Meta launches sixth annual Sharing Memories Holocaust remembrance project

Meta's 'Sharing Memories' project, now in its sixth year, continues its vital mission to connect younger generations with the harrowing experiences of Holocaust survivors. This year's iteration, themed 'A Vanishing Generation,' underscores the urgency of the task as the number of survivors dwindles. The shift to a purely social media-based approach, necessitated by heightened security risks in the region, highlights the adaptability of digital platforms in preserving historical memory.

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Here at the Office of the President, I am hosting members of the founding generation of our nation who endured and survived all the hardships of our history. When I hear someone who was there, in the ashes and the crematoria, I understand our responsibility to share our story with the world and with our younger generation.

The project's expansion to include an event at the Office of the President in Israel, attended by President Isaac Herzog and First Lady Michal Herzog, signifies the national importance placed on this initiative. President Herzog's address emphasized the profound responsibility to share these stories, particularly in the face of contemporary Holocaust denial and resurgent hatred. This national mission, as he termed it, aims to ensure that the historical consciousness forged in the ashes of the Holocaust is passed down through generations.

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Especially now, at a time when Holocaust denial exists and when attempts are being made to reignite the deep, simmering hatred that led to the greatest disaster in human history. You are part of a national mission to carry our historical consciousness from generation to generation.

For Israel, this project is more than just a digital archive; it is a cornerstone of national identity and a bulwark against historical revisionism. The translation into seven languages further demonstrates a commitment to global education and remembrance. As Alisha Kaye Yaakobi of Our 6 Million stated, the responsibility to pass on these memories is growing, making initiatives like 'Sharing Memories' indispensable in safeguarding the legacy of those who endured unimaginable suffering and ensuring that 'never again' remains a living commitment.

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For six years, we’ve been sitting one-on-one with Holocaust survivors, listening, documenting, and sharing their stories with a generation that grows up on screens. But this year, something changed. Some of the survivors we met are no longer with us. Our responsibility is clear: to ensure their voices continue to be heard, long after they are gone.