Christian Friends of Yad Vashem

Joining Forces for Holocaust Remembrance

From the Director of Christian Friends of Yad Vashem
Dr. Susanna Kokkonen

It is a pleasure to introduce myself as the new Director of Christian Friends of Yad Vashem, which is exciting on a personal level and an historic opportunity. Originally from Finland, I have spent many years in Israel. In 2005, I received my doctorate from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in Holocaust studies. The fact that I became academically familiar with the Holocaust gave me more awareness of how history shapes the future. It is not only the Holocaust – as one chapter of Jewish-Christian relations – but other developments, such as centuries of Christian anti-Semitism and subsequent racist ideologies that have shaped the past.

We all have a role to play in just how events around us unfold and we have the possibility of making our voices heard. The Christian Desk at Yad Vashem is one attempt at making a better future for Jews and Christians together.

Today's world is not so different from what it has been historically speaking. Anti-Semitism and racism still exist. The Holocaust is being denied under different disguises. Threats of genocide are being voiced again. The question then is, are there also our voices? Do we decide to remain silent or unaware of the past, or do we dedicate ourselves to learning and speaking up?

Yad Vashem is more than a Holocaust Museum. It houses the International School for Holocaust Studies, a first-class Institute for Holocaust research, a Publications Division, a renowned library and the world's largest archive of Holocaust materials. It is an institution entrusted with the mission of safeguarding the memory of the Holocaust and imparting its meaning to future generations. It is also our duty towards humanity to keep the memory alive. But this in itself is not enough. We need to make sure that the past will not be repeated and educate the generations to come about what happened. If you share my commitment, please, become a partner in what we are trying to do.

Your participation can take various forms but here are some suggestions:

• Become a Christian Friend of Yad Vashem by registering for a membership with us;
• Donate for a specific project among one of our many projects or invite us to speak in your church in a special Yad Vashem event;
• Since the youth are our future, it is worthwhile considering bringing youth for educational seminars at Yad Vashem;
• Christian businesses are also welcome to cooperate.

Yad Vashem remains the one institution in Israel that everyone supports, as Israelis across the spectrum understand the value of its work. It is a non-political site of reflection designed to bring out the humanity in each of us by showing us the worst excesses of inhumanity. Whatever your denomination I believe we can find a project for our cooperation.

If you are interested in making a donation to the Christian Desk of Yad VaShem, please go to our donation page and mark your gift for “Yad Vashem Christian Desk.”

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