REMEMBRANCE – Di Segni: The threat to memory is distortion

On Holocaust Remembrance Day, this was emphasized by President of the Union of Italian Jewish Communities Noemi Di Segni in a press conference in Rome. “Holocaust Remembrance Day is not an event for Jews alone but for all of Italy and its institutions.” Di Segni stressed, addressing two types of “distortions” in her speech. The first, which she called “naïve,” occurs when, for example, someone says to a Jewish friend, “I stand with you” or “Happy holiday,” failing to grasp the true essence of Holocaust Remembrance Day. The second is anything but naïve: those who “use” January 27 to distort its meaning and attempt to “dismantle freedoms and constitutional principles that we consider fundamental.” Far-right, far-left, and Islamic radicalism—different worlds tapping into the language of memory “to turn it against Israel and the Jews: it is dangerous and offends all survivors.”

“Memory represents a daily commitment that we aim to strengthen and substantiate with human values,” stated Sports Minister Andrea Abodi, opening the press conference. “Memory is an essential value for freedom and civil coexistence, the necessary foundation for respecting life over time,” the minister added. He expressed solidarity with Holocaust survivor and Life Senator Liliana Segre for recent antisemitic attacks against her and explored how memory can be conveyed through sports. He highlighted last year’s Journey of Memory initiative, which involved Olympic and Paralympic athletes, federation leaders, and coaches. A new journey is set to take place this year, “dedicated to civil service volunteers.”

Also speaking at the press conference was General Pasquale Angelosanto, national coordinator for combating antisemitism, who is currently finalizing revisions to the new national strategy against antisemitism. The general highlighted the need of updating the strategy given the “new forms” of antisemitism—a phenomenon that has “exploded” recently, fueled by the “brutal attacks by Hamas on October 7, 2023.”

The strategy was also referenced by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. In a message for Holocaust Remembrance Day, she declared that “fighting antisemitism, in all its manifestations—ancient and modern—is a priority for this government.” She reiterated the government’s unwavering commitment, which will continue “with strength and determination, including through the development of the new national strategy against antisemitism, a comprehensive and structured document that defines objectives and concrete actions to combat an abhorrent phenomenon that has no place in our society.”