HRA18 Blogs & Statements

Holocaust Remembrance Association Statements

Holocaust Remembrance Association Blogs

Bloggers (Click to read each author’s contributions):

Blogs by Dr. Susanna Kokkonen

Dr. Susanna Kokkonen is an accomplished author and international speaker, addressing Christian, Jewish, and civic audiences worldwide on topics including the Holocaust, genocide, antisemitism, and contemporary Israel. She has presented her lectures in the parliaments of Canada, Finland, and Sweden, as well as at the European Parliament. Most recently, Dr. Kokkonen served as the Director of Christian Friends of Yad Vashem, the World Holocaust Remembrance Center in Jerusalem. In this role, she guided Christian dignitaries, spoke to numerous Christian groups, and organized over 10 Christian Leadership Seminars with participants from more than 50 countries. Dr. Kokkonen’s work continues to foster education and dialogue on vital historical and current issues.

Hanukkah

Hanukkah

December 2024 By: Dr. Susanna Kokkonen Christmas 2024 coincides with the time of Hanukkah – Hebrew month of Kislev, when the ancient war the Maccabees had to fight, ended.  The Revolt There was strong Greek cultural and religious influence in the Land of Israel in 168...

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Make the Commitment…No Longer a Bystander!

Make the Commitment…No Longer a Bystander!

by Dr. Susanna Kokkonen On December 15, 1944, eighty years ago, interesting things were happening on the warfront. A talented American conductor, trombone player and artist Glenn Miller flew toward France. He had already raised funds for US troops from October 1942...

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Driving Off the Cliff…

Driving Off the Cliff…

by Dr. Susanna Kokkonen November 1938 was a watershed moment in the history of the world. At the time it may have seemed that there was just a localized persecution of Jews going on in Germany. But we know now that in November 1938 things came to a dangerous point. I...

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October 7, Then and Now

October 7, Then and Now

October 7, 1944, the Sonderkommando started a revolt in Auschwitz-Birkenau. Sonderkommando was a specific unit of prisoners. As transportations of Jews arrived at the platform, guards selected those they wanted in the Sonderkommando. The selected prisoners had to be...

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Blogs by Hao Nguyen

Originally from Vietnam, I migrated to Texas in August 2020 and have been living with my stepfather, biological mother, and stepsister. My journey in higher education began as a recipient of the prestigious Chancellor Scholarship at an honors college, where I am majoring in International Business with plans to major in Marketing if finance allow possibly. My academic foundation is supported by full tuition coverage, which enables me to focus on my studies and career development.

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Bridges of Compassion – The Untold Stories of Asian Rescuers During the Holocaust: Pt2, Ho Feng Shan: One Man’s Kindness Saves Thousands

Bridges of Compassion – The Untold Stories of Asian Rescuers During the Holocaust: Pt2, Ho Feng Shan: One Man’s Kindness Saves Thousands

When I moved to the United States four years ago as a Vietnamese-American student, it felt overwhelming, like trying to find my way in a vast, unfamiliar world. Adapting to a new culture taught me a lot about identity and the importance of empathy. Along the way, stories like that of Ho Feng Shan became a source of inspiration. Ho was a Chinese diplomat in Vienna during the late 1930s who defied orders to issue thousands of visas to Jewish families. His actions gave them a chance to escape the Nazis. Risking his career and safety, Ho proved how much one person’s courage can matter.

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Blogs by Christine Ege

Christine’s early experiences with travel and diverse cultures sparked a lifelong passion for connecting across backgrounds. By age 14, she had lived in various parts of the U.S., forming friendships with people from many cultural communities. This led her to earn degrees in Russian, German, and French Languages and Literatures, including post-graduate studies in interpreting and translation at the University of Heidelberg in Germany. After several years in Norway, Christine and her husband, Steve, settled in Texas, where they have dedicated themselves to numerous volunteer roles. Since 2013, Christine has been a leader with March of Remembrance Texas, passionately advocating against modern-day antisemitism, and she also serves as executive director for a local anti-trafficking organization, where she shares thousands of homemade cookies with the community each year.

Why Should I Care about Israel?

Why Should I Care about Israel?

by Christine Ege More than 75 years after the end of World War II, and nearly 65 years after the founding of the State of Israel, antisemitism is far from extinct. In the final chapter of her book, Journey to the Holocaust, Dr. Susanna Kokkonen identifies some of the...

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A Recipe for Disaster

A Recipe for Disaster

by Christine Ege Nuclear weapons development, religious fanaticism, and genocidal threats contribute to an international recipe for disaster, according to Dr. Susanna Kokkonen.  In Chapter 11 of her book, Journey to the Holocaust, she describes the shift in Iran’s...

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Confronting Symptoms without Addressing the Problem

Confronting Symptoms without Addressing the Problem

by Christine Ege In the wake of World War II and the liberation of the remaining concentration camp prisoners, the evidence of unspeakable atrocities committed by the Nazis could no longer be hidden. The world was collectively shocked and horrified at the plight of...

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Are We Any Different?

Are We Any Different?

by Christine Ege Studying the Holocaust is far from a simple task.  It is unlike any other brief period of history, as its roots are firmly anchored in the centuries and decades leading up to World War II, and its tentacles have continued to affect the world to the...

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