Speaker 1: The United Nations General Assembly has designated tomorrow as International Holocaust Remembrance Day. January 27th is the anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp. The day will honor the six million Jewish victims of the Holocaust and the millions of others of Nazi persecution. This as law enforcement notes a rise in anti-Semitism across the globe. Joining me now with more is Jocelyn Getschen-Kastenbaum, professor of law at the Benjamin N. Cordozo School of Law. Professor, it's good to have you here. Thank you very much for being here. We've seen such turmoil in the Middle East. We talked about it at the top of the broadcast since October 7th, which, by the way, was the worst loss of Jewish life since the Holocaust. Is there additional importance, in your opinion, to this year's Holocaust Remembrance Day because of that?

Speaker 2: Absolutely. Thanks, Bill. Thank you for having me. So this day in 2005, you're absolutely right, the UN General Assembly did designate actually tomorrow, January 27th, as International Holocaust Remembrance Day. And this year is especially important because of the alarming rise in anti-Semitism and other forms of hatred and intolerance for minority groups around the globe. It's more important than ever for us to recognize the critical lessons of the Holocaust, the history that we know of the Holocaust and the persecution and murder of over six million Jews and other minority groups as we take this day to commemorate the victims and honor the survivors.

Speaker 1: And as you're speaking, we are showing some video, you know, video from back then when the camps were liberated, and it's black and white, and it doesn't even look real. It's hard to wrap your head around. But we know people who suffered during the Holocaust are in their later years. As the world continues to lose the last of the survivors, how is their firsthand testimony being preserved and honored as we've also seen a rise in Holocaust denying?

Speaker 2: Absolutely. So we're at the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau. That is the day of International Holocaust Remembrance Day. And there are a significant number of survivors who are no longer with us. And therefore, there is an increasing Holocaust denial. It's something that we must counter. And eyewitness testimonials have always been a powerful way to combat such denial and to bring to life the real emotional realities of genocidal violence and persecution. And we see all over in every corner of the globe today atrocities and increase in conflict that lead to identity-based violence and discrimination. And therefore, these lessons are critical. And individuals who can testify that firsthand account is extremely important to combat denial of these things occurring in all corners of the globe yesterday, today, and in the future.

Speaker 1: I've often heard historians say that history doesn't really repeat itself, but it certainly can rhyme. How is honoring victims of the Holocaust, especially in today's world, also making it clear that oppression and prejudice against any group because of who they are or who they worship is simply unacceptable?

Speaker 2: So, I believe each one of us has the responsibility to both remember, and so it's critically important that we remember victims, what they have gone through, the reality of our history. You're right. History doesn't repeat itself. But if we forget history, then we have a tendency to repeat and not learn from those lessons from the past. And so, each one of us can remember, each one of us can honor victims. And the true way to honor victims in today's world is to act to, in some way, through your individual capacity in your community at the localist level to create a more humane world. And that may mean for your community to think about how others are being treated, are facing identity-based discrimination and violence, and ways that you, as an individual, can act to combat those forms of discrimination and violence.

Speaker 1: Jocelyn Getschen-Kessenbaum, thank you so much for taking the time, Professor. I appreciate it.

Speaker 2: Thank you so much, Bill.