Every year on 27 January, the Jewish Community of Montenegro pays tribute to the memory of the victims of the Holocaust and reaffirms its unwavering commitment to counter antisemitism, racism, and other forms of intolerance that may lead to group-targeted violence.
This year, the Holocaust memorial ceremony was organized jointly for the fourth time in a row with the Parliament of Montenegro on 27 January from 12 to 13 p.m.
The ceremony included a keynote address by the President of Parliament of Montenegro Mr. Aleksa Bećić as well as remarks by Nina Ofner Bokan, President of the Jewish Community of Montenegro.
He expressed gratitude to representatives of the Jewish Community in Montenegro for cooperation on the project, but also to the overall contribution in building our country as a civil society, where all differences have been perceived as its advantage, and their respect as a precondition for our aspiration towards full membership in the European Union.
President of the Jewish Community in Montenegro, Ms Nina Ofner Bokan, thanked the Parliament of Montenegro for its great contribution in marking 27 January, International Day of Commemoration in memory of the victims of the Holocaust added that we must stand with the utmost determination against anti-Semitism, be it open or veiled, and against denial or diminishing of the Holocaust.”
Then they opened an exhibition of paintings titled “From the ashes of pain and hopelessness the whirlwind of hope gave life to the seed of humanity ” by Nikola Kovaćević, of 8 pictures, shining a light on the survives who joined by their descendants, song „Chai“ (Life). The lyrics “I’m still alive, and my two eyes are still looking towards the light, I have suffered thorns, and yet the flowers are born, the years to come are too many to count”, served as base to the painter to make the exhibition.
At the conclusion of the event, six candles were lit to remember the victims of Nazi persecution than President Bečić asked the guests to pay respects to all Holocaust and fascism victims with a moment of silence.
The commemoration was attended by the Honorary Consul of Israel in Montenegro Mr. Milos Komnenic, the Protector of Human Rights and Freedoms of Montenegro, representatives of MP groups, resident ambassadors and representatives of international organizations.
Further, the Jewish Community of Montenegro illuminated the building of Montenegrin Parliament with #WeRemember sign.
Before the commemoration began, the meeting had been kept with the Chief rabbi of Montenegro Luciano Moshe Prelevic and the president of the Jewish Community of Montenegro Nina Ofner Bokan with the President of the Parliament of Montenegro Aleksa Becic
Montenegro joins almost a hundred countries over the world by marking this important date and the 77th anniversary of Auschwitz liberation with the goal to remember the victims, but also to prevent any kind of future expression of intolerance or violence, focused on ethics or religious minorities.
