“Forgetting is dying a second time”: ceremony for the International Day in Memory of the Victims of the Shoah in Montpellier

Élus locaux et représentants des autorités civiles, militaires ou religieuses ont déposé des gerbes dans les jardins de l'Hôtel de Ville. MIDI LIBRE – VM

The ceremony for the International Day in Memory of the Victims of the Shoah and the 79th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau camp took place this Sunday morning, in the gardens of the Auschwitz-Birkenau camp. Montpellier town hall. Ceremony, minute of silence and laying of wreaths followed numerous speeches denouncing anti-Semitism and thanking courageous behavior.

January 27 marks the date of the Liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau camp. It was recognized as the International Day of Remembrance of the Shoah.

A commitment to fighting all forms of intolerance

The ceremony of the 79th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau camp took place this Sunday morning, in the gardens of the Town Hall of Montpellier, in the presence of the sub-prefect of Hérault, Elisa Basso and the mayor of Montpellier, president of the Metropolis, Michael Delafosse, parliamentarians and local elected officials, and representatives of civil, military and religious authorities.

"In this period of resurgence of anti-Semitism, this moment of sharing on memory is, more than ever, important because it allows us to honor the memory of the victims and affirm our common vigilance to defend our shared values ​​and reaffirm our commitment to fight against anti-Semitism, racism and other forms of intolerance, reaffirmed Perla Danan, president of Crif Languedoc Roussillon.

A 1000% increase in the number of anti-Semitic acts in 2023

Director of the Maïmonides Institute in Montpellier, MiKael Iancu recalled the responsibility borne by historians in memorial work: "A report points to a 1000% increase in the number of ;#39;anti-Semitic acts in 2023, a level never reached. The virus of anti-Semitism is spreading among young people.

The question is asked in the various speeches: "Will we be able to avoid the repetition of massacres and anti-Semitism ?", asks Perla Danan, who proposes "a flying brigade" in schools, to talk with the youngest about these dark hours of history.

Cérémonie de la journée Internationale de la mémoire des victimes Shoah dans les
jardins de l’Hôtel de ville de #Montpellier pic.twitter.com/0eqXiGfo8j

— Midi Libre Montpellier (@MLMontpellier) January 28, 2024

"Freedom of expression is not incitement to hatred. The transmission of memory remains our protection for all, when manipulators get involved. "The work of teachers is complex, but it is done and done well”, underlines Michaël Delafosse. "Memory has, however, been in danger since the terrorist attack of October 7. Let's not let the banality of evil take hold."

At a time when the few rare witnesses to the Shoah, such as Ginette Kolinka, can ask themselves the question of the effectiveness of their work of memory, the president warns that forgetting would be "a second death".

I subscribe to read more