The Fragility of Freedom

The theme chosen for Holocaust Memorial Day in 2024 has added relevance this year.

When Fragility of Freedom was launched as the theme in April 2023, the staff of the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust can have had no idea how clearly it would be demonstrated on 7th October that year.

In a surprise attack by terrorists, around 240 Israelis were taken hostage that day, and about 1,200 were murdered. One of those taken hostage was Holocaust survivor Yaffa Adar. Along with the others, she suddenly lost the freedom of living in the communities near to the Gaza Strip.

Other Holocaust survivors were also caught up in the 7th October attack. But they are not the only ones who are deeply affected. Tens of thousands of elderly survivors live in Israel and are once again facing the reality of war.

So, Holocaust Memorial Day carries added relevance this year because Israel suffered a barbaric attack on 7th October 2023, an attack that was driven by racial hatred. And that attack has brought back many memories of the way that the Jews in Europe were treated by the Nazis during the Holocaust itself.