At the historic gathering, we will once again be committed to preserving the memory of the Holocaust and passing on its legacy to generations of generations.
Yad Vashem Museum // Photo Archive: Oren Ben Hakun
75 years after the liberation of Auschwitz - the great and gruesome symbols of the dark chapter in human history - world leaders gather in Jerusalem to renew the sacred promise: "Never again."
I am full of pride in the wonderful country we have established, to which our true friends from all over the world come, who have answered my call and joined me at Yad Vashem. They do so with great appreciation for the State of Israel and upon their arrival boldly say to the whole world that we will stand together to fight anti-Semitism, at a time when it is raising its head.
Holocaust survivors living among us are dwindling, and the distortion of the history of the Holocaust is spreading. It is a time of trial for humanity, which requires us all to stand united, and the important and exciting gathering that is taking place these days is proof that the world understands it and is right to fight anti-Semitism and Holocaust denial.
Memory is a cornerstone of the ethos of the Jewish people, the remembering people. We are not prisoners in the past, we carefully plan our steps as we face past events - and hopes for the future. It is the common memory that makes a people, who shapes our national character and outlines our way, and therefore we have a duty to preserve it, and to pass it on to future generations.
At the historic gathering to be held these days, we will once again commit to preserving the memory of the Holocaust and imparting its legacy to generations of generations. My deepest appreciation is given to each of the leaders gathered in the capital of Israel and their unique voice and national identity. Together we stand shoulder to shoulder in our fight against anti-Semitism in all its forms. This is a struggle that we must wage without compromise.
We must recognize the stubborn face of anti-Semitism when it is legitimized in the centers of power, in the public arena, and even in academia, and fight it. We, the members of the peoples, are required to fulfill the oath "never again" in doing so: to educate future generations, to enforce the law, to eradicate incitement on social networks, to keep the Jewish communities safe and to advance the study of the Holocaust without political restriction.
For our children, for our sake and for all humanity, together we will call Jerusalem this week "never again", preserve the memory of the Holocaust and fight anti-Semitism.