“Remembrance means responsibility” – Concert, encounter evening and March of Life in Berlin
Despite pouring rain, this year’s March of Life put its motto, “Remembrance means responsibility,” into action: 250 participants marched through Berlin as a visible symbol for Jewish life and against antisemitism. The evening before, a concert and encounter evening honored Jewish culture in remembrance of the Shoah and with an eye toward the present.
Vibrant Jewish culture at the concert and encounter evening
On Saturday evening, the March of Life e.V. invited guests to the ICF Berlin for a special night. Shofar artist Bar Zemach, singer and theater actress Sarah Maria Sander, the band Be’er Sheva, and the dance group YC-Dance together presented a diverse program that combined music, remembrance, and dialogue.
The first part of the evening was dedicated to reflecting on the Shoah. Moving musical performances—including Bar Zemach’s rendition of “El Male Rachamim”—served as a reminder of the victims’ suffering. Works by Jewish composers from the Holocaust era also came to life: Sarah Maria Sander sang “Shtiler, Shtiler” by Shmerke Kaczerginski, composed within the walls of the Vilna Ghetto.
The second part focused on Jewish life today. In a panel discussion, descendants of Nazi perpetrators as well as Jewish and non-Jewish artists engaged in conversation—among other things, about what it means for young people to sing and play these songs today. The personal contributions made it clear how strongly the past continues to influence the present—and how important it is to take responsibility for the future today.
The evening concluded with a joint rendition of the anthem “Hatikvah” and a lively exchange between artists and guests.
Together at places of remembrance
On Sunday, April 19, the march began at historic Bebelplatz—the site of the book burning in May 1933. Cantor Arie Zaloshinsky of the Jewish Community of Berlin sang the prayer “El Male Rachamim”; afterward, six candles were lit—in memory of the six million murdered Jews, on the occasion of Yom HaShoah.
Despite torrential rain, around 250 participants—including numerous Iranian exiles—gathered and set off toward the Brandenburg Gate carrying Iranian and Israeli flags. The atmosphere was marked by determination and an unshakable joy that even the weather could not dampen.
Committed to the commemoration of the Shoah
Michel Gourary, European President of the March of the Living, emphasized the importance of shared responsibility in the fight against antisemitism. Jobst Bittner, founder and president of the March of Life, called for active responsibility in front of the Brandenburg Gate: “Those who remain silent today in the face of antisemitism and hatred of Jews run the risk of acting just as they did and becoming as guilty as the bystanders, accomplices, and followers during the Nazi era.”
Particularly moving was the speech by Assia Gorban, a Holocaust survivor and chairwoman of the organization “Phoenix from the Ashes.” She thanked the March of Life for its work and forcefully reminded the audience that history must not be allowed to repeat itself. Afshin’s personal testimony from Iran also left a deep impression: He recounted how he grew up from childhood with an ideology of hatred toward Jews and Israel—and how he now consciously stands up against it and teaches his own children to love Israel and the Jewish people.
Bar Zemach created another moving moment with a musical rendition of the Kaddish. The Aaronic Blessing was then recited in German, Hebrew, and Persian—a powerful sign of solidarity with both Israel and the Iranian people.
Sarah Maria Sander summed up the message of the day: “For the Jewish people, there was never an alternative. If the alternative is to cease to exist, then it is easy to keep fighting.”
The event concluded with a joyful dance by YC-Dance, which culminated in a joint dance with the participants in the pouring rain. What outwardly was marked by cold and wetness became an expression of life, hope, and joy.
The concert and march thus merged into a powerful overall experience: remembrance, connection, and active engagement—against antisemitism and for Jewish life in Berlin.
