Attending the ceremony were Prof. Dr. Hoang Anh Tuan (Vice Rector in charge of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities), Mr. Nadav Eshcar (Ambassador of Israel to Vietnam), Dr. Guido Hildner (Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Vietnam), Mr. Kamal Malhotra (Head of the United Nations Representative Office in Vietnam), along with representatives from diplomatic units and international organizations.
January 27th was designated by the United Nations General Assembly as the annual international day to commemorate the Jewish victims of the Nazi massacre, known as Holocaust Remembrance Day. During World War II, more than 6 million Jews were murdered by the Nazis in Europe simply because they were Jewish. The annual Holocaust Remembrance event in Vietnam aims to help Vietnamese people better understand and empathize with the Holocaust victims, contributing to the fight against anti-Semitism.
Professor Hoang Anh Tuan delivered a speech at the ceremony.
Speaking at the ceremony, Professor Hoang Anh Tuan (Vice Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities) emphasized the significance of the Holocaust Memorial Ceremony, as an activity to recall a historical period in which millions of people were murdered by the Nazis during World War II. This event also reminds today's generation to work together to prevent similar crimes and brutality from recurring in a similar tragedy.
Professor Hoang Anh Tuan also highlighted the importance of international cooperation, education, law, and security in building trust, resolving conflicts, and fostering a culture of dialogue to promote human rights values. Education and dialogue between nations and international organizations are crucial foundations for a tolerant and peaceful society. For faculty and students of the university, this event was an opportunity to better understand the Holocaust through presentations from representatives of embassies in Vietnam and by watching documentary films.
Ambassador Nadav Eshcar speaks
Israeli Ambassador to Vietnam, Nadav Eshcar, shared: The Holocaust was not an emotional decision, but a systematically considered and carefully planned move by the Nazi regime, targeting all social classes within the Jewish community. If the Nazis had gained the upper hand in World War II, they would have completed their mission quickly, and many would not have been fortunate enough to survive to this day. He believes the Holocaust remains one of the most horrific human tragedies, and that such a tragedy could still occur in the future. Therefore, everyone has a responsibility to ensure that it never happens again.
Ambassador Guido Hildner delivers a speech.
Dr. Guido Hildner, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Vietnam, stated that the Holocaust was the darkest period, an undeniable truth in German history. Therefore, the Federal Republic of Germany has boldly acknowledged its historical responsibility and made numerous efforts to compensate for the losses suffered by the Jewish community. Among these efforts, commemorative activities are crucial, aiming to express respect for the honor of those who perished in the tragedy, ensuring their names are not erased or forgotten.
Kamal Malhotra, Head of the UN Delegation to Vietnam, delivered a speech.
On behalf of the United Nations in Vietnam, the UN Representative, Mr. Kamal Malhotra, quoted the UN Secretary-General's message that, during the Covid-19 pandemic, long-standing rifts and injustices have resurfaced, contributing to the resurgence of anti-Semitism and xenophobia. This shows that anti-Semitism, like that of the Holocaust, stems from long-standing prejudices, ignorance, resentment, and widespread societal decay, not just the mistakes of a few individuals. To combat it, the participation of all sectors of society is necessary. Nations need to eliminate hatred and discrimination to build an inclusive, diverse society that respects human rights. For its part, the United Nations will continue to stand for truth and oppose lies, bigotry, anti-Semitism, and hatred. Creating an equal and just world is the best way to remember the Holocaust victims.
Professor Hoang Anh Tuan, on behalf of the University, lit a candle in remembrance of Berta Pik, a woman murdered at the Auschwitz concentration camp in Poland in 1944.
Following the speeches, the delegates performed a symbolic candle-lighting ceremony to commemorate the Holocaust victims, a tradition in Israel and among Jews worldwide.
Next, the delegates watched the documentary "Vernichtet" (Slaughtered). Directed by Andreas Christoph Schmidt, the film tells the story of the widowed family of Rosa Labe and her three children in the village of Glambeck, Brandenburg, Germany. From 1938, the Labe family was torn apart by the Nazis, exploited in various places, and used as labor tools. The family members were separated and lost. The Labe family's suffering is a prime example of what the victims of Nazi Germany had to endure.
The delegates participating in the discussion with students, from left to right: Prof. Dr. Hoang Anh Tuan (Vice Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities), Mr. Nadav Eshcar (Ambassador of Israel to Vietnam), Dr. Guido Hildner (Ambassador of Germany to Vietnam), Prof. Dr. Pham Hong Tung (Director of the Institute of Vietnamese Studies and Development Science, Vietnam National University, Hanoi).
During the discussion, students from the University of Social Sciences and Humanities expressed their feelings and thoughts about the film and the Holocaust to the ambassadors and professors. The students were deeply impressed and moved by the fate and survival efforts of the Jewish people who were brutally treated during World War II. They also drew parallels between this tragedy and similar events that occurred in Vietnam and neighboring countries. As young people born in peacetime, the students did not forget their role in understanding and appreciating the past and learning from it to build a better future. Several questions were submitted to the delegates regarding issues such as: education and awareness campaigns about the Holocaust in Germany and Israel; the current state of anti-Semitism in Germany; and the contributions of the younger generation to healing the wounds left by hatred and war.
Students from the university asked questions to the delegates.
