Calgarians Celebrate International Holocaust Remembrance Day – Calgary | The Canadian News

January 27 is the 77th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, the Nazi concentration camp where more than a million people were killed.

The Calgary Jewish Federation (CJF) celebrates the occasion by hosting a webinar focused on combating anti-Semitism. CJF Vice President Lisa Libin said this is an ongoing issue.

“Unfortunately, it’s an endless job,” Libin said. “We continue to see anti-Semitism rates rise locally and internationally. We are seeing an increase in the percentage of people who know very little or nothing about the Holocaust. “

International Holocaust Remembrance Day comes at a time when some people are comparing COVID-19 vaccine mandates to the conditions of the Holocaust.

The yellow star – the same symbol used to identify the Jewish community during the Holocaust – can be seen during demonstrations around the world.

“It’s a ridiculous, disgusting and ignorant comparison,” Libin explained. “The fact that people think it’s acceptable shows how much work we still have to do.”

Libin thinks that work begins with educating students about the Holocaust at a younger age, but the data shows that this is not happening.

Trending Stories

• 

  Jake Virtanen, former Vancouver Canuck, charged with sexual assault

• 

  Singh’s brother-in-law asked for his donation of $ 13,000 truck convoy back, says source

A study commissioned by the Canadian charity Liberation75 found that a third of Canadian and American students questioned whether the Holocaust actually took place.

Dr. Andrea Webb, an associate professor of teaching at the University of British Columbia, said those numbers were discouraging.

“We want to make students understand how important the Holocaust is and how important the study of genocide is,” Webb said. “But we do not want to overwhelm them with the human tragedy, which is a big part of what is going on here.”

She said education around genocide could start at an early age as long as the lessons are learned in ways young students can understand.

“When we talk about the universal experience of people being unkind to each other and pushing people out for differences, then it starts very young,” Webb said.

Libin added parents can also help by pointing out situations that refer to the Holocaust, especially when used improperly out of context.

“If you walk into a restaurant and you see someone make a remark that they bring out their ‘yellow star’ when they have to show their proof of vaccine, you have to say something,” Libin said. “We need those voices to say it’s not right.”

There are also a number of resources available through the CJF and the Calgary Public Library, including an exhibition at the central branch entitled “Star without a Sky – Children in the Holocaust”. This exhibition runs until 31 January.