Dear John,
“I would like to say to people not to take for granted — not freedom, not justice. You have to stand up for it. You have to defend this. To be your brother’s keeper... Not to be passive when things are going on around you. Not to be indifferent. To be a participant in life, and to defend the rights of humanity.”
— Holocaust Survivor and Warsaw Ghetto Resistance Fighter Vladka Meed
Tomorrow, as we observe International Holocaust Remembrance Day on the anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi concentration camp Auschwitz-Birkenau, let’s remember the lives and the spirits of Jews and other victims of one of the darkest periods in human history.
We are sharing Vladka’s inspiring history as part of the remarkable new “The Human Spirit in the Holocaust” podcast series to shine a light on stories of courage. The podcasts are from Echoes and Reflections, an ADL partnership with Yad Vashem and the USC Shoah Foundation.
As time passes, the world’s sense of shame about antisemitism weakens as the numbers of survivors dwindle. We must teach the lessons of the Holocaust and tell the personal stories of the victims to each succeeding generation. While this podcast series is curated specifically for middle and high school students, we encourage you to listen to them, and to share them with the young people in your lives.
It is vital to continue to increase the number of students who learn about the Holocaust. About 20 states have Holocaust education laws or programs, thanks in part to ADL’s push in every statehouse. We need your help to take a big move forward: the passage of the Holocaust Education and Antisemitism Lessons (HEAL) Act.
Please click here to urge your member of Congress to be a sponsor. HEAL will provide the Federal government with critical information on efforts across the country so we can close the gaps in those efforts.
As you observe International Holocaust Remembrance Day, you can find more ADL Holocaust Remembrance resources here.
Thank you for speaking up to ensure that We will remember. Future generations will remember. Never Again.
Sincerely, |
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Jonathan Greenblatt |
CEO and National Director |
ADL |
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