The United Nations General Assembly designated January 27—the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau—as International Holocaust Remembrance Day.
In Westchester, County Executive George Latimer announced for the first time the County has marked International Holocaust Remembrance Day with five yellow panels across the Westchester County Center in White Plains.
Latimer said: “It’s important to know the horrors inflicted in the Holocaust, which have been well-documented, must never be forgotten. This story must be told from generation to generation so we never repeat the acceptance of hatred and genocide. We must make sure this never happens again.”
Executive Director of the Holocaust and Human Rights Education Center Millie Jasper said: “This is so important to bring awareness and we are grateful to the County Executive for supporting proper Holocaust education in Westchester County.”
CEO of the Westchester Jewish Council Elliot Forchheimer said: “We say never again. Never again may the atrocities of the Holocaust be tolerated. Never again, not here, not there, not anywhere and not in our great County of Westchester.”
Other locations across New York State in yellow include Niagara Falls, Mario Cuomo Bridge and One World Trade Center.
Congressmember Jamaal Bowman said, “I join the world in solemn reflection on this Holocaust Remembrance Day. Although the horrors of the Holocaust have since ended, our society has unfortunately failed to overcome hate and antisemitism — which were seen just this month when Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker and members of Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville, Texas were taken hostage. To pay my respects to the millions of Jews killed in the Holocaust, I recently visited the Yad Vashem – the World Holocaust Remembrance Center – in Israel. While there, I stood in silent contemplation and reflection surrounded by the faces and stories of those we lost. I thought about the pain and suffering the Jewish people endured then, and continue to endure today because of attacks like the one in Colleyville. It was a debilitating and chilling experience that tells the truth about genocide, dehumanization, and antisemitism — and the fear and hate that fuel them. Today and every day, we must surround the Jewish community with support and love. Regardless of one’s religion, political affiliation, race, class or socio-economic status, every person deserves to be treated with respect and should be able to feel safe living their day to day life, including at their place of worship. I will continue doing my part to lead by example and urge our community to join me in calling out antisemitism wherever and whenever it occurs, while working to uplift and support Jewish voices. We must commit to rooting out antisemtism, and hate of all kinds, in belief of a better tomorrow.”
Inter-Religious Coalition of New Rochelle commented on the recent anti-semitic attacks in Texas.
Dear New Rochelle Community,
“As the sun sets this Friday evening, the Jewish community here in New Rochelle, along with Jewish communities across the country and the world, will celebrate Shabbat – the Sabbath Day. The Sabbath, according to Jewish tradition, is meant to be a day unlike others – filled with joy and rest, rather than work and toil. It was amidst this day of rest two weeks ago, on Saturday, that an act of anti-Semitic terror was carried out against the Jewish community in Colleyville, Texas. The Inter-Religious Coalition of New Rochelle fully denounces this act of anti-Semitism. Here in New Rochelle, a community founded on the principle of religious freedom by the Huguenots, we know that bigotry in any form must be condemned. In this community, we are united, regardless of the different paths we take in our search for connection with the Divine.
We also recognize that in this country and around the world, Jews are the most targeted religious minority. While the Jewish community in the United States comprises less than 2% of the population, Jews are the targets of more than half of all religious-based hate acts. Our Coalition works hard to build bridges and will always stand with our Jewish brothers and sisters.
The Inter-Religious Coalition of New Rochelle wants the Jewish community to know that we are here for you in the wake of this most recent attack, and always. In the words of Psalm 133, “Behold! How good it is when brothers [and sisters] dwell together in unity!” Indeed, we here in New Rochelle, dwell as united brothers and sisters, and we will not tolerate a hatred of Jews to pollute this community or to rend our unity.
This past weekend’s attack took place on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Weekend, when our community gathered to celebrate his legacy, including the inter-faith bonds that Dr. King created in the Civil Rights Movement. His words echo in our ears still, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.” While the Jewish community in Colleyville was targeted, an attack on Jews anywhere is an attack on Jews everywhere. An attack on people of faith anywhere is an attack on peoples of faith everywhere. An attack on a minority anywhere is an attack on all minorities everywhere.
On behalf on the entire Inter-Religious Coalition, please join me in condemning this most recent act of anti-Semitism and all acts of anti-Semitism. On behalf on the entire Inter-Religious Coalition, please join me in offering comfort and solace, support and friendship, to the Jewish community. On behalf on the entire Inter-Religious Coalition, I invite you to join us in our work in building a stronger, better community through inter-faith fellowship. And let this Shabbat, and all others, be a Shabbat shalom, a Sabbath of peace, for us all.”
In solidarity, Minister Mark McLean President
