Leaders call for remembrance on Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day

As communities around the world observe Yom HaShoah, Chancellor Lester W. Young Jr., the Board of Regents, and Commissioner Betty A. Rosa issued a reflective statement on Holocaust Remembrance Day. The statement urges society to remember and mourn the millions of lives lost during the Holocaust while honoring those who bravely resisted the Nazi regime.

The statement emphasizes the importance of teaching future generations about these historical atrocities. "Evil can be defeated, but only through education and informed resistance," it reads. It also cites Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel, who emphasized the necessity of remembering the lives lost, as "to forget the dead would be akin to killing them a second time."

In what is described as a "sacred obligation," the statement highlights the Judaic concept of "L'dor vador," meaning "from generation to generation." This principle underscores the duty to pass on knowledge, traditions, and values to ensure that future generations learn from past mistakes.

"May the memories of all who perished in the Holocaust be a blessing," the statement concludes, offering a solemn reminder of the significance of remembering the past to build a better future.