27th January was declared the International Holocaust Remembrence Day by the UN to commemorate the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp that happened 70 years ago today. The day has become an opportunity to reflect on issues around exclusion, xenophobia, anti-semitism and intolerance. The events first in Paris and since then all over Europe make it even more important to highlight this day even in your family circle and reflect on it from the perspective of living in 21st century Europe while remembering all those millions who perished in the flames of the Holocaust to make sure it will never happen again.
The International Holocaust Remembrance Day is described on the website of
IHRA where you can find education material to be used at home or at school on not only the Holocaust but also on other genocides.
If you want to have a basis for discussion for anybody over 12 in the family I recommend you to read and use the international bestseller novel of Markus Zusak,
The Book Thief.
Eve Bunting's book,
Terrible Things is for even younger children and gives you a ground to think about the broader context of intolerance and tolerating intolerance.
Eszter Salamon
president of EPA
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