JTA & JPost.com
Photos by Israel Bardugo
Dozens of lawmakers from Israel, the United States and Europe convened at Auschwitz-Birkenau for ceremonies commemorating the liberation 69 years ago of the former Nazi death camp.
The largest foreign parliamentary delegation landed in Poland from Israel on
Jan. 27, which was designated by the United Nations in 2005 as International Holocaust Remembrance Day.
It included 58 Knesset members, constituting nearly half of the 120-seat Israeli parliament, making it the largest Knesset delegation ever to have visited the Auschwitz compound, organizers said.
The event was organized by Jonny Daniels, Director of From The Depths (FTD), an organization with a mission to bring lessons of the past to future generations by working to help Holocaust survivors and preserve Jewish sites in Poland.
A solemn prayer was led by Israel’s Chief Ashkenazi Rabbi David Lau, near the famous “Arbeit macht frei” (“Work will make you free”) sign at the entrance to the Auschwitz camp.
A delegation from the United States was headed by Rep. Eric Cantor, a Virginia Republican and the first Jewish majority leader of Congress. With Cantor were Reps. Darrell Issa (R-San Diego County) and Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.).
A dinner sponsored by FTD and the World Zionist Organization featured performances by renowned opera singer Andrea Bocelli and Israeli singer Amir Benayoun with a special song written for the occasion and Cantor Haim Adler.
Rabbi Eliezer Gurary, Chief Rabbi of Krakow and director of Chabad Lubavitch of Krakow, was present at the events.
but what going on in Israel, whe have Hahsem not an army and a state!!!!!
It would have been good if the photos had been captioned
what a great event!!
andrea bocelli
what will all these diplomats do-aside fom the israelis,- to erase anti-semitism going on NOW in europe again? See their tears, hear their pleas, but action? The blood of our people cries out at the hypocrisy we see today in most european countries..
There is no greater proof that the G-d of Israel exists than the fact that we the Jews have outlived all our enemies – and not only have we survived but we are stronger than ever … Back in Eretz Yisroel with our own army – Never Again!!! If only the government would listen to the Rebbe we would be even stronger.
The place was built by Jewish young adults, forced to build it by the nazis y”s. later to kill their own relatives hy”d.
We want Moshiach now!