EJC organises event marking 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau

At an event organised by the European Jewish Congress in Brussels, Members of the European Parliament, prominent Belgian politicians, ambassadors and diplomatic representatives, senior EU officials, and leaders of the Jewish community gathered to mark the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau and honour the memory of the victims of the Shoah amid rising antisemitism in Europe.

On this solemn occasion, participants attended an exclusive screening of the animated film The Most Precious of Cargoes, a poignant adaptation of Jean-Claude Grumberg’s novel, directed by Academy Award winner Michel Hazanavicius, which was selected to compete for the Palme d’Or at the 77th Cannes Film Festival. The film, which tells a powerful story of humanity amidst the atrocities of the Holocaust, was introduced to the audience by its producer, Patrick Sobelman, who shared insights about its development.

EJC Executive Vice-President Raya Kalenova welcomed the guests and said: “80 years after the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the world’s Jewish population has still not reached the numbers of 1939. But against all odds, we have survived. We are the living testament to the memory of the victims, their stories, and the unbroken spirit of a people who refused to surrender to despair, who turned death into life and suffering into love.”

“All together, we need to expose and fight the rise of antisemitism, as it represents a danger to society as a whole. Antisemitism and Holocaust distortion prevent us from teaching the lessons of history to future generations. If we remember the victims of the Shoah, we not only fight to prevent such horrors from happening again, but we also ensure that light continues to shine against darkness and that humanity’s conscience never falters, once again, in the face of evil,” expressed Ms Kalenova.

Afterwards, participants had the privilege of watching a European Jewish Congress-produced film about the Jewish artist Felix Nussbaum, who lived in Brussels under Nazi occupation and was deported and murdered in Auschwitz-Birkenau. This film was narrated by hidden child Baron Julien Klener, who shared an emotional testimony as a survivor of the Holocaust.

Following Mr Klener’s impactful words, Minister of Education and Social Welfare and Vice-President of the Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles, Valérie Glatigny, addressed the public, saying: “Educating our children about the Holocaust is not merely about teaching a history lesson. It is about showing them what hatred and indifference can destroy and equipping them with the tools to build a society founded on respect for human dignity.”

“Education is the key to building a future where the tragedies of the past are not repeated. It is through education that we convey and teach not only history, but also the fundamental values of tolerance, respect, and humanity,” recalled Ms Glatigny.

The European Commission Coordinator on Combating Antisemitism and Fostering Jewish Life, Katharina von Schnurbein, stressed: “Eighty years after the Holocaust, we find ourselves facing the highest levels of antisemitism since its end, alongside the dangerous rise of Holocaust distortion and trivialisation. This genocide is a defining legacy of the European Union, and no conflict can serve as an excuse to distort our shared history or minimise its horrors.”

The ceremony concluded with a minute of silence honouring the memory of the six million Jews murdered during the Shoah.

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