn their backs against the Jews today. According to him, "we have not forgotten the Holocaust and now the world's leaders understand that it is important to remember and remind the horrors of the Holocaust." And the Rabbi added: The remembrance is crucial to build mutual respect and friendship and possibly also the brotherhood of Jews with and other people.
Lau stated that there is a growing interest in the world to learn more about the events of the Holocaust. He hailed the growing interest among young people and the opening of Holocaust memorial centers in a number of countries.
Israel Meir Lau spoke about how, when he met Pope John Paul II the Catholic Church leader told him: "Primitive anti-Semites will be shocked to see photos of the Pope shaking hands with chief rabbis."
The event was attended by Semjén Zsolt, Hungary's Deputy Prime Minister and former Prime Minister Peter Boross
