10,000 plaques projected onto gates of Auschwitz-Birkenau

More than 10,000 remembrance plaques have been projected onto the infamous entrance gate of Auschwitz-Birkenau to mark Yom HaShoah.

The virtual initiative was launched following the cancellation of the March of the Living 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The project, which has been run online over the last week, tries to simulate the experience of the march, during which participants place remembrance notes in the train tracks which brought so many to their deaths.

Israel’s president Reuven Rivlin laid the first virtual message, with high-profile figures from the UK participating, including former Chief Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, Countdown presenter Rachel Riley, and Little Britain star Matt Lucas.

On Tuesday, a virtual March of the Living is taking place online, featuring President Rivlin, testimonies from Holocaust survivors, and Jewish leaders. This year’s event was due to include 10,000 people from 60 different countries.

March of the Living World Chair, Dr. Shmuel Rosenman, said it is the first time it has not taken place in 32 years, “but we must never let the flame of memory be extinguished”

“We moved our activities to the virtual space and in this way, we have ensured that Auschwitz-Birkenau is not abandoned on this important day. Thousands of virtual plaques have been uploaded during the past week and many will be screened at Birkenau, sending a strong and clear message – Never Again.”