The Embassy of Israel in Nepal commemorated the United Nations International Holocaust Remembrance Day by organizing a memorial program titled "Zikaron Bassalon—Memory in the Living Room" in Kathmandu on January 27, 2026.
Held under this year's global theme, "Holocaust Remembrance for Dignity and Human Rights," the program honored the memory of the six million Jewish people who were brutally and systematically murdered during the Holocaust. The event also reflected on the enduring lessons of remembrance, human dignity, and the shared responsibility to stand against hatred and antisemitism.
The program was attended by high-level government officials, members of the diplomatic community, journalists, and other distinguished guests.
Addressing the gathering, H.E. Mr. Shmulik Arie Bass, Ambassador of Israel to Nepal, stated that racial discrimination and the desire to exterminate an entire people must never be repeated, describing the Holocaust as a dark stain on human history.
Expressing condolences to the victims of the Holocaust, Hon. Top Bahadur Magar, chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission, noted that the Holocaust had a profound impact on international human rights law, leading to the United Nations' adoption of foundational documents in 1948, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, to which Nepal is a state party. He further emphasized the need for a world based on hope, tolerance, social justice, dignity, and equality.
Reflections were also shared by H.E. Mr. Udo Volz, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany, and H.E. Mr. Simon Ernst, Ambassador-designate of Australia.
A deeply moving video testimony by Holocaust survivor Mrs. Sophia Geller recalled her harrowing experiences during the Holocaust, leaving a strong emotional impact on the audience. The memorial moments were complemented by musical performances by two Nepali students, creating a solemn atmosphere for reflection. The program also included a video of Holocaust survivor Mr. Dugo, who began the tradition of eating falafel every January 18 as a symbol of freedom and celebration of life.
The Embassy of Israel reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to Holocaust education and to promoting the values of peace, tolerance, and mutual respect.
The Holocaust began with the vision to annihilate the entire Jewish people and resulted in the systematic, bureaucratic, and state-sponsored persecution and murder of six million Jews—including 1.5 million babies and children—by the Nazi regime and its collaborators between 1941 and 1945 in Europe. Today, very few Holocaust survivors remain alive, underscoring the importance of preserving their testimonies and passing their stories on to future generations.
