KATHMANDU, Jan 28: The Embassy of Israel and the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany jointly commemorated the International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust with a solemn Memorial Event and Exhibition titled Auschwitz: A Place on Earth on Monday.
The event featured the lighting of six candles, symbolizing the six million Jewish people who were systematically murdered during the Holocaust. A testimony from a Holocaust survivor was also screened, offering a poignant first-hand account of immense suffering and survival.
Dr. Surya Prasad Sharma Dhungel, a member of the National Human Rights Commission, emphasized the broader lessons of the Holocaust, stating, “The Holocaust was not merely a tragedy of the Jewish people or Europe—it was a failure of humanity itself. It serves as a reminder of what can happen when hatred is normalized, prejudice goes unchecked, and justice is denied.”
Expressing solidarity, US Ambassador to Nepal Dean R. Thompson stressed the collective responsibility to combat anti-Semitism, racism, and all forms of hatred and intolerance. He conveyed greetings from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who reaffirmed unwavering support for Holocaust survivors and their heirs. Thompson remarked, “I am confident we will continue to be a partner in remembering and honoring the period of such devastation.”
Benjamin Siedel, Deputy Chief of Mission on behalf of the German Ambassador to Nepal, Dr. Thomas Heinrich Prinz, stated, “While today is primarily a day of remembrance, it is also a call to action. The Holocaust did not begin with gas chambers; it began with words—words of hate, division, and dehumanization. This sobering reality underscores our shared responsibility to stand resolutely against anti-Semitism, racism, xenophobia, and all forms of discrimination.”
Israeli Ambassador to Nepal Shmulik Arie Bass highlighted the importance of remembrance and education, particularly for younger generations. “Humanity must commemorate this day in memory of the victims to ensure a tragedy of such magnitude is never repeated,” he said. Bass also recalled the significance of January 27, 2005, when the United Nations General Assembly marked the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz with its first special session to commemorate the Holocaust. This effort culminated in the adoption of UN General Assembly Resolution 60/7, which established January 27 as International Holocaust Remembrance Day and created a UN department for Holocaust education.
The Holocaust, orchestrated by the Nazi regime and its collaborators during the 1930s and 1940s, was a state-sponsored campaign of persecution and murder targeting six million Jews, including 1.5 million children.
The event also featured a choir performance by students from Himali Boarding School and a musical piece by students from Kathmandu Pragya Kunja School, adding a reflective tone to the gathering.
The exhibition Auschwitz: A Place on Earth was a key part of the event, educating attendees about the human-made brutality of the Holocaust while delivering the urgent message that such cruelty must never be repeated. The exhibition will remain open to the public at Himali Boarding School from January 28 to February 2 and Kathmandu Pragya Kunja School from February 3 to February 9, with plans to expand to additional locations later.