As antisemitism rises in countries around the world, the United Arab Emirates' Crossroads of Civilizations Museum has developed a Holocaust Memorial exhibit and invited the country's Jewish community to its debut.
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Israel's Ambassador to the UAE Eitan Na'eh and Germany's Ambassador to the country Peter Fischer addressed those attending the event, held on Wednesday.
The first Holocaust exhibit in the Arabian Gulf was designed to raise awareness of the horrors of the Holocaust among local Emiratis as well as Dubai's residents and tourists. The exhibition explores the chain of events leading up to the Holocaust and uses personal stories – many of which come from Jews in the Arab world. There is a special tribute to Arab heroes – upstanders who defended and saved Jews.
"We are all concerned about the rise in antisemitism in Europe, the United Kingdom, and the United States. By teaching and informing our visitors about the Holocaust, we will create more awareness about the danger that this negative rhetoric and resulting actions can lead to," said Crossroads of Civilizations Museum Founder Ahmed Obaid Almansoori.
"As a leading cultural institution in the UAE, it is very important to us that we focus on educating people about the tragedies of the Holocaust because education is the antidote to ignorance."
Rabbi Yehuda Sarna, the chief Rabbi of the United Arab Emirates, said, "We are alarmed to see this surge of anti-Semitic attacks in major cities across the United States and Europe. We forget how quickly hate can spiral. My wife's family was saved from the Holocaust by an Arab doctor, Mohamed Helmy. His example – this exhibit – reminds us that we must rise to the challenge of combating extremism as neighbors, as friends."
President of the UAE's Jewish community Ross Kriel said, "The new Holocaust Memorial exhibit in Dubai is unique in the region. It reflects a new discourse that is emerging in the UAE which is rooted in mutual respect and human compassion. The memory of the holocaust is emotional and moving but, in this context, it provides a source of hope and reassurance.
"Our profound thanks to the Crossroads of Civilizations Museum for its vision and courage in standing up for the idea of our common and shared humanity."
Jewish community leader Jean Candiotte noted that "peace is built through establishing person-to-person relationships and creating understanding. The Holocaust Memorial exhibit at the Crossroads of Civilizations Museum includes a section dedicated to Arab and Muslim upstanders who defended innocent Jews during the Holocaust. For his work in building tolerance in the region, we acknowledge Museum Founder Ahmed AlMansoori, for being an upstander himself."
The Crossroads of Civilizations Museum was founded in 2012 with a mission to reflect the culture of the UAE and its values of openness, harmony, mutual respect, and multiculturalism. The Museum's collection honors the many civilizations that have passed through the region, and the interplay of travelers, traders, and Bedouin people that comprises the unique history of Dubai and the UAE.
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