The Holocaust didn’t start with gas chambers.

 

It began with lies. Disinformation. Dehumanization that people brushed off as politics, dismissed as exaggeration, normalized until violence no longer seemed unthinkable.

 

On November 1, 2005, the United Nations General Assembly designated January 27—the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau—as International Holocaust Remembrance Day, a time to remember the six million Jewish victims of the Holocaust and the millions of others persecuted by the Nazi regime.

 

Remembrance isn’t ceremonial. It’s preventative. 

 

As we are witnessing an alarming rise of antisemitism around the globe, it is more important than ever to recognize the critical lessons of Holocaust history as we commemorate the victims and honor the survivors.

 

Words came before the violence: “It’s exaggerated.” “It didn’t really happen.” “Jews controlled everything anyway.” These lies did not die in 1945. They simply learned how to disguise themselves.

 

For me, remembrance isn’t abstract. It’s personal.

 

As well as being French-American, I am also Jewish. While many view Judaism as a religion, I see it as a caring community–one that evokes a sense of family and unity. One that connects people through tradition, passed down from generation to generation–l’dor v’dor. I cherish the moments spent with family and loved ones, when stories and laughter bring us together during Shabbat dinners or the holidays. These moments have taught me that family, community, and education are not just priorities, but responsibilities. 

 

Forgetting does not erase history. It trains us to repeat it.

 

The devastating events of October 7th deepened my connection to my Jewish identity and to the people around me. In the days that followed, I sought comfort in community, but I also realized how urgently society needs peace, human dignity, and tikkun olam–repair of the world. Today, I strive to carry these values forward, allowing them to shape how I engage with the world and seeking opportunities to build bridges of understanding across differences. 

 

Remembering the Holocaust isn’t about the past. It’s about protecting the future. If we care about democracy, justice, and truth, we must confront disinformation, especially when it is uncomfortable.

Learn. Question. Remember.
And challenge lies when you see them.