Thursday, Jan. 27, 2022, we celebrated the annual holocaust remembrance day. On this day, individuals from all around the world reflect on the loss of six million Jewish people and countless others harmed by Nazism ideals during WWII. 

As United States Holocaust Memorial Museum said, January 27th is designated as holocaust remembrance day because it is the date of  the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the infamous holocaust set for the “final solution” – the elimination of Jewish race (approximately 11 million people) across Europe. 

It has been 77 years since the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, however the meaning of the remembrance has transcended time. The remembrance of the holocaust is to reaffirm the commitment against ideals of fascism and anti-semitism. 

Ever since the coining of the word anti-semitism in 1879 by German agitator Wilhelm Marr, the effect of anti-Jewish campaigns surrounding central Europe has exponentially increased. However, an aspect of the ideal that is long neglected is that the word “Semites” not only implies racial group of Jewish people, but Arabs and other minority racial groups were also included. Later, this word is popularized by Nazi, which utilized this word as a racist dimension which targeted Jewish for their biological trait and supposedly harm to the superiority of the Caucasian race, the word “anti-semitism” is only referring to Jewish people. 

Additionally, the long lasting trauma of this event continues to affect people today. On Jan.15, 2022, Congregation Beth Israel synagogue in Colleyville experienced a sabotage that included a gunman who took four hostages, including the religious personnel in charge of the Shabbat service. Few years before, during 2019, during  the celebration of Jewish holiday Hanukkah, New York city had a continued rise of hate crime against Jewish people, including a man wounding five people with a knife. These events reignited the public attention against the supposedly eliminated anti-semitism sentiment, thus making the remembrance of Holocaust even more important, as we reflect on the progress and actions we need to take to completely eradicate the idea of hatred motivated by religion or race. 

Lastly, as the survivors of holocaust fade away from the society, it is important for students and future generation to pass on the legacy and the stories that they’ve carried. As Vanguard News, we believe that students should educate themselves on the issue of genocide and atrocity crimes against minority groups and protect the peace while strengthening our resilience against the ideology of discrimination. 

You can learn more about the holocaust at United States Holocaust Memorial Museum  and observe the official virtual memorial ceremony.