On January 24, 2012, the Holocaust commemoration – the day remembering the genocide of the Jewish people during World War II – was held at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities.Attendees included Ms. Meirav Eilon Shahar - Ambassador of the State of Israel to Vietnam, Ms. Pratibha Mehta - Representative of the United Nations Development Programme in Vietnam, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Nhat Quang - Director of the Institute for African and Middle Eastern Studies, and many guests from embassies of various countries and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In 1935, the Nuremberg Laws in Nazi Germany stripped Jews of their citizenship and all other civil rights, initiating a series of massacres from 1938 to early 1945, resulting in the deaths of approximately 6 million Jews and other ethnic groups in many European countries. In 2005, the United Nations adopted Resolution 60/7, designating January 27th as the International Holocaust Remembrance Day.
At the commemoration ceremony, delegates listened to a talk by Orit Margaliot (Holocaust Memorial Museum) on the topic "Jews - Genocide and Memories" and watched a commemorative film about Holocaust victims. The talk not only addressed accurate historical figures and data but also shared true stories – the painful memories of victims and their families during the darkest period of human history. More than 70 years have passed, yet the pain of the Holocaust remains present, as speaker Orit Margaliot shared: "Our greatest challenge is to find the faces and identities of the victims, to try to restore their names. The Nazis tried to erase the existence of Jews not only in reality but also in memory." Ms. Pratibha Mehta, representative of the United Nations Development Programme in Vietnam, stated that this year's Holocaust Day message is "Rescue in the Holocaust: Courage to Protect" – to honor those who risked their lives and the lives of their families to save Jews and others from almost certain death under Nazi rule. Many of them have become prominent symbols of heroism and compassion, but many others receive only the silent gratitude of the very victims they helped. This year's commemoration aims to enrich the historical record and give these heroes the honor they deserve.
Speaking at the memorial ceremony, Ambassador Meirav Eilon Shahar of the State of Israel to Vietnam said: “Today is not only for remembrance, but also for vigilance, to protect the unforgettable memories of the Holocaust, and at the same time to renew our commitment to human rights and mutual understanding.” The Ambassador also emphasized that keeping the memories of the Holocaust alive ensures that the lessons humanity has learned from the Holocaust will be remembered, passed on to future generations, and help prevent future acts of genocide. Representing the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Associate Professor Pham Quang Minh (Vice Rector) stated that the memorial ceremony is an important and significant event for the global community to better understand the preciousness of peace, for the younger generation to gain a deeper understanding of the past, and to strive towards better values and a brighter future.
