Boris Johnson at Yad Vashem: Holocaust “still has lessons for humanity today”

By Justin Cohen
  • Justin Cohen is the News Editor at the Jewish News
 10 November 2015, 9:24 am
Mayor of London Boris Johnson is shown around the Holocaust museum, Yad Vashem in Jerusalem, Israel, during the second of a four day trade visit to the region. Photo credit: Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire
Mayor of London Boris Johnson is shown around the Holocaust museum, Yad Vashem in Jerusalem, Israel, during the second of a four day trade visit to the region. Photo credit: Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire

Boris Johnson has spoken about how visiting Yad Vashem helps create understand of the “colossal, vital and historic importance” of defending Israel. 

The mayor of London was speaking after signing the guest book at the end of an emotional tour of the memorial museum, which he described as “perhaps even more powerful and shattering” than a previous visit. 

He said: “Noone must ever forget the truth of what happened and this museum will help ensure the lessons of that horror stays in our hearts forever. It’s very important we learn and understand because it still has lessons for humanity today.”

He referred to the museum’s layout, which ends with guests emerging from darkness to light with a view over Jerusalem. ‘You understand the colossal, vital and historic importance of creating, ensuring and defending a homeland for the Jewish people,” he said. 

A visibly moved Johnson, known for his light-hearted quips and jolly persona, was sullen-faced throughout, often shaking his head and puffing out his cheeks. 

“Oh my God,” he exclaimed when hearing from the guide about how Jews were killed before the Gas chambers, later standing in stunning silence when told that 1.1million Jews died at Auschwitz alone. He said it was “to my great shame” he had never visited.

Mayor of London Boris Johnson puts a kippah on his head. With the Mayor of London is Conservative Lord Stuart Polak. Photo credit: Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire

He also viewed a section on the Kindertransport and Kristallnacht, on the anniversary of the attack on synagogues across Germany that served as a warning signal as to what was to come. Throughout the tour, the history expert asked questions from what Yad Vashem means to how Germans react when they do the tour. 

He described as a “disaster” the British policy of preventing Jews from entering Palestine after the War, and the resultant consequences. 

Mayor of London Boris Johnson looking sombre as he continues the visit to Yad Vashem. Photo credit: Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire

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