Local synagogue recognizes International Holocaust Remembrance Day

TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – Sunday was International Holocaust Remembrance Day.

In honor of the day, Temple B’nai Israel in Tupelo held a special meeting with guest speaker Joseph Metz.

Metz is the grandson of Gilbert Metz, the only known Holocaust survivor from Mississippi, who went through two concentration camps.

Joseph said his message to the congregation is even more important in today’s political and racial climates.

“I felt like as his grandson, it was my job and my duty to go around and teach people about the Holocaust,” said Metz.

Gilbert Metz was arrested at the age of 12 in France in 1942.

Over the next three years, he was transferred to two different concentration camps, including Auschwitz.

Metz was liberated in 1945 and moved to Mississippi after losing his family.

He passed away in 2007 and ever since then his grandson Joseph has been spreading his message.

“I think that individuals need to put aside their differences and realize that there’s a lot more in common than different,” said Metz.

Members of Temple B’nai Israel in Tupelo couldn’t agree more.

“Hopefully it will help people to remember our past so that we don’t repeat it,” said temple president Leslie Mart.

“I don’t think we should ever forget the Holocaust. You know, we can go years and years and not think about it, and to have a grandson of someone who was in the Holocaust put a different light on it. I think that’s why it’s important. We should never forget,” said congregation member Celia Flieshhacker.

Joseph said the main thing he hoped people took away from his message is simple.

“If you see injustice in the world and you do nothing, you’re just as guilty as those who do the injustice,” said Metz.

Event organizers said they hoped Sunday’s message resonates with people across the Magnolia state.

“It’s important for us to have this kind of community event so that we can all get to know each other. It’s important that we appreciate each other for all of our differences,” said Mart.

And everyone in attendance agreed on one thing.

“I want everybody to be a member of our faith community regardless of which faith you come with,” said Mart.

“It’s up to us to make sure that there’s a world tomorrow,” said Metz.

“You’ll think about it and you’ll say never ever again,” said Flieshhacker.

On November 1, 2005, the United Nations declared January 27 as National Holocaust Remembrance Day.

January 27 is also the day the largest concentration camp, Auschwitz, was liberated in 1945.