For Immediate Release
January 27, 2022
Contact: Press.Office@Suffolkcountyny.gov
Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone today announced that the H. Lee Dennison Building will be illuminated in yellow on Holocaust Remembrance Day, January 27, 2022.
“Each year, we take a moment to remember all of the lives lost, the millions of innocent Jewish people and other victims who were brutally attacked, imprisoned and killed, and the incredible heroics of those who stood up against evil to defeat the Nazi regime,” said Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone. “Today and every day, we stand together in reaffirming our commitment to combat hatred and intolerance in any form and ensure that the lessons of the past are never forgotten.”
Today, January 27, is International Holocaust Remembrance Day. This annual event was created by the United Nations in 2005 to mark the day that Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest Holocaust death camp, was liberated by the Russian army in 1945. The purpose of International Holocaust Remembrance Day is to serve as the official commemoration of the victims of the Nazi regime and to promote Holocaust education throughout the world.
Jason A. Stern, Chair, Suffolk County Jewish Advisory Board said: “Today we recognize International Holocaust Remembrance Day. The Holocaust – the deliberate and calculated murder of six million Jews by Nazi Germany – is one of the most devastating and tragic events in human history. Although the Holocaust occurred decades ago, the lessons of this history have never been more relevant as violent antisemitism against Jews across the country and the world is on the rise again. As seen by this month’s hostage crisis at the Colleyville, Texas Synagogue, the recent shootings at Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life Synagogue, and other violent attacks against Jews based on antisemitic and anti-Israel rhetoric, we all must remain vigilant in stopping the rising tide of antisemitism and ensuring that the lessons of the Holocaust are never forgotten.”
Avi Posnick, Regional Director, StandWithUs Northeast & New England said: "We are grateful to Suffolk County Executive Bellone for marking this important day. At StandWithUs, an international education organization that fights antisemitism, we feel that Holocaust education and remembrance are critical to preventing anti-Jewish bigotry and other dangerous forms of hate. It is especially important for our students, the leaders of tomorrow."
Henry Levy, Voices for Truth and Humanity said: "International Holocaust Remembrance Day was adopted by the United Nations in 2005 and has been held every January 27th since 2006. It is the anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz- Birkenau concentration camp. The U.N. urges every member to honor the 6 million Jewish and 5 million other victims of the Nazis and to develop educational programs to help prevent future genocides. Voices for Truth and Humanity honors the memory of these 11 million children, women and men by working with like-minded organizations to ensure that there will be a State sponsored Holocaust and other Genocides curriculum taught in all New York State schools grades K-12. We can educate to stop hate and do our part so that Never Again means just that."
Mindy Perlmutter, Executive Director, JCRC-LI said: “The Jewish Community Relations Council of Long Island commends Suffolk County’s Leadership for observing International Holocaust Remembrance Day by lighting the H Lee Dennison Building yellow in memory of all those who were murdered and those who survived the Holocaust. Elie Wiesel stated, ‘for the dead and the living, we must bear witness’ and that is what Suffolk County will be doing this Thursday evening. We must always remember and never forget.”
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