January 2026
The Embassy of Israel marked the United Nations International Day for the Commemoration of the victims of the Holocaust by hosting a solemn memorial event titled “Zikaron Bassalon- Memory in the Living Room” on 27 January 2026 in Kathmandu.
Held under this year’s global theme, “Holocaust Remembrance for Dignity and Human Rights,” the event honoured the memory of the six million Jewish people, who were brutally and systematically murdered during the Holocaust. It also reflected on the enduring lessons of remembrance, dignity, and the responsibility to stand against hatred and anti-Semitism.
The event was attended by high-level government officials, members of the diplomatic corps, media representatives, and friends of Israel.
Addressing the gathering. H.E. Ambassador Shmulik Arie Bass, Ambassador of Israel to Nepal said, “Racial discrimination and the desire to exterminate a people must not happen again. The Holocaust is a black mark on human history.”
Expressing condolences to the victims of the Holocaust, Hon. Top Bahadur Magar, Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission said, “The Holocaust has had profound impact on International Human Rights Law, resulting in the United Nation’s adoption of foundational documents in 1948: the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in which Nepal is a state party.” He further said, “We seek a world of hope, tolerance and social justice where people live with dignity and equality.”
H.E. Mr. Udo Volz, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany and H.E. Mr. Simon Ernst, Ambassador Designate of Australia, shared their reflections during the event.
A deeply moving testimony was shared by the Holocaust Survivor Mrs. Sophia Geller, offering a powerful personal account recalling her harrowing experiences during the Holocaust. Moments of remembrance were interwoven with music performed by two Nepali students, adding a solemn atmosphere for reflection. The program also included the screening of the video of Holocaust Survivor, Mr. Dugo, who began the tradition of eating falafel every January 18 as a sign of freedom and to celebrate life.
The Embassy of Israel reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to Holocaust education and to promoting the values of peace, tolerance, and mutual respect.
Note: The Holocaust started with the vision to exterminate the entire Jewish people. It was the systematic, bureaucratic, state-sponsored persecution and murder of six million Jews (1.5 million of these were babies and children) by the Nazi regime and its collaborators between 1941-1945 in Europe. Very few Holocaust survivors remain alive today, underscoring the importance of preserving their testimonies and passing their stories on to future generations.
