Action at Iama Memorial
Source: www.charter97.org
On 2 March in Minsk 5 000 Jews were killed by the German Nazi. The extermination took place near Iubileinaia Square, at the place known as Iama. Today, on the 65th anniversary of the tragedy representatives of the Belarusian union Jewish communities and organizations held a meeting in remembrance of Nazism victims.
About one hundred people have gathered near the memorial site at the crossing of Zaslauskaia and Melnikaite Streets, mostly activists of different Jewish organizations, and representatives of the diplomatic corps, RFE/RL informs.
In November 2006 vandals defiled the sculptures of the monument. As said by Leanid Levin, the results of the investigation are still unknown. The Israeli Ambassador to Belarus Zeev Ben Arje told about the tragedy of Holocaust and about modern vandals:
’Minsk Jewish community never has to recall these events, because they are never forgotten by them. It always remains in hearts and thoughts of Jews. There are certainly days of mourning when everybody comes to pay tribute to the memory of victims, but it’s the fact with which we are living. It’s our historical memory, and it makes us ceaselessly think and care about preventing anti-Semitism manifestations, even those that are called petty hooliganism, about punishment of the culprits. We know that an enormous danger for Jews in certain countries and worldwide stems from that.’
During the commemorative event World War II dates which were tragic for the Belarusian Jewish community have been remembered. Minsk Jewish school students appeared; and a prayer for all victims was said.
In the end of the meeting flowers were laid to the monument of Holocaust victims.
