Why is Holocaust Memorial Day is so important!
- Olivia Tisdall
- Jan 28
- 3 min read
Yesterday we paused to reflect on the atrocities of the Holocaust and honour the memory of the six million Jewish men, women, and children, as well as millions of others who perished under the Nazi regime. Holocaust Memorial Day serves as a stark reminder of what can happen when hatred is allowed to flourish unchecked.
My Time at Yad Vashem
In 2014 my husband and I visited Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Memorial in Jerusalem, Israel. To be honest there are no words...I walked around and most of what I saw was blurry due to the tears in my eyes. It was a profoundly sobering, heartbreaking, and emotional experience.
Walking through the museum’s exhibits, you're confronted with the unimaginable pain and suffering of millions of Jewish innocent lives. Seeing the names, faces, personal artifacts, and stories of those who were lost. I remember standing in the Hall of Names, surrounded by towering shelves filled with books recording the names of Holocaust victims. It was a stark reminder of how many lives were taken due to hatred and antisemitism. The emotional weight of being in that space is something I will never forget.
The Children’s Memorial was especially heartbreaking. Walking through the dark hall illuminated by the flicker of candlelight, I heard the names and ages of children being read aloud. Each name was a life cut tragically short, and yet, those tiny flames symbolised that their memories live on.
Here are some of the photos taken that day:
The Importance of Holocaust Memorial Day
The Holocaust was not just a moment in history - it's a stark warning. Remembering it is vital to ensuring such atrocities are never repeated.
Through stories like those preserved at Yad Vashem, we learn the dangers of dehumanization, propaganda, and unchecked hatred.
As we commemorate Holocaust Memorial Day, it is impossible to ignore the alarming rise in anti-Semitism around the world today.
In recent years especially after October 7th, there has been a huge significant increase in anti-Semitic hate crimes, vandalism, and attacks, including incidents targeting synagogues, Jewish cemeteries, and community centers.
Online platforms have become breeding grounds for anti-Semitic rhetoric, conspiracy theories, and hate speech, spreading misinformation that fuels prejudice.
Public surveys show that Holocaust denial and distortion are disturbingly on the rise, with younger generations in some areas being unaware of the Holocaust or minimizing its significance.
The events of October 7th serve as a sobering reminder that the dangers of hatred are not relics of the past - they remain a very real and dangerous threat today.
We continue to pray for the hostages, bring them home. To pray for all the family and friends who have been so painfully effected and we pray for the nation of Israel, we pray for the peace of Jerusalem!
Isaiah 49:24-25
Can the prey be taken from the mighty, or the captives of a tyrant be rescued? For thus says the Lord: “Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken, and the prey of the tyrant be rescued, for I will contend with those who contend with you, and I will save your children.”
Jeremiah 30:10
So now, do not fear, Jacob My servant,” says Adonai, “nor be dismayed, O Israel, for behold, I will save you from afar, your seed from the land of their exile. Jacob will again be quiet and at ease, and no one will make him afraid.
Zephaniah 3:16-20
On that day, it will be said to Jerusalem,
‘Have no fear, O Zion, do not let your hands fall limp. Adonai your God is in your midst -
a mighty Saviour! He will delight over you with joy. He will quiet you with His love. He will dance for joy over you with singing.’
“I will gather those among you who grieve over your moadim - it is a burden of shame on you. Behold, at that time I will deal with all who oppress you. I will save the lame and gather the outcast. I will make them a praise and a name throughout all the land where they suffered shame. At that time I will bring you in. At that time I will gather you. For I will give you renown and glory among all the peoples of the earth, when I restore your captives before your eyes,” declares Adonai.
God will never forsake His people!
Adonai - He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you. He will not fail you or abandon you. Do not fear or be discouraged.” - Deuteronomy 31:8
Blessings,
Olivia
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