(Ottawa) The Canadian special envoy for preserving the memory of the Holocaust and the fight against anti-Semitism maintains that the International Day dedicated to the memory of the victims of the Holocaust has never been as important and poignant as ‘in 2024 due to the rise in anti-Semitism caused by the ongoing war in the Middle East.
“This year’s ceremony has a particularly somber tone. It is almost a warning because of the alarming increase in anti-Semitism all over the world, and even more sadly, in our dear Canada,” declared Deborah Lyons, during a ceremony which took place Friday at the National Holocaust Monument.
She said Jews around the world, including in Canada, are experiencing “a prolonged period of mourning” and feeling grief and fear as the death toll continues to mount in Gaza.
Mme Lyons said they also had to see people denying, justifying, or worse, celebrating the October 7 massacres and hostage-taking in Israel by Hamas.
She urged Canadians not to let Holocaust deniers twist or even deny the truth of the Holocaust. “It is our individual and collective responsibility,” she stressed.
The Nazis and their allies killed more than six million Jews from 1933 to 1945.
“It is our role as Canadians to support our Jewish family across the country,” added Mr.me Lyons.
In recent months, police and members of the Jewish community have raised alarms about rising anti-Semitism.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Opposition Leader Pierre Poilievre were present, but they did not give a speech, only reciting a prayer.
Both, however, published a statement on Saturday reporting anti-Semitic violence.
Governor General Mary Simon on Saturday echoed Ms.me Lyons. According to her, the rise in anti-Semitism “is worrying”.
“No one should experience persecution, harassment or abuse because of their identity or beliefs. Faced with the spread of hatred in Canada, whatever its forms and expressions, we cannot remain silent. »
Other political leaders also spoke on the subject on Saturday, for example the leader of the Bloc Québécois Yves-François Blanchet.
“January 27 is the International Day of Remembrance for the Victims of the Holocaust. I refuse to lessen my compassion and my duty to remember because a despicable war (aren’t they all?) is tearing Gaza and the Middle East apart. The Holocaust should have taught us something. We started chanting “Never again!”, and nothing changed. Please, let’s pull ourselves together! », he expressed on the social network
The Quebec Minister of Higher Education, Pascale Déry, also called for the fight against anti-Semitism.
“Today we commemorate the victims of the Holocaust. Six million Jews murdered by the Nazis. We have a duty to recall this atrocious part of our collective history. Let us continue to fight, more than ever, against anti-Semitism,” she wrote on X.
With the collaboration of Laura Osman