"After Majdanek..." Umberto Saba used to say, but what he meant was that all men were somewhat diminished by "the horrors" of Nazism. All of them, us included, not only the Germans... And yet, even from the depths of inhumanity, humanity can bloom again. But we must ask ourselves: what was reborn, after the mortal crisis that brought to the surface, for everyone, the most remote, hidden and harmful idolatries? (Carlo Levi)*
75 years have passed since Soviet troops of the Red Army liberated Auschwitz-Birkenau. It was 27 January 1945. In 2000, the Italian Parliament designated this day as Holocaust Remembrance Day to commemorate the victims of the Holocaust and of racial laws and remember those who risked their lives to protect the Jews and all the Italian military and political prisoners who were deported to Nazi Germany. In 2005, it became an international celebration.
President Sergio Mattarella, who is visiting Jerusalem for the world forum "Remembering the Holocaust: Fighting Antisemitism", called on "the whole world to stay vigilant against antisemitism, violence and fascism". Racial laws "are a dark chapter in Italian history and for this reason Italy has a responsibility to constantly raise awareness of the need to fight antisemitism and to pass on this responsibility to younger generations".
Remembering is a moral duty. The University community answered this call.
*from: Carlo Levi, La doppia notte dei tigli.