On International Holocaust Remembrance Day, the Consulate General of Israel in New York is partnering with World Jewish Congress (WJC) North America to raise awareness about the recent shocking rise of antisemitic incidents in New York City.
Through a new initiative, which is a component of WJC’s global #WeRemember campaign, there will be 66 LinkNYC kiosks throughout New York City on Thursday that will display statistics on antisemitism. The LinkNYC hotspots will provide awareness of basic facts related to the Holocaust in order to combat the lack of knowledge about the Holocaust.
“The rise of antisemitic crimes, especially in New York City, is happening on the streets,” Consul General of Israel in New York Ambassador Asaf Zamir said. “This initiative puts the Holocaust front and center, in front of thousands of New Yorkers on a busy work day. Not only will seeing the horrific images from just 77 years ago make people stop, it will make them think and, hopefully, to act.”
Commenting on the importance of the project, World Jewish Congress North America Executive Director Betty Ehrenberg said, “We’re proud to work with Israel’s Consulate in New York to bring attention to this important issue.
“In light of the deeply disturbing surveys that recently indicate great ignorance about this history, especially among the young, we must bring attention to the importance of this history, across time and across communities. As our precious Holocaust survivors age and pass on, it is critical for young New Yorkers to educate themselves. By learning the lessons of the Holocaust and what led up to it, the next generation will be able to identify creeping hate and put a stop to it before such an atrocity can ever happen again.”
The initiative comes at a crucial time for Jews in New York. Antisemitic offenses rose by at least 51% in 2021, with 183 antisemitic hate crimes before the year ended, according to the New York City Police Department.
Recent national and local studies also demonstrate an unfortunate lack of basic knowledge about the Holocaust. In New York, 43% of young adults don’t know what Auschwitz was. This isn’t an outlier. Across the United States, that same number rises to 56%.
About the #WeRemember Campaign:
The #WJC’s #WeRemember campaign, which takes place Jan. 20 through Jan. 27, seeks to educate people about the Holocaust and preserve its memory, specifically as antisemitism continues to surge worldwide. At the campaign’s core is people writing the words “We Remember” on a sheet of paper, taking a photograph and then sharing it on social media, using the hashtag #WeRemember.
The campaign also incorporates the illumination of notable monuments worldwide, including the walls of the Old City in Jerusalem, the Reichstag in Berlin and other European parliaments, as well as the projection of moving messages in public places. Other landmarks across Israel and Germany, as well as in other European and North American nations, will also be illuminated.