Museum to Host Holocaust Remembrance Day
For the second year Auckland will host the United Nations International Holocaust Remembrance Day.
The Auckland Council, Auckland War Memorial Museum, Jewish Federation of New Zealand and Shadows of Shoah are supporting United Nations International Holocaust Remembrance Day 2015.
The event will be held at the Auckland War Memorial Museum on Tuesday, January 27, 2015.
Perry Trotter from ‘Shadows of Shoah’ says: ‘I believe the UNIHRD was conceived for the non-Jewish community and the need for such a significant event to be remembered. It’s remarkable with living memory we can see antisemitism rising to alarming levels. There has been a surge in antisemitism in the Middle East and in Europe and it’s of grave concern, and that’s part of the motivation for the work that we do with Shadows of Shoah.
“I’ve long held the view that some of the events in Europe at the moment suggest conditions similar to the 1930’s so an event such as this is very important.‘Shoah’ is the Hebrew term for Holocaust, remembering the survivor experience and the horror, we must not forget, and our work is dedicated to keeping that memory alive.”
Auckland Mayor Len Brown will deliver a speech during the morning event, which showcases a variety of guest speakers including: Ben Steiner, Bob Narev and Professor Ralph Anspach – all Holocaust survivors.
International Holocaust Remembrance Day, January 27, is an international memorial day for the victims of the Holocaust, the genocide that resulted in the annihilation of 6 million Jews.
This year marks the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau as an annual international Day of commemoration to honour the victims of the Holocaust.
It was designated by the United Nations General Assembly resolution 60/7 on November 1, 2005.
The resolution came after a special session was held earlier that year on 24 January 2005 which the United Nations General Assembly marked the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi concentration camps and the end of the Holocaust.
This year there are two events. An official invitation-only morning event on the morning of January 27, 9.30am to 11.30am. This is for City councillors, dignitaries, educators and community leaders.
The evening event is open to the public and ticket sales are managed by the Auckland War Memorial Museum. This will be held in the museum’s auditorium, level 2 at 7pm (bookings essential).
Both programs will feature ‘Shadows of Shoah’, a unique multidisciplinary Holocaust work and speakers include Holocaust survivors.
The film The man who knew too much will follow the event. Based on Sir James McNeish’s biography of Paddy Costello, the documentary investigates whether New Zealand’s most brilliant linguist and ablest foreign envoy was indeed a spy.
The “Holocaust Remembrance” resolution designates January 27 as an annual International Day of Commemoration in memory of the victims of the Holocaust – observed with ceremonies and activities at United Nations Headquarters in New York and at UN offices around the world.
Rejecting any denial of the Holocaust as a historical event, either in full or in part, condemns “without reserve” all manifestations of religious intolerance, incitement, harassment or violence against persons or communities based on ethnic origin or religious belief whenever they occur.
For more information visit www.aucklandmuseum.com
UNIHRD, January 27, 2015.
Auckland War Memorial Museum.
Free entry. Bookings essential.
Seating is limited.
