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NSYSU hosts exhibition on the Holocaust to promote values of democracy, freedom, peace, human rights

2021-10-14

The Israel Economic and Cultural Office in Taipei (ISECO) and Yad Vashem - The World Holocaust Remembrance Center jointly organized a special exhibition – "SHOAH – How Was it Humanly Possible?", now showcased in the Art Exhibition Room on the 3rd floor of the Library Building of National Sun Yat-sen University. The exhibition, available to visit until November 3, includes descriptions and historical photographs interspersed with quotations from victims and historical documents, and is accompanied by a thematic collection of books and electronic journal papers from NSYSU Library on the Holocaust and Jewish history. The materials present these dark moments of history and convey the importance of human rights and highlight the values of democracy, freedom, and peace.

In the opening ceremony participated NSYSU President Ying-Yao Cheng, Representative of Israel Economic and Cultural Office in Taipei Omer Caspi, ght), ISECO Head of Public Affairs Galit Cohen Caspi, Vice President of the Office of Library and Information Services Wei-Kuang Lai, and Vice President for International Affairs Chih-Wen Kuo. In his speech, President Ying-Yao Cheng said that Israel's science, technology, medicine, and agricultural development have all made important contributions internationally, and encouraged students and faculty to explore and understand the cultural and historical origins of Israel. “The exhibition recalls the dark past and provides us with a historical account. I hope it will spur reflection on the values of democracy, freedom, and peace.” Besides, NSYSU values its international ties and hopes for more cooperation and exchange between Israel and the University.

"How was it Humanly Possible?" – asks the title of the exhibition, and it remains a painful question that we still ponder over till this very day. Representative of Israel Economic and Cultural Office in Taipei Omer Caspi said that “shoah” is a Hebrew word for “calamity”. The Jewish Holocaust was an unprecedented act of genocide in which the Nazis carried out a massive genocide against the Jewish people between 1933 and 1945 in Nazi Germany, German-occupied Europe, and areas controlled by the Nazi German Allies, resulting in the murder of nearly 6 million Jews in Europe. He said that about 192,000 Holocaust survivors live in Israel today; they are getting older, and soon, very few of them will be able to tell their stories in person. It is therefore of outmost importance to preserve these accounts for generations to come.

Vice President of the Office of Library and Information Services Wei-Kuang Lai said that this exhibition showcases the historical aspects of the Holocaust, from the life of the Jews in Europe before the Holocaust to the eventual liberation of the Nazi concentration camps across Europe and the rebirth of the survivors in 19 illustrated historical documents and documentaries. NSYSU Library also prepared a thematic collection of books and electronic journal papers on the Holocaust and Jewish history. The exhibition aims at making visitors remember this dark moment of history to avoid such atrocities from ever happening again.

The special exhibition "SHOAH – was it Humanly Possible?” is available to visit in the Art Exhibition Room on the 3F of the Library Building until November 3, 2021, Monday to Friday 9:00~21:00. Off-campus visitors are asked to register online. Registration for off-campus visitors: https://www.surveycake.com/s/BQmwr
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