‘Bleak shadow’ of suffering
SURVIVOR MALA Tribich told an HMD ceremony at London’s City Hall on Monday that “leading a normal life after the Holocaust was one of the biggest challenges, for the bleak shadow of that time penetrates deep.
“What we survivors have been able to show is that the human capacity for resilience can prevail.”
Reflections on a more recent genocide were offered by Sokphal Din, who survived the Cambodian killing fields in the 1970s.
“The experiences I had during the genocide made me stronger mentally and appreciate life more than ever,” he said.
“Although I still live with the mental scars and nightmares, I aim to continue living without regrets, anger and disappointment.”
Also addressing the gathering, the Reform Movement’s Rabbi Debbie Young-Somers said: “I remember the first time my grandmother spoke to me about her [Shoah] experiences directly.
“Those test i m o n i e s t h a t w e c o nt i nue to hear a r e a n e s s e n - tial part of how we continue to educate and remember all these genocides.
“My children haven’t heard my grandparent’s stories yet; they’re still young. But so far they aren’t aware that less than 80 years ago, the faith and future of Judaism was changed forever. They also aren’t aware that the world said ‘never again’ and has broken that promise not once, not twice, but over and over.”
London Mayor Sadiq Khan read an excerpt from Sir Martin Gilbert’s book about Holocaust survivors, The Boys: “Every time I meet a survivor, I’m enriched by the experience,” he said after the event. “We can’t forget the Holocaust but also we’ve got to make sure we’re never complacent. “History tells us if you forget what’s happened, you can very often repeat w h a t ’ s h a p - pened.”