Washington, DC - Today, Representative Edolphus "Ed" Towns reflected back on the Holocaust by commemorating Yom Hashoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day. The speech below was entered into the Congressional Record by Congressman Towns to mark this powerful day.

"Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate Yom Hashoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day. I join the Jewish people in the State of Israel and across the globe in remembering the 6 million Jews that were brutally murdered by the Nazis during the Holocaust.

Today is a time for all of humanity to reflect upon that most horrid period of history. The Holocaust demonstrated the mass atrocities that a supposedly civilized society could tolerate. We must keep in mind, that the Nazi genocide against the Jews was not the action of a lone individual. It was a carefully thought out plan which sought the support of an entire nation. The Holocaust reflects the worst of international relations highlighting a time global politics was plagued by inaction and indifference. The complacency of the United States of America to the cries of those being slaughtered in Nazi death camps will forever tarnish our nation's history. The willingness of the Roosevelt administration to turn back 937 Jewish refugees on the St. Louis to their subsequent deaths in Europe will also not be forgotten.   

I am privileged to represent a diverse portion of Brooklyn. In my district there is a large but dwindling population of Holocaust survivors. Many of these survivors rebuilt their lives with nothing more than the shirt on their back. Today, based on the strong foundations of those Holocaust survivors, the beautiful Jewish communities in Brooklyn of Williamsburg, Midwood and Canarsie were built. These communities represent the best of Jewish life and have been instrumental in resurrecting religious life in the aftermath of the Holocaust, by creating synagogues, yeshivas, and other religious institutions.

When I see and hear tragic stories from these heroic individuals it provides living testimony to an event that is hard for many today to phantom. Educating people especially the young, about the events that transpired in Europe over fifty years ago is critical to halting the recent spread of anti-Semitism around the world.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to recognize the efforts of organizations in my district that have taken extraordinary steps in servicing and caring for the Holocaust survivor population: The Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty; The United Jewish Organizations of Williamsburg; The Council of Jewish Organizations of Flatbush; The Jewish Community Council of Canarsie; The Conference of Jewish Material Claims Against Germany; Peasch Tikvah and all the Bikkur Cholim organizations. Their selfless work for Holocaust survivors continues to serve as an inspiration to me and I am honored to recognize their hard work.

Mr. Speaker, I join my colleagues here today in remembering the Holocaust. Because there are still Holocaust non-believers today it is imperative that we never forget and continue to learn from this terrible chapter in history."                

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