The events for the National Day of Remembrance of the Greek Jewish Heroic Victims of the Holocaust 2025 were held in Trikala with emotion and solemnity. The first event took place on Sunday, January 19, 2025, and another one follows, addressed to the city's schools, on Monday, January 27, 2025.
The events are organized by the Region of Thessaly - Trikala Regional Administration, the Municipality of Trikala, the Jewish Community of Trikala and the Directorate of Secondary Education of Trikala Prefecture.
The event began at 11 am at the Holocaust Memorial in Trikala, where wreaths were laid and a memorial service was held in the Synagogue by the Most Wise Rabbi of Larissa, Mr. Elias Sabbethai. This was followed by the lighting of six candles for the 6.000.000 murdered in the Holocaust and a seventh for the coming generations.
In the greetings, the deputy regional governor of Trikala Chrysa Dinti He stated that "we must give value to human life" and at the same time "be supportive of the future of the new generations to come."
The Public Relations Advisor of the Municipality of Trikala, Efi Leventi, conveying the greetings of the Mayor of Trikala, Nikos Sakkas, emphasized that "In difficult times, in periods of turmoil and wars, in times when man ceases to be at the center and becomes an object and not a subject of developments, Memory is the guide and the opportunity. A guide, to clearly remember what we have experienced as humanity and as peoples. An opportunity, to utilize Memory, with the aim of not reliving anything of what our ancestors, our families experienced in the not-so-distant past."
The president of the Jewish Community of Trikala, Mr. Jacob Venouziou referred to the need to reroute life on every such anniversary, while the Consul of the Federal Republic of Germany in Thessaloniki, Mr. Mark Stromegger, speaking in English, stressed that there was brutality, that many lost friends and relatives, therefore the world is not the same after what happened and that we need to face it. He expressed his deepest sorrow as a German and emphasized the need for a continuous struggle for peace.
Followed by keynote speech by Mr. Anastasios Karababas, historian, professor, political analyst and author of the book “In the Footsteps of the Jews of Greece” on the topic “The Holocaust: Those who do not know their history risk reliving it.” The speaker focused on aspects of the Holocaust, linking it historically and explaining it, based on a developed reality in Europe, citing evidence that highlights the extermination of millions of Jews and Greek Jews.
The laying of wreaths was done by: Trikala MPs Kostas Skrekas and Thanasis Lioutas, Trikala Regional Deputy Governor Chrysa Dinti, Trikala Municipality Public Relations Advisor Efi Leventi, Consul of the Federal Republic of Germany in Thessaloniki Mr. Mark Stromegger, Infantry Colonel Mr. Theophylaktos Teligiannidis on behalf of the Trikala Supreme Administrative Guard, First Deputy Director of the Trikala Police Department, Police Deputy Director Mr. Athan. Kappas on behalf of the Trikala Police Department, Deputy Fire Chief Mr. Ioannis Tatsinas, Acting Commander of the Trikala Police Department, President of the Trikala Municipal Council Mr. Iakov Venouziou, Second Vice President of the KISE Mr. Elias Kampelis, by the representative of OPAIE Mr. Michel Negrin, and on behalf of the Athens Chamber of Commerce Ms. Matathias Varouch, the Thessaloniki Chamber of Commerce General Secretary Ms. Hanna - Annita Pinto, the Volos Chamber of Commerce General Secretary Mr. Victor Filosof, the Larissa Chamber of Commerce, the president of the Community Assembly Mr. Samis Begas, the Karditsa Chamber of Commerce Management Committee Mr. Makis Kapetas, the Hellenic-Israeli Chamber of Greece Ms. Suzana Frances and the Trikala Chamber of Commerce Public Relations Officer Mr. Than. Faltakas.
Also present were the deputy mayors of Trikala, Sofia Alesta and Efi Leventi, the municipal councilors of Trikala, Zoe Papanastasiou and Christos Zarampoukas, and citizens of Trikala. The National Anthem was played by the Municipal Philharmonic of Trikala.
On Monday, January 27, 2025, an event was held for the city's schools at the "Athanassios Trigonis" Cultural Center of the Municipality of Trikala.
Source: Trikalacity.gr