6M

5 hours ago4 min read

There have been noticeable milestones along our Mesopotamian journey. If I were to put it in Biblical terms, altars and memorial stones have been set up at specific places and times along our journey. Each one memorialising an event which in itself is a reflection of our journey, of overcoming struggles and reaching a place of progress and healing. One was erected this week. 6M. On Holocaust Memorial Day.

Why this year? Because we are sufficiently healed and whole to look outwards and both acknowledge and examine the suffering of another people group. In a year of extreme regional calamity we paused to look back and look into the face of evil, and ponder the emptiness of the phrase "Never Again" in a century of global genocides.

Today, I bring the voices of just some of our Yezidi team who took it upon themselves to stand up with one accord, in the midst of great regional hatred, and bring the Shoah to our students.

Sherzad, Director of the Hope Academy of Art in War City

“80 years ago, but it still feels like yesterday. The Holocaust reminds us of one of the periods of the darkest cruelty in human history. I am sharing my heartfelt sadness with the Jewish people and honoring this very sad memory with deep sorrow and respect.

First and foremost, to the men, the women and children who suffered unimaginable horrors and cruelty, we remember you with heavy and broken hearts. The brutality of this genocide, this Holocaust shakes the conscience of humanity. There are no words to fully express the horrors of this genocide.

You are extremely strong people, your resilience has given you strength, love, and power. With all our hearts we share in your grief, sorrow and pain and stand with you in remembrance and solidarity. We stand with the Jewish people and the people of Israel."

Sherzad

Ayhan, Director of the Hope Center

"The Holocaust is a significant part of human history. I believe that everyone should have at least a basic understanding of it, not to dwell on the brutal crimes, but to ensure that such atrocities are never repeated against any group of people.

Here at the Hope Centre, we have conducted a series of seminars for our students, those who were rescued from another brutally evil regime, ISIS. We shared with those who have lost their families in a manner eerily similar to the Nazi selection process. Most of them growing up in Sinjar, and taken into captivity had no idea about the Holocaust. They now have a picture of the development of unrestrained evil and are able to identify with the enormity of suffering.

We will continue to educate and encourage those in our community to confront and stand against signs of genocide in any way they can, each in his own way."

Ayhan

“The test of faith is whether I can make space for difference. Can I recognise God’s image in someone who is not in my image..? If I can not, then I have made God in my image instead of allowing him to remake me in his image.”

Jonathan Sacks. The Dignity of Difference.

Avya, Play Therapist

“It was incredibly painful to think about the Holocaust. I read about it and explained it to our students. It deeply saddens me to learn about these horrors. It is always the innocent who suffer.

I have always believed that being different is not a crime, it is not my fault that i am different from you, that should never be a reason to kill any human being.

It was so hard to learn and teach about this, but it was so important so that history does not repeat itself."

Avya

“Tomorrow’s world is born in what we teach our children today.”

Jonathan Sacks. Not in God’s Name

Nurse Salah

"The horrifying reality of 6 million lives taken is an unimaginable number and what makes it even more harrowing is the methodology of extinction, gas, being buried alive and all the crimes against humanity.

As Yezidis we are able to empathise with the pain of the Jewish people having suffered genocide. The similarity between the Holocaust and the Yezidi Genocide lies in the perpetrator’s primary objective: the extermination of the Jewish population in Nazi - controlled Europe, and the extermination of the Yezidi community under the Islamic State.

We were passionate about commemorating the Memorial Day and presenting it to our students who were shocked and saddened by what they learned. We were careful to guide the discussion to a place of hope, acknowledging the resilience of these two people groups, committing to active pursuit of peace and coexistence to prevent future atrocities."

Nurse Salah

Salam, Director of the Hope Academy of Art in the Hope Center

“These two nations, Israel and the Jewish people and the Yezidi people will not be eradicated. These two people groups will become stronger. Tears for the Holocaust and the survivors. All prayers and best wishes to the Jewish people.”

Salam

“I swore never to be silent whenever and wherever human beings endure suffering and humiliation. We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.”

Elie Wiesel

Shex Vagar, Equine Trainer

"I believe that whenever genocide is committed against a people group or community because of their differences, we should take time to learn about them, to understand who they are and why they are being targeted. By doing this their history will not be forgotten, and their legacy will endure.

Both our peoples, the Jews and the Yezidis understand this great pain. We will not be erased and we will not be silenced."

Shex Vagar

“And God said, “ Let there be light “ , and there was light. God saw that the light was good and he separated the light from the darkness”

Genesis 1. 3

Musa, General Manager

"Our thoughts today are with the victims, the survivors and the descendants of the Holocaust. We commit today to making this a year of light in the darkness. We commit to being the light, to carrying the light and to speak out against this existing darkness in the world."

Musa