In a poignant tribute to International Holocaust Remembrance Day, the Belarus Jewish Religious Union organised a solemn event on January 28th at the Jewish Heritage Centre in Minsk. The commemoration served as a platform to honour the memory of the 800,000 Jews murdered in Belarus during the Holocaust, and shed light on the untold stories of resilience and resistance during those dark days.
Artur Livshyts (Chair of the Jewish Religious Union of Belarus) presenting the book 28.01.2024
A significant highlight of the event was the presentation of the book “Anna Machiz – Testimonies of Tragedy and Resistance in the Minsk Ghetto 1941-1943.” This powerful narrative, translated and meticulously researched by The Together Plan and published by JewishGen, offers a firsthand account of the Minsk Ghetto underground fighter and partisan Anna Machiz. The book reveals little-known facts about the tragic events that unfolded during 1941-1943 in Soviet Belarus. It is with grateful thanks to Holocaust survivor, Leonid Tsyrinsky, for his years of tirelessly working to compile the original book in the Russian language. Only 200 copies were ever printed. Now the book can be read by the whole of the English speaking world. Click here to hear Debra Brunner’s speech at the event which was played by video link.
Leonid Tsyrinskiy, being interviewed by Belarus Media
The event also featured an exhibition of glass works created by artist Alexander Zubritsky, dedicated to portraying the horrors of the Holocaust and the Minsk Ghetto. Zubritsky’s creations served as a visual testament to the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity.
Elena (violin) and Peter (clarinet) Naumenko provided a moving musical backdrop to the commemoration, filling the air with melodies that resonated with the somber atmosphere of remembrance.
Distinguished guests, including former prisoners of the Minsk Ghetto, Ambassadors of Germany, Austria, and the UK, as well as representatives from the Belarusian mass media, graced the occasion. Their presence underscored the international importance of remembering the Holocaust and fostering a collective commitment to prevent such atrocities from happening again.
German, Austrian and British Ambassadors at the book launch in Minsk 28.2.2024
The Chief Rabbi of the Jewish Religious Union, Mordechai Raichinstein, played a central role in the event, reading the memorial prayer (Kaddish) as a solemn tribute to the lives lost during the Holocaust.
The Belarus Jewish Religious Union’s dedication to preserving the memory of the Holocaust, as demonstrated by this event, serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of remembrance, education, and solidarity in preventing the recurrence of such dark chapters in human history.
To order a copy of ‘Anna Machiz, Testimonies of Tragedy and Resistance in the Minsk Ghetto 141 – 1943’ – click here.