(Courtesy of Claims Conference) Gideon Taylor, president of the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany (Claims Conference), today published the “100 Words” project, a video op-ed made by 100 Holocaust survivors asking the world to stand with them and remember on Holocaust Remembrance Day (Yom HaShoah).

Taylor said, “The world is full of strife—from the pandemic to the crisis happening in Ukraine. On remembrance days like Yom HaShoah, it is so important to stop and reflect. The call to action these survivors put forth today is not only one of remembrance, but one of action, a reminder that we do not have to be bystanders. We can all stand up in our own way and we can choose to not let our collective history repeat itself.”

The “100 Word” project statement declared by Holocaust survivors around the world:

Today is Holocaust Remembrance Day.

We all survived the Holocaust.

We are here to give voice to the 6 million Jews who were murdered.

We are a reminder unchecked hatred can lead to actions, actions to genocide.

Just over 75 years ago, one-third of the world’s Jews were systematically murdered.

Among them, over 1.5 million children were killed in the name of indifference, intolerance, hate. Hatred for what was feared. Hatred for what was different.

We must remember the past or it will become our future.

On Holocaust Remembrance Day we ask the world to stand with us and remember.

The Claims Conference has published many survivor-led campaigns over the years, including their most recent #DontBeABystander campaign—a campaign highlighting righteous rescuers, the non-Jews who saved Jews during the Holocaust, reminding everyone that standing by while hatred goes unchecked is a choice. This call to action from Holocaust survivors in these 100 words is unmistakable; no matter what is going on in the world, it is our moral imperative to take time for remembrance.

Greg Schneider, Claims Conference executive vice president, said, “The reminder survivors are giving us in this statement isn’t just about remembering the past. This is a call to action to ensure our past does not become our future. We were especially touched that Ukrainian survivors we recently evacuated wanted to participate, despite their upheaval.” Schneider continued, “More than 6 million Jews were murdered during the Holocaust—one and a half million of them were children, murdered just because they were Jewish. Our task is to remember those we lost, care for those who survived and educate future generations so that the atrocities of the Holocaust are never again repeated.”

Survivors from around the world participated in the powerful statement including survivors from the United States, Germany, Israel, France, England, Ukraine and Canada. In addition to the Holocaust survivors, a handful of social welfare agencies supported this project, including Amcha Rehovot Israel; Bikur Cholim Chesed Organization; Ferd & Gladys Alpert Jewish Family & Children’s Services of Palm Beach County; Goodman Jewish Family Services of Broward County; Jewish Community Council of Greater Coney Island; Jewish Family Service of Colorado; Jewish Family Service Houston; Jewish Family and Children’s Services of Northern NJ; Jewish Family Services of Silicon Valley; Ruth and Norman Rales Jewish Family Services, Inc.; Selfhelp Community Services; The Association of Jewish Refugees of Great Britain; and The Central Welfare Board of Jews in Germany, Budge Stiftung.

“I am so proud to be one of the 100 Holocaust survivors participating in this video op-ed reminding those watching that hate must not remain unchecked and that remembrance is vital,” stated Abe Foxman, Holocaust survivor and member of the United States Holocaust Memorial Council. “As a survivor, not only do I know what happens when evil is allowed to flourish, I also know the urgency of continuing to tell the world of the atrocities that allowed one-third of a population to be murdered. Only through remembrance can we be sure this will never happen again.”

Selfhelp Community Services CEO Stuart Kaplan stated, “Holocaust survivors are eager to add their voice to campaigns like the “100 Words” project. For each and every survivor, remembrance and education are their legacy. This is how they ensure that future generations will remember and will not have to live through the hatred they endured.”

In addition to the work being done to empower survivors to share their voice during this year’s Holocaust Remembrance Day, the Claims Conference has been working to support survivors impacted by the crisis in Ukraine. Through a close partnership with the Jewish Joint Distribution Committee on the ground, the Claims Conference has ensured everything from advanced funding to humanitarian supplies, and evacuations, and will continue to do so throughout the conflict.

To view the video, visit https://vimeo.com/700988095/1f23bc4f75)

For more information about the Claims Conference, please visit: www.claimscon.org.