Next week, on January 27, the world observes International Holocaust Remembrance Day. The United Nations set aside this day to remember the six million Jewish men, women, and children murdered in the Holocaust, along with countless other victims of Nazi persecution. This date marks Auschwitz-Birkenau’s liberation anniversary. It is a solemn time to reflect, educate, and renew the promise of ‘never again.’
The Holocaust is not a distant history. Some witnesses are still alive who remember how unchecked antisemitism and violence can grow into organized cruelty and mass murder. Remembering the Holocaust is more than recalling the past; it is a moral responsibility. It shows us how everyday choices and deep-seated biases can cause unimaginable suffering, and it urges us to confront hatred wherever we see it. A modern example of how prejudice can lead to harm is the rise in antisemitic attacks in recent years across several countries, reflecting how deeply rooted biases continue to result in violence and suffering even today.
When Remembering Becomes Contested
Today, we face a troubling situation. In many places, Holocaust remembrance has become a topic of debate, with memories being changed or used for other purposes. Just this week, reports showed that the number of UK schools commemorating the Holocaust has dropped by nearly 60 percent since the October 7 attacks on Israel. More people are avoiding commemoration because of political discomfort, sharing fake or AI-generated Holocaust images, or using Nazi comparisons in unrelated political arguments.
This kind of distortion is dangerous. When people use terms related to genocide carelessly, the unique horror of what happened is lessened. When fake images spread, it becomes harder to tell fact from fiction. And when remembering the Holocaust is seen as just a political act instead of a moral truth, educators, students, and communities may avoid this history at the very time its lessons are most needed.
What We Need to Do
As time passes, the Holocaust becomes more distant. Soon, there will be no living witnesses left. This makes our responsibility even greater. International Holocaust Remembrance Day is not just about honoring the victims; it is also about what remains after firsthand stories are gone. When that time comes, what lasts is what we choose to teach.
Instead of giving in to despair, remembrance urges us to stand against the forces that allowed these crimes. We recall the warning signs of intolerance, which, sadly, are visible again today. International Holocaust Remembrance Day cannot fix this damage by itself, but it can still set a clear boundary that must not be crossed.
The Holocaust did not start with gas chambers and death camps. It started with words, with lies, with the spread of conspiracy theories, and with the slow acceptance of hatred. It began when Jewish people were treated as outsiders and when some decided that certain lives mattered less. Most importantly, it began with silence, when good people looked away because speaking up seemed harder than staying quiet. To combat this silence, we must take action by reporting antisemitism whenever it occurs.
Each of us can play a part in preventing history from repeating itself.
This is precisely why Holocaust education is so important. It teaches young people where prejudice leads when left unchallenged, how democracies erode from within, and what happens when lies grow louder than truth. FOA believes that education is the solution—that knowledge could serve as a shield against hatred. As we mark this solemn day, let us recommit to preserving memory, teaching truth, and standing up against antisemitism in all its forms. In doing so, we honor the victims, support the survivors, and help ensure that ‘never again’ is not just a promise, but a shared commitment to future generations.
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