Each year, on Yom HaShoah, we remember the 6 million Jewish sisters and brothers we lost during the Holocaust. We say their names, we tell their stories, we commemorate the lives of survivors, and we reaffirm the promise that arose from that incredible tragedy: “Never again.”
Yet, it is not enough to simply memorialize those who perished. To meaningfully honor their stories, we must ensure those living in the world today do not suffer the same fate. Use this day to cry out for the Uyghurs who are being boarded on trains and taken to concentration camps, raise your voice for the Rohingya who have been forced to flee their homes in Myanmar and speak out for the Darfuris who remain in arid camps in Chad 18 years later.
Take action on this meaningful day of remembrance.
Reach out to your elected officials and urge them to support Uyghur human rights legislation. Let Secretary of State Antony Blinken know that it is time to acknowledge the Rohingya genocide. And support projects like perma-gardening in Chad that is helping to fight food insecurity in the region.
Let us use this moment of commemoration to ensure that “Never Again” isn’t just a phrase, but a call to action.
P.S. – Serena Oberstein was honored to pen a guest D’var Torah for Yom HaShoah shared by T’ruah. Click here to read the full post, “Embodying ‘Never Again’: Learning the lessons of Pesach in time for Yom HaShoah”