Event guests Photo credit: The Together Plan
On the 27th of January, the Jewish Heritage Centre in Minsk was filled with a profound sense of shared history and emotion for a special commemorative evening. Organised by the Jewish Religious Union and the Belarusian Peace Foundation in partnership with The Together Plan, the event for International Holocaust Remembrance Day was a deeply touching tribute to survival, courage, and the enduring duty to remember.
The presence of distinguished guests, including the Ambassadors of the United Kingdom, Austria, and Bulgaria, alongside representatives from the German Embassy, underscored the international significance.
At the heart of the evening was a moving awards ceremony, honouring fifteen remarkable individuals whose lives are a testament to this history. Each honouree, receiving either the “Honoured Peacemaker” medal, the “For Peace, Friendship, and Good” badge, or a Certificate of Honour, was incredibly moved. They shared personal fragments of memory, transforming statistics into stories and history into heartfelt testimony. The room listened in rapt, emotional silence.
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- Artur Livshyts and Maxim Misko (Chairman of the Belarusian Peace Foundation) present awards Photo credit: The Together Plan
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- Event guests Photo credit: The Together Plan
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- Presentation of a badge to Vladimir Melnitsky Photo credit: The Together Plan
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- Presentation of a medal to Vladimir Trakhtenberg
Sonya Shaipak, the event organiser and PR & Social Media Manager for The Together Plan, reflected on the evening:
“Sometimes, our work transcends planning and becomes about pure human connection. Tonight was one of those times. To see the gratitude in their eyes, to feel the weight of a heartfelt handshake from a survivor, that is our truest reward. These moments of shared tears and memories are why we are here: to ensure these vital personal stories are heard, held, and honoured. The warm words we’ve received since confirm that this living memory continues to touch hearts.”
The list of those honoured is a testament to living history and moral courage:
- Ghetto and Concentration Camp Survivors: Individuals including Frida Reizman, Vladimir Trakhtenberg, Yakov Kravchinsky, Eleonora Banakh, Fyodor Drozd, Sima Margolina, Valery Myzgaev, Mikhail Rozenshein.
- Righteous Among the Nations and Their Descendants: Honouring the legacy of Inessa Napadovskaya (Righteous Among the Nations), and the children of the Righteous: Viktor Cherny, Valentina Chernaya, and Lyudmila Reutovich.
- Keepers of Memory: Leonid Tsyrinsky (a Jewish child saved in hiding), Roman Kulik (son of a Minsk underground organiser), and historian Vladimir Melnitsky.
Vladimir Trakhtenberg, a former prisoner of the Minsk Ghetto who was honoured on the night, shared his feelings:
“In this place, we are more than a community; we are a family bound by memory. This recognition touches me deeply because it speaks for those who are no longer here to speak for themselves. Knowing that our experiences are not forgotten, that they are passed on with such care, gives meaning to the past and hope for a future built on understanding. Thank you for keeping this light alive.”
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- Artur Livshyts’s acceptance speech after receiving the badge of honour Photo credit: The Together Plan
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- Awards of the Belarusian Peace Foundation Image credit: The Together Plan
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- Presentation of an honorary certificate to Lyudmila Reutovich, daughter of the Righteous Among the Nations Photo credit: The Together Plan
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- Speech by Frida Reizman, Chair of the Minsk Ghetto Survivors’ Association Photo credit: The Together Plan
The “For Peace, Friendship, and Good” badge was also presented to Artur Livshyts, Chairman of the Jewish Religious Union and Co-founder of The Together Plan, in recognition of his dedicated leadership.
Events like this are the foundation upon which the future of memory is built. The Holocaust, a tragedy that took six million Jewish lives, one million on Belarusian soil, stands as a stark warning. By listening to survivors, honouring the brave, and supporting those who preserve these truths, we actively build a shield against indifference and hatred. This poignant evening in Minsk was a powerful affirmation that memory, carried forward with love and respect, is our most essential tool for ensuring a kinder tomorrow.
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