Exhibition pays tribute to the six million Jews who were murdered by the Nazis between 1933 and 1945.
Thiruvananthapuram: The Simon Wiesenthal Center's historical travelling exhibit, "The Courage To Remember - The Holocaust:1933-1945," will be open to the public at Kadavumbhagam Synagogue in Kochi starting February 2.
"The Courage To Remember" pays tribute to the six million Jews who were murdered by the Nazis between 1933 and 1945. This exhibit has been viewed by millions in dozens of countries across six continents. It features nearly 200 original photographs, many of which have never been seen before by the public.
The travelling exhibition which premiered in Vienna in 1988, offers a historical account of the Nazis' murderous campaign, during which six million Jews and other targeted groups including political dissidents, prisoners of war, Slavs, Gypsies, homosexuals and the mentally ill, were killed between 1933 and 1945.
The crimes committed by the Nazis during the Holocaust mark a dark chapter in history. However, the causes of the Holocaust still resonate today. The objective of this exhibition is to educate the public about the events that took place during the Holocaust and the lasting consequences of this tragic period on human dignity and freedom.
Rabbi Abraham Cooper, Associate Dean of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, said it was appropriate to have the exhibit in Kochi as Jewish people have historically been welcomed in this part of the world.
"The world's largest democracy has a noble history of protecting minority groups, including Jews and we embrace this opportunity to build upon our shared values," he said.
"This exhibition here in India serves as an educational tool in the struggle against a rising tide of anti-Semitism and barbarity, By showing it here in Kochi, we hope the Jewish and Indian Peoples will strengthen ties during these difficult times," he said.
Representatives of the central government, diplomats from different countries will come together with key figures from the fields of arts, faith, education and human rights for the opening ceremony at the Kadavumbhagam Synagogue at 3 pm on February 2.
The Courage To Remember Holocaust exhibition will be from February 2 to 7 at Kadavumbhagam Synagogue. The timings are 9 am to 7 pm from Monday to Thursday and 9 am to 4 pm on Friday.
The Simon Wiesenthal Center is one of the largest international Jewish human rights organisations with over 400,000 member families in the United States.
