Skopje, 9 March 2025 (MIA) - The Holocaust is a reminder of the tragic consequences of intolerance, hatred, and discrimination, and we, as a government, remain committed to the fight against anti-Semitism, hate speech, and all forms of discrimination, Deputy Finance Minister Nikolche Jankulovski said at Sunday’s commemoration dedicated to March 11, the day of the deportation of Macedonian Jews.

Speaking on behalf of the government delegation, which also included Deputy Ministers Viktorija Trajkov and Marjan Risteski, Jankulovski highlighted the importance of learning from history and creating a society based on peace, understanding, and solidarity for present and future generations.

“With great respect and sorrow, we remember the 7,144 Macedonian Jews who were taken from their homes and deported to Treblinka extermination camp, where their lives were tragically and violently ended. In the heart of Bitola, a city with rich historical significance and a multicultural heritage, we stand together in memory of this tragic event, and with a strong commitment to preserve this memory and send a powerful message for the future. The Holocaust serves as a reminder of the tragic consequences of intolerance, hatred, and discrimination. As a government, we remain committed to fighting anti-Semitism, hate speech, and all forms of discrimination. Today, we are not only here to mourn, but also to declare that we will never allow such injustice to repeat. We honour the victims and urge both present and future generations to learn from history and build a society founded on peace, understanding, and solidarity,” Jankulovski said.

"The remembrance of March 11, 1943, is important because if we don’t speak about it, that day will be forgotten," said Radojka Helman Denkovska, Vice President of the Jewish Community in the Republic of North Macedonia.

“Each year we honour this significant day for us, the Macedonian Jews, because if we don't talk about it, that day will be forgotten. We must remind people so that the younger generations understand what happened and ensure that it never happens again. The message from Bitola and Macedonia to the world is that we need to mention this, because it could happen to anyone, and there are no longer any survivors who can tell their stories about that tragic morning and the Holocaust in general. We, the descendants of the Jewish community, are here to speak up and make sure this never repeats,” Helman Denkovska said.

At the commemoration in Bitola, Rachel Shelley Levi - Drummer, the granddaughter of Haim Abravanel, who now lives in Israel, said that Bitola should become an open urban museum for all the Jewish communities of the Balkans. Bitola is a story, Bitola is a great Jewish center, and Bitola must continue to tell the history of Judaism.

With great dedication, the city of Bitola continues this tradition, as Mayor Toni Konjanovski pointed out, because coexistence is priceless, and we should honour the values of friendship, peace, and cooperation.

“Bitola honours over 3,300 of our fellow citizens, craftsmen, doctors, artisans, and all those who shared their lives with the people of Bitola. We remember dark moments and pay our respects with the traditional procession of the living, which takes place to the Bitola railway station, where our Jewish fellow citizens were deported. Coexistence has no price, and friendship, peace, and cooperation are values we must respect,” Konjanovski said.

A delegation from the Macedonian Parliament, representatives of the Jewish community, the Union of Fighters from Bitola, the local government, and political parties from the city laid flowers at the monument to the deported Jews of Bitola and the monument to Haim Estreya Ovadya.

A commemoration for the deported Macedonian Jews will take place March 10 in Shtip and on March 11 in Skopje.

Photo: MIA