The Presiding Officer (Ken Macintosh):
Good afternoon. Our first item of business today is time
for reflection. Our time for reflection leaders are Brogan
Carberry and Zaina Bouazza, who are lessons from Auschwitz
ambassadors for the Holocaust Educational Trust.
Brogan Carberry (Lessons from Auschwitz Ambassador,
Holocaust Educational Trust):
In October 2018, Zaina and I took
part in the lessons from Auschwitz project with the Holocaust
Educational Trust. We met a survivor, joined a visit to
Auschwitz-Birkenau and then shared what we had learned with our
school.
The experience was a massive
learning curve. We learned how extremely fragile human life is,
and our understanding of the Holocaust was challenged. Although
we know that the Holocaust was the systematic killing of 6
million Jews, we began to understand that the Holocaust is not
just about statistics but about the individuals behind that
number, who had families, goals and aspirations.
Standing at Auschwitz, where so many
were murdered, was an extremely emotional experience. When I
arrived and saw all of the hair, shoes and personal belongings
that were taken from the Jews upon arrival, it really shocked
me. One item in particular stood out—a set of house keys. Those
keys symbolised the hope of the owner who, on the day they were
forced from their home, would have locked their door in the
belief that someday they would return. Unfortunately, they
never did.
Zaina Bouazza (Lessons from Auschwitz Ambassador,
Holocaust Educational Trust):
Last year, our school was privileged
to have Holocaust survivor Harry Bibring visit and share his
experience of escaping Nazi persecution in Vienna. He came to
Britain from his home in Vienna on the Kindertransport. We
learned so much from him, despite our age difference. We all
related to Harry telling us about the day he was no longer
allowed to ice skate—a sport that he really loved—because he
was Jewish. I cannot imagine the sadness he must have
felt.
Harry Bibring remains positive,
despite what he went through. He said to us, “The only race is
the human race.” His words stayed with me. On the anniversary
of the liberation of Auschwitz, I would like you all to
consider Harry’s words. The Holocaust must never be forgotten
and the victims deserve to be remembered.
For young people around Scotland, I
ask that, as we look towards our future, instead of fearing or
belittling the differences we see around us, we should cherish
them. We are lucky to live in a country that understands and
supports the belief that, no matter our race, gender or belief,
we are all equals. We must all stand up to antisemitism, racism
and intolerance wherever we see it, because we know where it
can lead.
