The Embassies of the State of Israel and the Federal Republic of Germany in Uzbekistan held an event at the Alisher Navoi National Library on January 27, dedicated to this day. On this day, the inauguration of the book "The Diary of Anne Frank" - a graphic version in the Uzbek language and the opening of the photo exhibition "SPOTS OF LIGHT, the fate of women during the Holocaust" took place.
Opening the meeting, the Ambassador of Israel Gideon Lustig said: "We are witnessing today an alarming rise of antisemitism around the globe. It is our responsibility to begin and reverse this trend. One of the ways of achieving this is by teaching younger generations about the Holocaust and its cause – antisemitism. This is the reason why the Embassy of Israel in Tashkent, together with other partners and with the support of the government of Uzbekistan, has decided to translate the book “Anne Frank’s Diary – The Graphic Adaptation” into the Uzbek language ".
In his speech, the Ambassador of Germany Mr. Manfred noted: "80 years ago today, Soviet soldiers liberated the surviving prisoners of the German death camp Auschwitz. The name of this place itself has become synonymous with the barbaric and unforgivable crimes that the Germans committed against the Jewish people and many others.”.
The Holocaust - the total extermination of the Jewish people, the destruction of their culture and history - was the result of anti-Semitism in Germany at the time. After World War II, the international community adopted universal principles and established international organizations aimed at preventing crimes against humanity in the future. It is necessary to identify, study and understand the ways in which anti-Semitism has not only survived but has spread in recent years. World leaders must show zero tolerance for any signs of anti-Semitism and remain determined to combat it where it appears.
The event included a speech by Boris Babaev, a well-known journalist and cultural figure, who paid tribute to the people of Uzbekistan, their hospitality and humanity towards the Jews and all refugees during World War II who found shelter and salvation in Uzbekistan. Despite the differences in religion, traditions, and the poor life of the Uzbek people at that time, the Uzbeks showed complete solidarity and extended a helping hand.
The great national poet of Uzbekistan, Gafur Gulyam, described this in his immortal poems, “I am a Jew” and “You are not an orphan!” and it is no coincidence that in the very center of Tashkent there is the Monument of Friendship of Peoples — a monument to the Shomakhmudov family, which became a symbol of mercy and humanism of the Uzbek people. Blacksmith Shoakhmed Shomakhmudov and his wife Bakhri Akhmedova took in 15 orphaned children, among whom were Russians, Belarusians, a Moldovan, a Ukrainian, a Jew, a Latvian, a Kazakh, a Tatar, and representatives of other nationalities of the Soviet Union.
And today, on International Holocaust Remembrance Day, the people of Israel, the State of Israel, remember the lessons of history and will always be grateful to the Uzbek people.
