March in Thessaloniki for the victims of the Holocaust

Thessaloniki, Greece.- The imminent start of work to build the Holocaust Memorial Park in Eleftherias Square was announced by the Mayor of Thessaloniki, Stelios Angeloudis, at a memorial event at the Old Railway Station, after the Memorial March for the 82nd anniversary of the departure of the first train for the Auschwitz-Birkenau camp, where 50,000 Thessaloniki Jews were murdered.
“The construction of the Holocaust Museum and the creation of the Memorial Park in Freedom Square is the city’s minimum debt of honour owed to those who were martyred and to those who returned,” the mayor pointed out.

On his part the Ambassador of Israel to Greece Noam Katz stated “The trauma runs deep. The flourishing Jewish life, the Thessaloniki Jewish Community was almost completely wiped out in a city once known as “Jerusalem of the Balkans” and “Madre de Israel.” But today we do more than mourn. We honour survival and resilience.  The Jewish Community though small has remarkably maintained its traditions and plays an important part in Thessaloniki’s fabric. Monuments and the upcoming Holocaust Museum will play an important role in preserving its great legacy. The fact that we are marching today was made possible by the bravery of those who fought against the Nazis and the courage of those who saved Jews.  The memorial march is more than a tribute. It is a powerful statement and conveys a message of life, of unity and solidarity as we all join hands in remembrance, while vowing to combat anti-Semitism, hatred and intolerance. It reminds us that remembrance must be matched with action.   The Holocaust happened because of hate, fear and indifference. Therefore we should shapesociety to fight hate and not fear it.  Never again is not a slogan.  it is a solemn duty. It is a call to action, demanding vigilance, education, and moral courage to stand against injustice. By being here today, we reaffirm our promise: to remember the past, and to create a future where evil never prevails over good”.

Cource:amna.gr