January 27 marks the anniversary of the liberation by Allied troops of Aushwitz-Birkenau, a Nazi concentration camp and largest mass murder site in history, in 1945. Today, nearly 80 years later, the day is solemnly recognized as an international memorial day that commemorates the victims of the Holocaust that resulted in the murder of over one third of the European Jewish population at the time, along with countless members of other minorities.
While the day invites us to learn about and reflect upon the experiences of victims, it is important that while reflecting on the past we remind ourselves of the effects that continue.
Prejudice against or hatred of Jewish people, known as antisemitism, is one of the oldest and most persistent forms of hatred and remains a sad part of our world. Antisemitism manifests itself in many different ways, from violent attacks to hateful online interactions, as well as inย holocaust denial, or the attempt to negate the established facts of the Nazi genocide of European Jews. Today, experts fear an increase in anti-Semitic comments both online and by well-known personalities are contributing to the normalization of this behavior and inciting harm to groups of people.
At Penn Community Bank, we work throughout the year to support causes that root out hate and strengthen human rights in our communities. Holocaust remembrance is an important part of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) in society, communities, families, and workplaces. We want to remind customers and team members of our acknowledgement of their history and commitment to not erase the Jewish experience.
For resources and information on Holocaust Remembrance Day, visit www.ushmm.org. To learn more about DE&I at Penn Community Bank, visit www.penncommunitybank.com.
