U.S. Embassy in Cairo and Museum Hold First International Holocaust Remembrance Day Commemoration

CAIRO – On Monday, January 24, 2022, the United States Embassy in Cairo and the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum hosted an event to commemorate International Holocaust Remembrance Day. The event honored the memories of the victims of Nazism and recognized the Arabs who confronted intolerance and hatred by saving Jews during World War II. 

The program featured remarks by the Ambassador of the United States of America to Egypt, Jonathan R. Cohen; Mr. Tad Stahnke, Director, International Educational Outreach, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum; and Ms. Magda Haroun, the head of the Jewish Community of Egypt. The program also featured the premiere screening in Egypt of the documentary, A_mong the Righteous: Lost Stories from the Holocaust in Arab Lands_A. 

Ambassador Jonathan R. Cohen said, “In commemorating International Holocaust Remembrance Day, we are reminded of our duty to counter bigotry and hatred.  We must learn from the tragic lessons of history and from the remarkable stories of courage that emerged in humanity’s darkest periods.”  

“The Holocaust’s timeless lessons about the dangers of extremism, intolerance, and hate resonate with people worldwide,” said Tad Stahnke, Director of International Outreach at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. “Founded by an act of Congress, the Museum is America’s national memorial to the Holocaust, but our work reaches a global audience. We are honored to partner with the U.S. Embassy in Cairo in hosting this important event.”

The United Nations General Assembly designated January 27—the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau—as International Holocaust Remembrance Day.

On this annual day of commemoration, the UN urges every member state to honor the six million Jewish victims of the Holocaust and millions of other victims of Nazism; to counter hate, intolerance and extremism; and to develop educational programs to help prevent future genocides.

Among the Righteous: Lost Stories from the Holocaust in Arab Lands, is a documentary film about author Robert Satloff’s personal search to uncover lost stories of Arabs who saved Jews during World War II. A panel discussion featuring Dr. Satloff and Museum expert Mr. Mina Abdelmalak followed the screening.

About the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

A federally chartered, nonpartisan educational institution, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum serves as America’s national memorial to the victims of the Holocaust and is dedicated to ensuring the permanence of Holocaust memory, understanding, and relevance. Through the power of Holocaust history, the Museum challenges leaders and individuals to think critically about their role in society and to confront hatred, prevent genocide, and promote human dignity. For more information, visit ushmm.org.