Defying Nazis: Last survivor of Warsaw Ghetto Uprising addresses European ambassadors

Ahead of Holocaust Remembrance Day, the British Embassy, Swedish Embassy, and U.S. Embassy hosted a joint event last night (Tuesday) at the British Ambassador’s residence in Ramat Gan to commemorate 25 years since the Stockholm Declaration. The event brought together senior officials from Holocaust remembrance organizations and ambassadors from countries part of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA), established following the declaration.

Britain, Sweden, and the United States were the founding countries of the Stockholm Declaration in 2000. At its core, the declaration is a commitment to ensure that the atrocities of the Holocaust remain etched in collective memory forever. Since then, it has served as the foundation for the IHRA and its member states’ efforts to promote education, remembrance, and research on the Holocaust.

The event featured speeches by British Ambassador Simon Walters, Swedish Ambassador Alexandra Rydmark, and U.S. Chargé d’Affaires in Israel Stephanie Hallett. Dani Dayan, IHRA Chairman and Yad Vashem Chairman, also spoke. Attendees included representatives from Holocaust remembrance organizations and ambassadors from IHRA member states, including Germany, Poland, the European Union, Italy, Latvia, Romania, Greece, Slovenia, Portugal, Canada, Finland, Norway, Australia, Belgium, Estonia, Croatia, Albania, Lithuania, Brazil, and Bulgaria.

During the event, participants listened to the testimony of Michael Smus (99), the last survivor of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising. Born in 1926, Michael risked his life smuggling messages and supplies into the Warsaw Ghetto. After being captured by the Nazis and deported to Treblinka, he again endangered his life by smuggling food to his fellow prisoners in the camp. Against all odds, he survived ghettos, concentration camps, and enslavement.

The British Ambassador to Israel Simon Walters said, "The Stockholm Declaration is an important and enduring reminder that Holocaust remembrance and education are a collective responsibility. It is our duty to ensure that the horrors of the Holocaust are never forgotten. Our goal was and remains to ensure that 'Never Again' is more than a slogan, but a living and vital commitment. We all bear responsibility to fight antisemitism wherever it appears. I am proud that the British government continues to implement the principles of the Stockholm Declaration through its commitment to education, as well as by establishing and building a permanent Holocaust memorial near the British Parliament, serving as a constant reminder of the Holocaust’s atrocities."

The Swedish Ambassador to Israel Alexandra Rydmark said, "The Stockholm Declaration on the Holocaust was adopted amid real and serious challenges, such as ignorance and Holocaust denial. Today, 25 years later, following October 7, we face even graver challenges, as social media amplifies the spread of Holocaust distortion and denial, as well as antisemitism and hatred. As one of the founding countries of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, Sweden will remain a steadfast voice for Holocaust remembrance, strengthening Jewish life in Sweden and Europe, and the critical fight against antisemitism. Antisemitism has no place in Sweden; the government accepts no exceptions or excuses."

U.S. Chargé d’Affaires in Israel Stephanie Hallett added, "The United States continues to honor and demand justice for Holocaust victims, survivors, and their families, and for all victims of Nazi persecution, through accurate commemoration and education about the Holocaust. We are committed to combating the rise of antisemitism in the U.S. and around the world."