Commemorative Event at Minsk “Yama” Memorial (Photo) :: Charter'97 :: News

On March 2, 1942 in Minsk 5,000 Jews were killed by German Nazi. The extermination took place near Yubilejnaya Square, at the place known as “Yama”. Today, on the 65th anniversary of the tragedy representatives of the Belarusian union Jewish communities and organizations held a meeting in remembrance of Fascism victims.

About one hundred people have gathered near the memorial site at the crossing of Zaslauskaya and Melnikajte Streets, mostly activists of different Jewish organizations, and representatives of the diplomatic corps, Radio Svaboda informs.

Israeli Ambassador Zeev Ben Arje, British Ambassador Brian Bennett, Russian Ambassador Alexandr Surikov, Latvian Ambassador Maira Mora and a deputy U.S. Ambassador Jonathan Moore have taken part in the ceremony.

“A pogrom has taken place on March 2. And this monument is dedicated to this pogrom. This monument exists, it has been preserved. And we gather here, near Yama, on this day,” told the organizer of the meeting, a chairman of the Union of Jewish communities and organizations Leanid Levin.

In November 2006 vandals defiled the sculptures of the monument. As said by Leanid Levin, the result of this case’s investigation are still unknown for Jewish community. Israeli Ambassador to Belarus Zeev Ben Arje told about the tragedy of Holocaust and about modern vandals:

“Minsk Jewish community never has to recall these events, because they are never forgotten by them. It always remains in hearts and thoughts of Jews. There are certainly days of mourning when everybody comes to pay tribute to the memory of victims, but it’s the fact with which we are living.

It’s our historical memory, and it makes us ceaselessly think and care about preventing anti-Semitism manifestations, even those that are called petty hooliganism, about punishment of the culprits. We know that an enormous danger for Jews in certain countries and worldwide stems from that”.

During the commemorative event World War II dates which were tragic for the Belarusian Jewish community have been remembered. Minsk Jewish school students appeared; and a prayer for all victims was said.

In the end of the meeting flowers were laid to the monument of Holocaust victims.