Ladies and gentlemen not vice chairman of the United StatesHolocaust Memorial council. Should morning. Every year to begin the ceremony the american soldiers along with our allies courageously germany and collaborators. Every year there are fewer veterans. Our veterans will eventually pass from the scene for the United States holocaust child never forget them. We will continue to monitor. On our eyes and her as a drink flags first camps and exhibition. We do all of this to the past and as world war ii receipts, as we look at the world around us especially on our campuses clearly war lessons are more timely than ever. Our nation, especially jews need to understand the dangers of unchecked antisemitism and all that take in the work. Deliberation, the freeing of victims of ism and preservation of our own democracy. This is why every year we hope this special commemoration gives a special place. We would not be standing in this great temple democracy joined by Holocaust Survivors enter defendants if not for raven soldiers fighting a total war across germany. My own parents contort boat there lives. Americas victory was made possible by success of the ambitious anniversary we will commemorate in just one month led by general eisenhower remains the largest board invasion in history. If mailed the defeat of germany that took 11 months to repeat and hundreds of thousands be killed. American soldiers and allies, jewish men, women and children and other victims but remember this. Already killed 5 million jews because, as we know, the way to work military work dominic your genocidal war against as well as other racial and political enemies, people with disabilities are great soldiers not only defeated ism sure the truth about unprecedented crimes. The crimes unbelievable. They told our nation the unthinkable is possible. World war ii generation conflict greatest generation. All americans made numerous sacrifices as they came together from every political persuasion and ever part of the country to support each other, fight the war and protect our democracy. We must never forget what they did fly. We must never forget to help them. We must never forget the essential glasses they teach us that when democracy and freedom are at stake, when hatred is rampant, complacency is never an option. [laughter] ladies and gentlemen, please dan for the presentation of the United States army. First. Twentyninth infantry division. Thirtieth infantry division. Ladies and gentlemen, please remain standing at the national anthem. Ladies and gentlemen, the honorable mike johnson, speaker of the United States. House of representatives mark. Thank you so much. Jeffries, President Biden and most importantly, all of our Holocaust Survivors. Welcome to the United States capital. The owner us a day to remember us and jewish heritage month and the anniversary of the nazis Unconditional Surrender to remember and to reflect. As part of congress mandate this event is hosted every year because memories teach us. Those who failed to learn from history are doomed to repeat it. Director bluecoat meeting reason for quartercentury you have a chance to go on tour and asked her, she will Say Something like this michael democracy is fragile and we are all capable of falling prey. By the turn of the 20th century, germany was democracy for the cutting edge of technology and a strong economy, highly educated. I did not stop people and darkness from overtaking the country. German universities where the heart of intellectual life process hundreds of learning or jewish faculty. Students felt were antijewish forces were introduced and performed horrific pseudo science experiment on jewish people from nearby concentration camps. Today we are witnessing universities becoming hostile places for jewish students and faculty. The envy of the International Academy is a come to an antisemitic. Students known for producing papers are now known for stabbing in the eyes and faculty who wants produce cutting edge and linking arms are pro hamas protesters calling for. Wanted for leadership are firing jewish faculty choosing not to protect jewish students. They are physically threatened when they walk on campuses repeating propaganda and moral clarity and we must put an end to this madness. We understand this rise of antisemitism comes after the worst attack on jewish people since the holocaust on october 7. With the drivers before us if you close your eyes and in your own heart you can almost hear the class chatter by storm troopers, executed aptly. You can feel her brothers and has been informed break them and they can only mouth to one another thing will be okay hoping that it would be. She could hear screams from the gas chambers and asked for 20 minutes in quiet returns but only for a moment until i would ask another jewish back. The most appraised part of humanity and then you open your eyes helping the memories of my gravel finally go away but now your met with new images jewish girls bend down and infants held tightly in their others arms. Elderly women are raped. The wail of children pierces gunfire and watching the peak slaughtered. Bodies were burned beyond recognition. Nineteen 40, perpetrated by those. Its uncomfortable but we must be graphic because the threat of repeating past is so great have to people directly in the face because some things are so wrong, downplay and justify what happened. Some are even blaming israel for the inhuman attacks. Some would prefer to criticize israel and punch on military tactics, but rather that unpunished appears to perpetrated order for crimes. Israels greatest moment of need when its literally fighting for the existence of the nation we have to do all we can to ensure that evil does not prevail. This is a time for all of us to come together and its in these troubling times we must look to the survivors of holocaust to help us remember and bear witness. For weeks ago proctor report, the United StatesCongress Formally past security israel to help protect the borders. [applause] we did not together and it was the right thing to do. To help israel protect its borders is proud to pass after months of conversations with my minister netanyahu ambassadors and those trying to defend the nation against the threats facing them in our think its very important we deliver critical assistance without any delay panel. [applause] the reason it was so significant is because as a congress together we sent a message and poor witness to the past and told the world israel and jewish people are not alone and we kept our promise we made decades ago. Never again. In my hometown in louisiana, rose for witness what she saw shes gone into classrooms at talk to generations of students about the horrors of the holocaust. Frank escaped germany in 1938, five years later with drafted in the u. S. Army and served liberate fellow jewish brothers. [applause] today we emulate folks like rose and frank and all those in this audience witnessed the horrors of the 20th century and we recommit to decades old promise, never again. When our government knew what was happening to the jewish people aligning it invading, we chose respond after freedom was lost. Today we must act in this moment in the next generation. Those who deny the facts of the holocaust, protect our jewish students and give full support to the nation of israel. [applause] we must call up antisemitism in all forms without equivocation and without delay. This is our moment. [applause] we meet today with orphic memories of october 7 in the holocaust and our mind knowing democracy really is fragile and we think to fulfill gods command to moses in deuteronomy as it is subscribed in the Holocaust Museum. Guard are sold bronchitis forget that things i saw unless these things park your heart all the days of your life. We must always remember and we will. God bless you. [applause] ladies and gentlemen, the honorable hakeem jeffries, democratic leader of the United States house of representatives. [applause] President Biden, speaker johnson all of my colleagues congress, honorable ambassadors, all those survivors was lapsed we honor and those assembled for this important event, thank you for your presence today. Let me begin, our commitment to everything we can with the position of authority that we have in the time it matters most to ensure never again unequivocally means never again. [applause] more than 40 years ago congress established days of remembrance and enshrined into law the more necessity and commemoration of spelling choose brutally murdered. Holocaust survivor noted military and accepting his noble prize in 1986 said action is the only remedy and made clear in different is most insidious of all. This is a vapor remembers and action, a day to remember the action of those murdered by evil regime and remember the Holocaust Survivors and unconscionable trustees. A day to recommit to the struggles against indifference. [applause] a prayer that will be heard beautifully. The other two protected elevate souls from those taken from our world to suit the elements of the day of horrific atrocities committed. The largest loss of jewish life on a single day the holocaust. Hostages held in horrific conditions and witnessing deeply disturbing rise of antisemitism campuses it in the world. This is a searing time for the Jewish Community. A reality of jewish life and expulsion, pain and persecution at the horrors of the holocaust. Unthinkable crime against humanity. Jewish communities across the world and what followed tragic deaths of errands. And received instructions from libraries and we learned practice and Community Must continue in the face of horrific, what it means to be resilient. Today in partnership, we recommit with strength we recommit to the principles of never again and recommit to antisemitism wherever and whenever it rears its ugly head, we lift up the memory of the holocaust in honor survivors with us today. Irreversible over indifference. Its not democratic issue or republican, american issue. We must press antisemitism along with xenophobia, homophobia and all of the problems of age are together. Mark and together we will defeat antisemitism but the fair urgency of now. Each and everyone of you, bless the United States of america. Im not. Ladies and gentlemen, ambassador chairman of the United States. [applause] the Jewish Community, day of remembrance and cant imagine has become reality before our eyes. All the best murdered because of racial ideology rooted in antisemitism. Think about survival in the United States recently United States and turnkey great soldiers defeated blonde regime and longworth allies liberated situation camps. 45000 around the world the last of antisemitic outbursts from harassment, violence like campus in atlantic quality she even hidden the bleach the last seven years before october 7 these were necessary at synagogues. How did they come to terms with seeing so many young people and carried out a greatest single they lost the holocaust. How do we best honor the memory of those who died at the hands of the nazis . 6 million been amended wearing a children thing. The world war ii september 11939, 17 million jews in a world of corn going. Now only 15. 7 in a world of 8 billion. Jewish religion, culture, arts and sciences and preserving their burden. We should honor them in the following ways and night postwar germany during negotiate going back to 1952, today 90 of survivors and 35 in the world. All relate to aging survivors at. [applause] by recognizing the holocaust was not inevitable. It was not inevitable against discrimination and progression is essential. It was not the final solution, make all germany and proceeds stepbystep to gauge world opinion. No in this note action and mass arrests. In the 19308 is about seeking to escape out failing. In 1939 over 900 jewish refugees waiting for three days to land and being back. Good of the world believed jews were responsible. Once world war ii began they have a little sources and museums special exhibit and accept as many as possible. Opposing against the jews the staff or Treasury Department center remarkable report like any agency has ever presented. Cleaning up the note and the murder of the jews, the staff of the Treasury Department presented in this to create the board that saved thousands of jews but not enough to say the last thousand hungarian were reported. By the time brave, dday, 19446000000000 European Jews in the leadership in the congress the leadership of the speaker of the house because johnson and minority leader represent ascetic are to be congratulated for taking lessons to heart of world war ii and the holocaust. Of unchecked aggression by continuing aid to his defense democracy and has repeatedly distorted holocaust moment of greatest strength and solution but rather to eliminate state. Last last year while before october 7, finishes first strategy involving federal departments and agencies a few days ago bipartisan speaker and leader house of representatives passed antisemitism artifact to clear out the definition of antisemitism. The lasting way to honor the terms and today as survivors as eyewitnesses we must think about those who distort the holocaust and made clear what can happen when antisemitism goes unchecked. Remember the power of propaganda the possibility for each of us and young people as they start. Make the right choice the past and rescuers in the holocaust and recognizes but not to be different but to choose to follow. On these days of remembrance, Holocaust Survivors telling is an inspirational support a story of resilience, a story of this result to never give up never given. Losing the families and communities future than from creating a new life with new families and renewed determination to follow the admonition in the fabric of the world are our inspiration. As we confront and president of antisemitism in our own entry rededicate ourselves that no ones future to be like the past. Memory for victims and lasting for future generations. The 2013 spoke continuously about the meaning of life. Most especially Holocaust Survivors, the president of United States joe biden. [applause] [applause] thank you. [applause] thank you for the introduction. The leadership in United StatesHolocaust Museum. Members of congress and especially survivors of the holocaust. The courage and dignity breaks. During these days of remembrance from voice to million jews who are targeted, murdered and collaborators during world war ii. We honor victims, the pains of survivors and rightly unspeakable and we recommit one of the darkest chapters in history. Never forget. Thats my growing up the horizontal show in my family for senator and Vice President and president and thats why i took my grandchildren so they could see that bear witness to the complicity of silence they knew was happening. Three hitler and his party accused prejudice and hate. Social and cultural five. Propaganda, boycotts and jewish businesses. Synagogues the face with swastikas. Organize within his reign of terror after genocide they and in the entire world didnt end with the holocaust either and continues in the arts people of the world. Vigilance in 2023 and terrorist group hamas unleashed the deadliest day of the jewish people and white the jewish people off the face of the earth 1200 and as of babies, parents and grandparents slaughtered, massacred at a Music Festival actually assaulted. Thousands more in the memory of terrible day they endured survivors. Just seven and a half months later already forget. Bobs unleashed the terror. It was hamas the continued hostages. I have not forgotten and north of you. [applause] [applause] cope with the atrocities and the trauma that they proceeds served around the world. Propaganda on social media, jews forced to keep under into the church and college campuses, jewish students and walking to class. Antisemitism in the world only jewish state. In violence and torture that terrorized you. It must stop and silence, it cant be erased anything. No matter how hard people try. In my view, the major lesson of the holocaust, it was not inevitable. We know hate never goes away, it only hides. And that does not happen. Learn the lessons of history dont surrender our future from the horrors of the past. Note safe harbor against anyone. Anyone. And the very foundation of our democracy. Its moments like this we put these principles that were talking about into action. I understand people have strong beliefs and deep convictions about the world. In america, we respect and protect the fundamental right to free speech, to debate, disagree, to protest peacefully and make our voices heard. I understand thats america, but theres no place on any campus in america, any place in america, for antisemitism or hate speech or threats of violence of any kind. [applause] whether against jews or anyone else. Attacks, destroy property is not peaceful protests its against the law. And we are not a lawless country. Where a civil society. We uphold the rule of law. And no one should have to hide or be afraid just to be themselves. [applause] the jewish jewish communu to know, i see your fear, youre hurt and your pain. Let me reassure you, as your president , youre not alone. You belong. You always have and you always will. And my commitment to the safety of the jewish people, the security of israel, and the right to exist as an oedipus state is ironclad, even when we disagree. [applause] my administration is working around the clock to free remaining hostages. Just as we have freed hostages already. We will not rest until we bring them all home. [applause] my administration under the second generous leadership is launched our nations First NationalSecurity Strategy to counter antisemitism thats mobilizing the full force of the federal government to protect jewish communities. But we know its not the work of the, alone, or jews alone. Thats why im calling on all americans to stand united against antisemitism and hate in all its forms. My dear friend, became a friend, the late elie wiesel said quote, one person of integrity can make a difference. You have to member that. Now more than ever, here in emancipation hall of the u. S. Capitol, among the towering statues of history is a bronze bust of lowell wallenberg, born in sweden as a lutheran. He was a businessman, a diplomat. While stationed in hungary during the world war ii, he used diplomatic cover to hide and rescue about 100,000 jews over six months. Amend them was a 16yearold jewish boy who escaped a nazi labor camp. After the war ended, the boy received a scholarship to the Hl Foundation to study in america. He came to newark city penniless, but determined to turn his pain into purpose, along with his wife, also a holocaust survivor. He became a renowned economist in Foreign Policy thinker. Eventually making his way to this very capital on the staff of the firstterm senator. That jewish refugee was tom, and the senator was me. Tom and his wife and her family became dear friends to me and my family. Tom would go on to become the only holocaust survivor ever elected to congress but became a leading voice on civil rights and human rights around the world. Tom never met raul who was taken pressure by the soviets never to be heard from again. Not to toms efforts, lowell bust is here in the capital. He was also given honorary u. S. Citizenship on the second person ever after winston churchill. The Holocaust Museum here in washington is located in a row in his name. The story of the power of a Single Person to put aside our differences come to see our common humanity, to stand up to hate and this ancient story of resilience from immense pain, persecution, to find help, purpose and meaning in life, we try to live and share with one another. That story endures. Let me close with this. I know these days of remembrance fall on difficult times. We all do well to remember these days but also fall during we celebrate Jewish American heritage. A heritage that stretches from her early states to enrich every single part of American Life today. Great americans, great Jewish Americans named tom used the phrase from civilization is paper thin. We are its guardians and we can never rest. My fellow americans, we must, we must be those guardians. We must never rest. We must rise against hate, meet across the divide, see our common humanity, and god bless the victims and survivors who show would. The resilient hearts, courageous spirit, and the eternal flame of faith of the jewish people forever shine of the light on america and around the world, pray god. Thank you all. [applause] [applause] ladies and gentlemen, the museums bring the lessons home program introduces washington, d. C. Area Public High School students to holocaust history, and encourages them to share its lessons with their family, friends, and community. Now in its 30th year, over 900 students from over 130 schools have completed the program and become museum ambassadors. We are gratified to have six ambassadors taking part in the memorial candle lighting. [applause] my name is my bridge, and i remember. Maja ridge. My name is vivian, and i remember. My name is anna, and i remember. My name is myanmar, and i remember. My name is shania, and i remember. Ladies and gentlemen, we are honored to have more than 30 Holocaust Survivors with us today. And now some will share memorial reflections. My name is alpha. Most of my family, this is a box of photographs i i hold sacre. The box holds the memories for members of my family, most of whom were deported and did not come back. This photo shows my uncle, my two sisters, my father and my mother enjoying a day in the park shortly before the nazi occupation of the netherlands, and before i was born. My sisters were denounced and murdered and auschwitz. My uncle was on the same transport, and suffered the same fate. My father, after forced labor in several towns, was liberated but succumbed two months later. I will always remember my father, my uncle, and my sister sisters. Thank you. [applause] in my hand is a photo of my mother and my brother. This is the only possession that remains to my life before the holocaust. The photo has been pulled out of the trash by our neighbor who wanted a keepsake of a friend who had disappeared. I was given it was given to my mother after liberation when she returned to her hometown in poland. My brother was only four years old when my mother placed in with a local farmer, but they were betrayed. The farmer was beaten and my brother was killed. I will always remember my brother and the 3000 members of the Jewish Community in my hometown. [applause] i am many mandell. The object i hold was my lifeline during this terrible months i spent in camp. When i became ill my mother rate excerpts of robberson robinson crusoe. How lucky i was to my mother allowed to stay with and is able to bring a piece of foam with me. Maybe including my extended family members were not so lucky. They were deported, their belongings confiscated before they were murdered. Ive always remember my grandmother, my maternal grandparents, and my sevenyearold cousin who were killed in auschwitz. As we recite and chant the traditional prayer for the soul of the dead, i invite you to stand and hold high photo that is on your chair or together, we honor lives and remember them. [speaking in native tongue] [speaking in native tongue] amen. Ladies and gentlemen, abe foxman, holocaust survivor and member of the United StatesHolocaust Memorial council. Mr. President , thank you for standing with us. Thank you. [applause] [speaking in native tongue] my dear fellow survivors, we are here again today to stand and bear witness. I i was born in the wrong time t the wrong place for a jewish kid. Nazi occupied poland in 1940 was not the best place to be born. Yes, i managed to survive as a hidden child. By the intercession of one special persons kindness, courage, compassion, decency, and most likely several miracles. As i grew older i try to understand what it is that i had survived. And the first set of questions were very serious questions of why, why did the holocaust happen to the jewish people . Why did over a million and a half jewish children perish . Why was the world silent . And why didnt the almighty intervene . To those universal questions of why, added very personal questions of why, why me . Why me . [speaking in native tongue] why me . In that struggle to understand, two facts became clear. One is that the world knew, the world knew. There was no cnn, no fox, no satellite feeds from faraway places. There was no internet. There was no 24 7 news, and yet the world knew. Those in positions of power to make decisions to stop what was happening new. They knew how many jews were killed. They knew. They knew what was happening to the jews. And as ken burns in his pbs series revealed to the world, reveal how much america new and how little it did. So the first lesson for us is to know, to know about antisemitism, bigotry, racism. To know who it is that threatens our democracy, our freedoms. It is important that we know. And knowing is not enough. The second thing that became clear to me was that wherever, whenever, however good people said no, whenever good people stood up and said no to hate, jews lived, gays lived, roma lived. There was an Oscar Schindler who saved 1200 jews. There was a diplomat who saved maybe 100,000 jews. There were 60 diplomats who acted against the riches of the government to save thousands of jews. It was in denmark, bulgaria who saved all their jews. I standard today because there was a polish Catholic Lady who could barely read and write, who did not sit down and weigh and measure the risks, and yet wished her life every single day for four years to protect the life of another human being, a jewish child. After name was she baptized me, gave me a false identity, a protected name from her neighbors as well as the gestapo. So i stopped asking the questions of why. And begin to ask the questions on the order of what if. What if instead of one Raoul Wallenberg there were 10,000. What if instead of one Oscar Schindler there were 10,000 . What if, what if this wonderful country of ours had permitted to dock at the shores and unload its cargo of refugees . What if we bombed auschwitz next what if canada have found room for 5000 jewish orphans recs what if, what if, what if we traded trucks for jews . What if switzerland would have permitted the entry of jewish orphans . The Dominican Republic said yes to jewish refugees. Cuban said yes jewish refugees. But america and canada said no. And sadly, there was no state of israel to open its doors. Bearing witness also gives me an opportunity to say thank you to my nanny bronislawa kurpi, whom i never thanked, and whom i never said goodbye to. Dear friends of the holocaust to france, the holocaust did not begin with gas gems. Begin with words, ugly words, hateful words, demonizing, degrading jews and those words became ugly, hateful speech. We need to speak up and out. When you do protest when anyone who is maligned or treated with contempt, the matt hoh the victim or the perpetrator, especially now when we live in such super polarized environment, politicize with a lack of civility and a lack of truth, enhanced by the socalled miracle modern miracle of the internet. Jewish tradition teaches us that life and death is in power of the tongue. Three times a day jews who followed that tradition asked the almighty keep my mouth from speaking evil. We believe in the power of words, and the power of good people to stand up and say no. Never again was and 11th commandment etched in the aftermath of auschwitz. It was edged by the jewish people based on a jewish experience. But never again got that commandment has universal message and mandate. For all of us today must bear witness and be faithful to the commandment which constructs all of us to never again be silent. Never again be silent whenever anyone is in fear, in danger, isolated, singled out. Because the color of their skin, their religion, or ethnic origin, sexual orientation, or anything that makes them different from the rest. Who would not believe that we, the survivors, would in our lifetime bear witness to a global epidemic event as semitism, including in our beloved country . And israel, the jewish state, which again be under attack. That the jewish people would again be under attack. And zionism, the National Liberation movement of the jewish people would again be challenged and attacked . Though it is again our responsibility, fellow survivors, not only to bear witness, but to shout out or we dare not, they are not be silent. Thank you. [applause] ladies and gentlemen, sara bloomfield, director of the United StatesHolocaust Memorial museum. [applause] exactly eight years ago the war was beginning its long and deadly ending. Our soldiers were tirelessly fighting the chairmans who were relentlessly killing the jews. And yet at the same time despite the odds, jews were courageously resisting. Resistance movements in ghettos organized escapes and uprisings so jews could flee to fight as parsons. The odds of success of resistance were very, very low, but the determination of the jews was so very high. This year we commemorate the 80th anniversary of an astonishing act of resistance. At auschwitz brogan hall of all places. Some of the jews who were forced to operate the crematoria mutinied against the ss guards. 45 jews were killed, including women who had supplied the resistors with explosives to blow up one of the crematorium. 1944 was also the year hannah and others from mandatory palestine parachuted behind german lines. She was captured and killed. She was only 23. Like her, most of these resistors were young. Can you imagine making the decision to risk your life and leave your family and community when they were under such a massive assault and completely abandoned by the world . Throughout the holocaust, jews faced endless, horrific dilemmas, which is why they are called choice was choices. Many jews resisted in various ways if we do not know all their names but we do know their deeds, we know the valiant fight they fought for jewish lives. The remaining an example for all time of Jewish Resistance and resilience of the jewish determination and dignity. The hem of the partisans which we will now here was written by oneyearold hursh flick in the ghetto a year before he was killed. Every time i i hear this songi think about the unthinkable circumstances in which it was written, and the continued refrain, we are here, we are here. The remarkable story of Jewish Resistance remains an inspiration for all times, and especially these times. As eight decades later jews continue to refrain we are here, we are here. [applause] please stand for the singing of the hymn of the partisans led by cantor sonya zell and the retirement of the division flag. [applause] ladies and gentlemen, please remain at your station until the official party departs. This concludes our program. Thank you for sharing our National Commitment to holocaust remembrance