Introduction
As we mark Yom HaShoah, a sacred day to remember the six million Jews murdered during the Holocaust, a powerful countermovement is gaining ground. Survivors and their descendants are speaking out—not just in remembrance, but in resistance.
Their message:
“Never again” must mean never again for anyone.
A Day of Memory Meets a Moment of Crisis
This year’s commemoration coincides with the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Bergen-Belsen. But in London and beyond, some Jewish voices are breaking with traditional ceremonies to raise urgent alarms about Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza, which has claimed over 51,000 Palestinian lives since October 2023.
“I can’t think of a better commemoration for the six million,”
— Mark Etkind, son of a Holocaust survivor
The Danger of Political Co-option
At last year’s Yom HaShoah, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared,
“Never again is now,”
linking the Holocaust to Hamas’s deadly attacks. Survivors like Agnes Kory and Stephen Kapos are pushing back:
“I am outraged and deeply insulted by the Holocaust being used as an excuse for Israel’s relentless war,”
— Agnes Kory, Holocaust survivor
Voices of Dissent in the Jewish Community
From carrying placards to signing open letters, Holocaust survivors and descendants are at the forefront of pro-Palestinian protests in London:
“They conflate Jewishness with what they are doing… it inevitably increases antisemitism,”
— Stephen Kapos
Yet the official Jewish institutions in the UK, such as the Board of Deputies and Chief Rabbi’s Office, have remained staunchly aligned with Israel—until recently.
A group of 36 board members published an open letter in the Financial Times condemning Israel’s actions, stating:
“Our Jewish values compel us to stand up and speak out.”
Their courage was met with suspension and disciplinary actions.
Resisting in Their Name
For many survivors, the misuse of Holocaust memory is not only offensive but dangerous. It risks validating oppression and perpetuating cycles of violence under the guise of historical justice.
“The abuse of the Holocaust by Zionism is one of the great crimes against humanity,”
— Haim Bresheeth, Israeli academic and son of Auschwitz survivors
Conclusion: Memory as Moral Compass
The survivors and their families are clear: to honor the victims of the Holocaust is to resist the oppression of any people, anywhere.
As candles burn in remembrance this Yom HaShoah, these voices remind us:
"To remember the Holocaust is to ensure it is never used to justify harm."
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