The Assembly, in cooperation with the Jewish Community in Montenegro, today marked the International Holocaust Remembrance Day – January 27th – with a symbolic program.
Deputy Speaker of the Assembly Nikola Camaj, representative of the Jewish Community Miriam Balken and Deputy Ambassador of Israel Aleksandra Ben Ari symbolically lit six candles in memory of the six million victims, after which those present had the opportunity to view the exhibition entitled "Traces of Light - Being a Woman in the Holocaust".
Camaj emphasized the importance of marking this day.
"The celebration of this day is an opportunity to pay tribute to the millions of innocent victims and remember them, and to appeal to the citizens of the world to cultivate love, compassion, understanding and peace instead of radicalism, extremism, totalitarianism, anti-Semitism, xenophobia and other forms of hatred. Today's exhibition speaks of the fact that even in the most difficult moments, human dignity is priceless. May it not be forgotten and may it never happen to anyone again," said Camaj, as reported by Media Biro.
Balken said that the exhibition "Traces of Light - Being a Woman in the Holocaust," provided by the Yad Vashem Museum, reveals not only the tragedy of women who lost their families, homes and basic human rights, but also their courage to survive and preserve their dignity.
“The Holocaust was not only a mass destruction of life, it was also a brutal suppression of the spirit. Among the millions of victims, women bore heavy burdens, but they also showed incredible strength and resilience. In the most difficult moments, many women became the support and leaders not only for their families, but also for the wider communities. Women took on the difficult roles of preserving a bare existence, caring for children and the elderly, all the while fighting for a shred of humanity. They organized clandestine schools, ran soup kitchens, provided medical care, and even under extreme conditions continued to educate, love, and dream,” she said.
She appealed that the stories of women from the Holocaust be a permanent reminder and that such history should never be repeated.
"Thank you for being here with us to preserve our memories and learn from the past for a better future. May love and kindness live on in people forever."
Nina Ofner Bokan, president of the Jewish Community in Montenegro, who is currently in Poland as part of the Montenegrin delegation led by President Jakov Milatović and attending the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp, also addressed the attendees with a video message.
“Holocaust Remembrance Day is not just a remembrance of a tragedy, it is a call to action, an obligation to fight anti-Semitism, discrimination and all forms of hatred. The Holocaust is not only part of Jewish history, but also part of a universal human story of responsibility and resilience. Each of us has a duty to preserve the memory of the victims and to ensure that such evil never happens again. I want today's event to serve as an inspiration to continue working to build a world in which diversity is accepted, not condemned, and in which justice and human dignity will always be our guides,” said Ofner Bokan.
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