The Jewish Community in Moldova calls on the citizens to join in the awareness-raising campaign “WeRemember. Learn from the past. Protect the future” that is devoted to the victims of the Holocaust. The persons are encouraged to take pictures with the placard containing the message #WeRemember (#NeAmintim) and to publish them on social networking sites.
Director of the Jewish Community in Moldova Aliona Grossu in a news conference hosted by IPN said the #WeRemember placards can be found in a number of public spaces, such as bus and trolleybus stations and in public transport. “We consider that this campaign is one of the important, positive instruments by which, laying emphasis on keeping, safeguarding memory, we try to oppose eventual manifestations of xenophobia, intolerance or anti-Semitism in society,” stated Aliona Grossu.
In 2021, the European Commission approved a strategy for combating anti-Semitism. The events to raise public awareness are an important part of this strategy and the campaign “WeRemember” is part of such events. This year, the awareness raising campaign in the Republic of Moldova is supported also by the local and central public authorities.
Aliona Grossu noted that the Holocaust horrors happened not only outside Moldova, but also inside it. An international research shows approximately 300,000 persons were affected by the atrocities committed on the current territory of the Republic of Moldova.
The campaign “WeRemember” was launched by the World Jewish Congress, together with UNESCO, seven years ago. Peter Cherry, the representative of the World Jewish Congress, said that this campaign is annually carried out during the Memory Week. It is designed to educate, sensitize and inform public opinion about the Holocaust. International Holocaust Remembrance Day is celebrated on January 27.
The people this year are encouraged to take pictures with the message #WeRemember and to post them on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook. Among the officials who already joined in the campaign are Ursula von der Leyen, Angela Merkel, the Pope of Rome, said Peter Cherry.
“Last year was a difficult year for many Jewish communities and vulnerable communities all over the word. The extension of anti-Semitism and widespread denial of the Holocaust online led to new threats that necessitate urgent actions. The encouragement of society to reflect on the lessons from the past can ensure the future generations develop knowledge and skills to efficiently cope with these challenges. The campaign “WeRemember” is designed to remind of the negative consequences that can be experienced if hatred is allowed to spread in an uncontrolled way,” stated Peter Cherry.
Large televised projects will be made with pictures posted on the social media, including in Auschwitz-Birkenau. On January 27, requiem meetings in memory of the victims of the Holocaust will be held all over Moldova.
Note: IPN News Agency gives the right of reply to persons who consider they were touched by the news items produced based on statements of the organizers of the given news conference, including by facilitating the organization of another news conference in similar conditions.
