No photos exist of the Jewish deportations from Luxembourg. The above photo shows the 'Umsiedlung' campaign, in which Luxembourgers were forcefully resettled in eastern Europe for refusing to collaborate with the Nazi regime. Other Germanic people left for the East on a voluntary basis. / © Public domain
On Friday January 27 2023, the world paused to remember the victims of the Holocaust on International Holocaust Remembrance Day.
On this day, we remember the victims and pledge to never forget the lessons of the past. This solemn occasion serves as a reminder of the atrocities committed during the Holocaust, in which six million Jews were systematically murdered by the Nazi regime.
In Luxembourg, Prime Minister Xavier Bettel will take part in a commemorative ceremony organized in Esch-sur-Alzette, a powerful reminder of the importance of remembering the Holocaust and the atrocities committed during the war.
The Jewish community in Luxembourg had been a vibrant and integral part of the country's society, however, due to the Nazi occupation, many Jewish residents were forced to flee, and those who stayed behind were subjected to persecution, discrimination and ultimately murder in and out of concentration camps.
In November, we had reported a story about the Grand Duchy's Ramath Orah which was destroyed by the Nazis in 1941. Despite this tragic event, 61 refugees managed to bring the community back to life in New York City, under the leadership of Rabbi Dr. Serebrenik.
Ariel Fishman, the President of Ramath Orah, explained that this transplantation of an entire community from Luxembourg to New York reflected a moment where a community felt collectively like they didn't belong, like they were in danger and felt unsafe.
Rabbi Dr Serebrenik had, then, put all his effort into contacting important German officials and managed, thanks to his courage and strong personality, to save 2.000 Luxembourgish Jews from Luxembourg.
The Luxembourg government gave a generous donation towards a window at Ramath Orah Congregation, which was designed to connect directly to the history of Luxembourg and inside of the Magen David is a line from Isaiah, which is the same line of scripture that was above the ark in the synagogue in Luxembourg that was destroyed.
As we commemorate International Holocaust Remembrance Day, let us remember the history of Jews in Luxembourg and their treatment during World War 2, and pledge to work towards creating a more just and equal society for all.
This means standing up against hate and discrimination in all its forms, and working towards a world where all people are treated with dignity and respect.
