"UN Friday" - Remembering the Holocaust
Capturing the Holocaust in one setting, in only two hours, is simply not possible. There have been so many books, articles, studies, debates, discussions and controversies surrounding the horrific period of history that attempting to give it justice in a single event is impractical. It was with full knowledge of this inherent limitation that the United Nations Information Office, the Embassy of Israel in Tashkent and the Israeli Cultural Centre came together nevertheless to hold a special UN Friday to recognise the International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust. As the first UN Friday to cover this event, it’s intention was not to provide a comprehensive, complicated and conclusive insight into the significance of the Holocaust, but rather to portray poignant, focused glimpses at this period of history, and to remind us of why we must never forget. This event combined a number of elements, including presentations by a number of esteemed guests, a performance delivered by the talented students of the Jewish School in Tashkent, and the screening of the documentary ‘The Last Flight of Petr Ginz’.
-Many Voices-
The memorial UN Friday saw the attendance of five respected guests, who could offer their unique perspectives and ideas during the proceedings. First and foremost, the event was attended by representatives of the Israeli Embassy in Tashkent, namely Ambassador Mr. Hillel Newman and First Secretary and Consul Mr. Felix Gurvich. The United Nations Information Office has had the great pleasure to work with both partners in planning the memorial gathering, and their comments at the UN Friday drew the attention of all participants. Mr. Hillel Newman’s speech was particularly moving. While his words captured the immense impact of the Holocaust, the way that it cut short millions of lives and irreparably tainted those of so many more, he also drove home the courageousness and selflessness of those individuals who saved Jews and other persecuted peoples during the Nazi occupation of Europe. He likewise addressed Uzbekistan’s crucial role as safe-haven during this dark period of history, speaking of the families who brought refugees into their home and shared their modest resources.