Events - Johannesburg Holocaust & Genocide Centre

Johannesburg Holocaust & Genocide Centre > Events >> 27 January

The United Nations designates 27 January as an annual International Day of Commemoration in memory of the victims of the Holocaust. Recalling the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the United Nations General Assembly reaffirms that 'the Holocaust, which resulted in the murder of one-third of the Jewish people along with countless members of other minorities, will forever be a warning to all people of the dangers of hatred, bigotry, racism and prejudice". http://www.un.org/en/holocaustremembrance/bg.shtml

2012

The 2012 observance of the International Day of Commemoration in memory of the victims of the Holocaust focused on the theme “Children and the Holocaust”. We remember the one-and-a-half million Jewish children who perished in the Holocaust, together with the thousands of Roma and Sinti children, the disabled and others, who suffered and died at the hands of the Nazis and their collaborators.

To hear the message from United Nations Secretary-General, Mr. Ban Ki-moon, http://www.un.org/en/holocaustremembrance/2012/sg.shtml

The JHGC held an event at Liliesleaf in partnership with the United Nations Information Centre Pretoria (UNIC) and the Liliesleaf Trust.
Special guest, Holocaust survivor Elly Gotz addressed a capacity audience about his Return to Dachau after 65 years

(L-R) Helene Hoedl (Deputy Director, UNIC), Tali Nates (Director JHGC), Nicholas Wolpe (CEO, Liliesleaf Trust), Elly Gotz, Janine Cohen (JHGC), Arlene Sher (JHGC), Sudeshan Reddy (UNIC)

125 Grade 9 learners from 7 Gauteng schools were privileged to engage with Elly Gotz at a JHGC event in partnership with UNIC and the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA).
Elly Gotz with the group from Greenside High School

Tali Nates, guest speaker at a 27 January Commemoration assembly at St Stithians Boys’ College together with Tracey Harvey (HOD History) (L) and Headmaster, Mr David Knowles

Helene Hoedl, Deputy Director UNIC and Tali Nates, addressed learners and educators at the UNIC Library in Pretoria, to commemorate the International Day of Commemoration in memory of the victims of the Holocaust

2011

UN Holocaust Remembrance Day on January 27 2011 pays tribute to and honours the courage of women during the Holocaust, which continues to inspire and empower women today.

In Johannesburg the UNIC (United Nations Information Centre), the JHGC, and Museum Africa hosted an educational programme for 150 Grade 11 learners from 11 schools at Museum Africa, Newtown, Johannesburg.

Programme director, Sudeshan Reddy (UNIC) read the message from United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon (to hear the full message go to http://www.un.org/en/holocaustremembrance/2011/sg.shtml)

Tali Nates, Director of the JHGC contextualised the morning’s events and introduced the documentary film, Daring to Resist, featuring the stories of three young Jewish women who found unexpected ways to fight back against the Nazis during the Holocaust.

Testimony by Holocaust survivor Irene Klass was followed by a Q & A session with insightful, stimulating questions and comments from learners and educators.

Learners were guided around selected exhibitions in Museum Africa as well as the temporary exhibition, The Holocaust: Lessons for Humanity exhibition, which was brought in for the programme.