“In today’s global environment, it is even more important that the words ‘never again’ resonate and mean never again,” she said.

“Indifference and apathy should not be options. The Holocaust has taught us that we can no longer be silent bystanders to genocidal world events. We must all share the responsibility of spreading the message of tolerance and acceptance.”

She is excited about this year’s program of events.

On Sunday, Nov. 1 at 7:30 p. m. at Temple Anshe Sholom, 215 Cline Ave. N., Hamilton, the documentary René and I will tell the story of Irene and her twin brother René, Czech Jews sent to Auschwitz at age six. The siblings survived three years in the camp, where they were among the 3,000 twins experimented on by Nazi doctors.

On Thursday, Nov. 5, at 7:30 p. m. at Lincoln Alexander Centre, Crowne Plaza Hamilton, 150 King St. E., Hamilton, The Garden of the Finzi-Continis, adapted from Giorgio Bassani's 1962 semiautobiographical novel, chronicles the gradual disintegration of the Jewish community lin Italy at the beginning of the Second World War.

As Fascist persecution of the Jews escalates, the wealthy Finzi-Contini family opens their lgardens to the persecuted friends of their daughter and son, It is through the eyes of one of these friends, a middle-class, Jewish-Italian student that the story of unrequited love, set in tragic historic times, unfolds. Italian with English subtitles

On Monday, Nov. 9 at 7:30 p. m. at Adas Israel Synagogue, 125 Cline Ave. S., Hamilton, a Kristallnacht commemoration with special guest, Inge Auerbacher will include the documentary All Jews Out, tracing the story of the German-Jewish Auerbacher family from 1933 through 1945. German with English subtitles.

Exhibition of materials

McMaster University Library will also have an exhibition of materials from its Holocaust and Resistance Collection at the venues listed above.

Ms. Levy says the program is dedicated to Holocaust survivors and their lost families.

“It is important to honour the victims and preserve their stories and memories. We pay tribute to their courage,” she said.

“The resilience and dedication of those who testify is of paramount importance. Each one of us who listens to a survivor then becomes a witness to this tragic event in human history.

“It is our duty to remember the horrors of the past and it is our shared responsibility in shaping the future so such horrors are never repeated. We must educate our youth about the evils of racism and the value of every culture. It is our hope that together we can build a better world, a world without racism and hate.”