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Christian Friends of Yad VashemJoining Forces for Holocaust Remembrance
From the Director of Christian Friends of Yad Vashem Dear Christian Friends of Yad Vashem, As we enter 2009, I would like to take this opportunity to thank those of you who have supported our activities over the past year. Since the Christian Friends of Yad Vashem is a new venture, we have had to work hard to establish a pattern of activities and a defined concept of what precisely we are trying to accomplish. During the past months, for instance, we have created promotional materials in various languages to better inform you of our goals and endeavours. In the same vein, we have started building more personal relationships between Yad Vashem and our Friends worldwide. I have personally travelled as a guest of various ICEJ national branches on speaking tours. I would specifically like to thank the American, Finnish, German, and Norwegian branches for their continuous support. During the Feast of Tabernacles here in Jerusalem, we also were blessed to host many tour groups at Yad Vashem. It was remarkable that so many Feast groups had time to meet with us personally and hold discussions on the deep impressions they were taking away from the Museum. At the Feast itself, hundreds of participants registered as Christian Friends. I gratefully acknowledge your support and hope that we will continue cooperating in the years to come. In January 2009, the International School for Holocaust Studies in Yad Vashem is hosting an English-language seminar for Holocaust educators from various backgrounds and countries. Christian Friends of Yad Vashem, with your financial contributions, has been able to bring three Christian participants from the United States to this unique teaching experience. Following their study program, they will be able to speak about the Holocaust in their churches and other interested communities with greater depth and authority. We would like to multiply this type of intensive learning activity both in Jerusalem and around the world. Why is teaching about the Holocaust so important? In this era, when many Holocaust survivors are sadly leaving us, we will need to become the ones who bear witness to what they suffered, as well as to combat resurgent anti-Semitism in our day. Yad Vashem houses both historic documents and memories that are crucial to our mission. As Dr. Israel Singer once said about Yad Vashem: “When I look at the names on the wall… I see the names of my family’s town. This place is important because it is the conscience of our history and the protection of our future”. Allow me to conclude by expressing my sincere appreciation for your support. It is only with your help that Yad Vashem can continue to fulfil its mission. We need more Christian Friends of Yad Vashem just like you! If you are interested in making a donation to the Christian Desk of Yad VaShem, please go to our donation page [https://www.icej.org/donate.php] and mark your gift for “Yad Vashem Christian Desk.” Warmly, Dr. Susanna Kokkonen |
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