Those like me who grew up in the post-war era never imagined we would again face rising attacks on Jews in my own part of the world – in Europe.Īnti-Semitism is alive and kicking. Humankind dared to believe that tribal identities would diminish in importance.
The UN Charter, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Genocide Convention enshrined a commitment to equality and human rights. The founding of the United Nations was one expression of that moment. Both groups came together in the Nazi crematoria.Īfter the Holocaust, the world seemed eager to find a more cooperative path. Others who looked different were blamed for that, too. When they successfully integrated and came to “look like” anyone else, they became subjects of suspicion. Schama also noted that Jews often faced a lose-lose situation. The renowned scholar Simon Schama has noted that in the 19th century, Jews were even blamed for modernity, including for disasters of international finance in which they themselves were among the first victims. History keeps moving forward, but anti-Semitism keeps coming back. This will be a way to pay tribute to the memory of those my country mistreated so badly. I am also very proud to note that just a few weeks ago, my wife signed, on behalf of the Lisbon Municipality, an agreement with the Israeli Community of Lisbon to establish the Lisbon Jewish Museum. Last year, more than 400 took advantage of this offer. Portugal recently adopted a law allowing the descendants of those expelled in the 16th century to regain Portuguese nationality. Tragically, that beautiful synagogue was almost empty, because the community Portugal had expelled was almost completely destroyed by the Holocaust. I then had the honour of visiting the Portuguese Synagogue in Amsterdam to formally present a copy of that decree and apologize on behalf of my country. In 1996, Parliament revoked the letter of expulsion. Merciless attacks against the Jewish community. When I became Prime Minister in 1995, I felt it was absolutely necessary, even if only with a symbolic gesture, to demonstrate my country's rejection and repentance of Portugal’s The proof is that the converted Jews, the so-called “new Christians”, faced discrimination by the old Christians, and suffered continued persecution by the Portuguese Inquisition. The Portuguese example also demonstrates that anti-Semitism, more than a question of religion, is essentially an expression of racism. Lisbon’s loss was Amsterdam’s gain, as the Portuguese Jewish community played a key role in transforming the Netherlands into the global economic powerhouse of the 17th century. Many Portuguese Jews eventually settled in the Netherlands. Before long, the country entered a prolonged cycle of impoverishment. It caused tremendous suffering to the Jewish community – and deprived Portugal of much of the country’s dynamism. This was a hideous crime and an act of enormous stupidity. The same happened in my own country, Portugal, reaching its height with the order by King Manuel in the 16th century expelling all Jews who refused to convert.
The attacks and abuse grew worse through the triumph of Christianity and the propagation of the idea that the Jewish community should be punished for the death of Jesus – an absurdity that helped to trigger massacres and other tremendous crimes against Jews around the world for centuries to come. Imperial Rome not only destroyed the temple in Jerusalem, but also made Jews pariahs in many ways. On the contrary, the Holocaust was the culmination of millennia of hatred and discrimination targeting the Jews – what we now call anti-Semitism. It would be a dangerous error to think of the Holocaust as simply the result of the insanity of a group of criminal Nazis. He became one of the world’s most passionate voices for mutual respect and acceptance, and the United Nations was proud to have him as one of our Messengers of Peace. I would like to pay tribute to one survivor in particular, Elie Wiesel, who passed away last year. There is no better education for the future than the guarantee that we will always be able to remember the past and to honour the victims of the tragedies of that past. Thank you for bearing witness across seven decades so that others may live in dignity. I am humbled by the presence here today of Holocaust survivors. The world has a duty to remember that the Holocaust was a systematic attempt to eliminate the Jewish people and so many others. We are together to mourn the loss of so many and of so much. We are here to honour the victims of the Holocaust, an unparalleled crime against humanity. Today is a day to remember, reflect and look forward.
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