The local Jewish community is honoring the millions of lives lost in the Holocaust. A remembrance service was held at City Hall Wednesday. WBFO's Eileen Buckley reports holocaust survivors and their families say it must never be forgotten.
"And so the purpose of Holocaust Memorial Day is to ensure that the horrendous crime against humanity, committed during the Holocaust are never forgotten," said Gene Setel, president of the Holocaust Resource Center of Buffalo. http://youtu.be/tcfjRqXT7As
It was the years between 1933 and 1939 that the Nazi regime ruled, bringing horrific results to Jews.
Setel said citizens are obligated to remember the painful time because hatred still exists.
"In Cambodia, Bosnia, Rwanda and Darfur tells us that our responsibility to one another is not fully met," said Setel. "As the 21st century unfolds, we must do what we can to prevent the Holocaust from becoming a distant memory."
The Jewish Federation of Greater Buffalo, members of the Jewish community were joined by Mayor Byron Brown and Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz for a brief memorial.
Six candles were lit in the memory of the six million Jews slaughtered by the Nazis.
Liad Benshay of Hamburg was born in Israel after the Holocaust. Her father managed to survive.
"My father lost his wife and his baby in the Holocaust, and he got married again in Israel, and I was the one that was born," said Benshay. "Because he lost all his family. All his six brothers and sisters, parents, cousins."
Behnshay said her father escaped and joined the British army and then fought against the Nazi's.
Benshay's husband Gideon also stresses the need to teach future generations about holocaust.
"Let them visit the museum of the Holocaust at Washington, D.C.," said Benshay. "Then they will understand. If you see piles of shoes, of baby shoes, that were killed."
Several Holocaust events are planned.
Thursday afternoon at 4 p.m. a discussion will take place at UB's North campus on the "Impact of the Holocaust on Jewish Ethics."
This Sunday members of the Jewish community will gather at Temple Beth Tzedek in Amherst to remember the Holocaust victims.
This year's Holocaust remembrance theme is "Who will testify for us."