Jews and Arabs take part in prison Holocaust Memorial ceremony
Prison guards and inmates took an active part in Holocaust Memorial Day ceremony at Hadarim Prison. Arab inmate: 'I was exposed to the past of the Jewish people.'
Dozens of Jewish and Arab inmates attended the Holocaust Memorial Day ceremony at Hadarim Prison in the Sharon region Monday. During the ceremony both prisoners and inmates read the testimonies of Holocaust survivors whom they met with before the ceremony.
A. an Arab inmate, who participated in the ceremony, said it was the first time in his life he took an active part in this type of event.
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"In the social environment I come from, no one gave any meaning to the subject and the status of the Holocaust Memorial Day wasn't respected. During the preparations to the ceremony, I was exposed to the past of the Jewish people and for me it strengthened the need of bringing our two nations together as well as the need for mutual respect," said A.
According to the commander of Hadarim Prison Deputy Warden Moshe Ohayon "the ceremony ends an ongoing and significant learning process about the Holocaust conducted in prison by the education team and the prison guards."
"The connection between the staff members and the inmates who are actively involved in organizing the ceremony sends a social-ethical message regarding the sanctity of human life and the importance of preserving its dignity," said Ohayon
