PRESIDENT of the European parliament, David Sassoli, has warned the lessons of history are being forgotten with the “demon of antisemitism” returning around the world.
He was speaking as he prepared to mark Holocaust Remembrance Day with a virtual ceremony – 76 years since the liberation of the Auschwitz Nazi concentration camp.
Sassoli will open today’s virtual ceremony, which also features a performance of traditional Yiddish songs.
Remote speeches will follow from president of the Conference of European Rabbis, Pinchas Goldschmidt, who is also chief rabbi of Moscow, and Gyula Sarkozi, dancer, choreographer and representative of the Roma community.
The ceremony will end with a minute’s silence in honour of the victims of the Holocaust, along with the prayer for the soul of a person who has died – El Maleh Rahamim – recited by Israel Muller, chief cantor of the Great Synagogue of Europe in Brussels.
At the end of the week the European parliament will mark Holocaust Remembrance Day during its plenary session.
Sassoli has invited Italian senator and holocaust survivor Liliana Segre to speak at Friday’s event.
He will also attend the Fifth World Holocaust Forum, and will later visit the Israeli parliament.
“The European Union was created in the shadow of Auschwitz, to reunite Europe and ensure that the horrors of the Second World War could never happen again,” he said.
“This week I will go to Jerusalem to pay respect to the six million Jews killed during the Shoah. This remains the single greatest crime against humanity.
“Worryingly it seems as though the lessons of history are being forgotten.
“It is with incredulity and immense anger that we watch the demon of antisemitism returning in Europe and across the world.”
Sassoli added: “The recent attacks in Halle and New York, threats against Jewish citizens and politicians, and acts of vandalism on graveyards and shops in many European countries, are reminiscent of a period we hoped had ended long ago.
“In Jerusalem this week we must remember the darkest moments of Europe’s history but also discuss what we can do to tackle the new rise of hatred and antisemitism across the globe.”
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