Ukraine's Chief Rabbi Jacob Dov Bleich: Today there is the repetition of the same thing that we felt during the Holocaust (VIDEO)
At the rally in commemoration of the victims of Crimean Tatars genocide, held in Kyiv on the 18th of May, Jacob Dov Bleich spoke to the public and drew an analogy between the events that happen in the Crimea and the reaction of the world community with the Holocaust times.
“15 minut” website publishes the full script of his speech.
“First and foremost, on behalf of the Jewish people of Ukraine and generally on behalf of the Jewish people of the whole world I want to say that you and I, those who gathered here today, we can hold a rally, we can give a voice. But the most important, we must see that our voice is heard all around the world. Today we see the repetition of the same thing that we felt, unfortunately, during the Holocaust times when all the nations fell silent. Jewish people were killed, nobody stood up, nobody said anything, nobody wanted to save them. And today the most important that I feel, as Jew who lives here in Ukraine and everywhere says about that, “Where are you? Where are all the nations? Where is the United Nations organisation? Where are all the countries? They are all occupied with their problems.” The scream should come from here, so that it is heard all over the world, that we won’t keep silence, that we won’t let the things that seem to be in the past to repeat. Why nobody screams? Where are all the organisations for humanitarian aid, for the human rights? Today, on the day when they think about the fact that there was no discrimination against LGBT people, where is the day that there was no discrimination against the Crimean Tatars? Why do not we hear that voice? So, I think that today such a scream should come out of here, so that it could be heard around the world! That we will not shut up until this issue is resolved! The solution to this problem lies in the fact that people have to live on their own land. Nobody has the right to expel people. Moreover, that it is repeated what had already been once. Then why are all blind and deaf, they do not listen and do not see anything? We must now begin a campaign so that it could be heard all over the world to never repeat what it was, and so we know that the Crimean Tatars could live a free life with pride and develop their life in their own land, in the Crimea, which we will always be considered Ukraine. Thank you for attention and good luck to all!”