By REUVEN RIVLINPresident Reuven Rivlin attends a wreath laying ceremony at the Monument of the Heroes of the Ghetto in Warsaw, October 2014(photo credit: REUTERS)
Dear friends,This year we mark 70 years since the end of World War II. Even though 70 years have passed, we did not forget and we will never forget this horrible chapter in the history of mankind.The March of the Living, mitzad hachaim, is proof of the everlasting connection between the past and the future. Today, as you all come together, and march from Auschwitz to Birkenau, Jews and non-Jews alike, you show the world what this connection really means.Young adults walking side by side with the last of the survivors who were here exactly 70 years ago, bring life into the stories, the stories of those who were murdered for being Jewish, for being different. I turn to you, young adults, and urge you: Cherish this historic moment.The survivors are now passing to you the torch of life, of relief, of standing strong. Hold this torch high, to ensure that even if there are no more survivors living among us, the memory will always be part of our lives, and will never fade away.I salute you, and trust that by marching today you commit to keeping history present in our lives today and in the future.Dear friends, we forever remain aware of the danger. The State of Israel will not rest in the face of all that is symbolized by Auschwitz – the desecration of human dignity born in the image of God, anti-Semitism in all its forms, Nazi ideology and racism.Israel continues to fight against all these evils and will not usrrender ever.We built our future eyes wide open, and alert to the threats. Nevertheless, the horrors of the past and the threats of the present will not dictate our lives nor shape the lives of our children. We forever work for a better future.Shalom to all of you, God bless.