By: Dim Amor

Final preparations are currently underway for the inauguration of a unique memorial monument in the heart of Jerusalem, dedicated to the victims of the Ukrainian tragedy known as the "Holodomor" – the mass famine that occurred in 1932-1933. The monument, erected in Jerusalem's Rose Garden, in a symbolic location between the Knesset and the Supreme Court, represents a significant step in international recognition of one of the gravest disasters of the 20th century.

The monument was created by Canadian artist of Ukrainian descent, Lyudmila Temertey, who gained worldwide recognition for creating the world's first monument in memory of the Holodomor. Working alongside Temertey was artist David Robinson. This artistic collaboration produced a monument that serves as a powerful visual testimony to the tragedy that occurred nearly ninety years ago.

The director of the National Museum of the Holodomor-Genocide in Ukraine, Lesya Hasydzhak, reported that the museum team is currently clarifying the final details regarding the official date of the monument's inauguration and the nature of the event. "The organizational silence is very understandable, as there is no shortage of vandals and rioters in Russia and also in Israel. But the importance of this event is enormous, and the gratitude to all involved is infinite"' said Hasydzhak.

The placement of the monument in Jerusalem carries deep historical and diplomatic significance. The Holodomor, currently recognized by 31 countries as an act of genocide, was essentially an artificial famine deliberately imposed on Ukrainians as part of Soviet government policy under the leadership of Joseph Stalin.

According to historical documentation, the mass famine was not the result of harsh weather conditions or poor harvest, but a direct product of deliberate policy. In fact, the harvest of 1932 was sufficient to prevent mass starvation, but "repressive measures to ensure grain collection" led to the deaths of millions of people. The term "Holodomor" itself is composed of the Ukrainian words for "hunger" and "mass death", and is now recognized as one of the most severe genocidal events of the 20th century.

According to demographic estimates based on extensive research of historical data and documents, the total number of Holodomor victims reaches up to seven million people. This is despite the fact that for decades it was forbidden even to mention these events in the Soviet Union, and the Soviet authorities did everything in their power to conceal the magnitude of the tragedy.

Stalin's policy of forced collectivization, under which private agricultural lands were confiscated and became state property, is considered one of the central factors that led to the disaster. Many historians believe that Joseph Stalin and the Soviet Union government bear direct responsibility for the famine, although among researchers there are varying opinions regarding the extent of Soviet government actions' impact on the creation of the famine, and the awareness of Stalin and the leadership of the actions that caused it.

Only in 2006 did the Verkhovna Rada (Parliament) of Ukraine declare the Holodomor an act of genocide against the Ukrainian people. Over time, it has been recognized as genocide by thirty additional countries and various international organizations, while other countries and organizations have defined it as a result of Stalin's totalitarian regime policies.

Starting in the mid-nineties, classified documents from Ukrainian archives were opened to researchers, and in 2007-2008, civil registration books from 1932 and 1933 were even found, which had previously been claimed to have been "destroyed". Similar work is also being carried out in the archives of other former Soviet republics affected by the famine of 1932-1933. However, in many Russian archives, the classification has yet to be removed from documents relevant to this difficult period.

The establishment of the memorial monument in Jerusalem constitutes another layer in the process of international recognition of the Holodomor as one of the most severe historical crimes against humanity. The fact that the monument is placed in a central location between two symbols of Israeli governance and justice – the Knesset and the Supreme Court – gives it additional symbolic meaning and expresses the importance of memory and recognition of the suffering imposed on the Ukrainian people.

The placement of the monument in Jerusalem is of special importance also in the context of Ukraine's struggle for international recognition of the Holodomor as genocide. Recognition of the Holodomor as an act of genocide is a politically and diplomatically controversial issue, with Russia strongly opposing this definition. Establishing a monument in Jerusalem, a city of international historical and religious importance, constitutes a significant step in Ukraine's efforts to bring about wider recognition of this tragedy as deliberate genocide.

The official statement of the Russian Duma from April 2008 referred to the famine "caused by forced collectivization" and acknowledged that in various regions of the former Soviet Union, including the Volga region, the Central Black Earth region, the North Caucasus, the Urals, Crimea, parts of Western Siberia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, and Belarus, about 7 million people died of hunger and diseases related to malnutrition in 1932-1933. The Russian statement noted the "repressive measures to ensure grain collection" as a factor that exacerbated the situation, but avoided defining the events in Ukraine as genocide.

The monument in Jerusalem joins a series of memorial monuments around the world dedicated to the victims of the Holodomor. These monuments are scattered across many countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia, and various European countries. The world's first monument in memory of the Holodomor, also created by artist Lyudmila Temertey, became a model for additional memorial sites worldwide.

The importance of commemorating the Holodomor is not only in the historical context but also as a reminder of the dangers inherent in totalitarian regimes and political manipulations of vital resources such as food. Recognition of the historical injustice and its perpetuation constitute an important step in ensuring that similar events do not recur.

While details of the official ceremony are still being formulated, the monument in Jerusalem's Rose Garden already stands as a silent yet powerful testimony to one of the darkest periods in modern history. The monument is expected to attract many visitors, both Israelis and tourists, and serve as an educational focal point for understanding the tragic events of the Holodomor and their significance.

The establishment of the monument in Israel carries special significance also in light of Jewish history and Israeli sensitivity to the issue of genocide. As a state established in the aftermath of the Holocaust, Israeli recognition of other historical catastrophes carries great moral and ethical weight, and it forms part of Israel's commitment to remembering the Holocaust and other genocides that occurred during the 20th century.

With the completion of the final organizational details and clarification of the official opening date, the memorial monument in Jerusalem will join the list of important sites worldwide commemorating one of the tragic and central events in the history of the 20th century. It will serve as a silent witness to human suffering and a reminder of the importance of the struggle against oppressive regimes and crimes against humanity.

It is worth noting that the Ukrainian Holodomor memorial monument was established and inaugurated in Jerusalem, among other things, thanks to the kind support of the Jerusalem Municipality and additional local authorities, and therefore the "Maakav" system sent on your behalf a letter of thanks and appreciation to the Jerusalem Municipality for its significant contribution to this important memory project.

Translation of the Letter:

To: Spokespersons and Council Members, Mayor and Deputy Mayors of the Jerusalem Municipality

Subject: Expression of Gratitude and Appreciation for the Establishment of the Holodomor Monument in Jerusalem

Greetings,

We wish to express our deep and sincere gratitude to the Jerusalem Municipality for its generous and significant support in establishing the memorial monument for the victims of the Holodomor in the Rose Garden.

This monument, located in the symbolic location between the Knesset and the Supreme Court, serves as a living testimony to the importance of historical memory and Israel's commitment to recognizing disasters and tragedies that have befallen other nations. It commemorates the memory of approximately seven million Ukrainians who perished in the artificial famine that occurred in 1932-1933 under Soviet rule.

For the State of Israel, which arose from the ashes of the Jewish genocide, there is special moral weight in recognizing other historical catastrophes. In its decision to allow the establishment of the monument in such a central and highly significant location, the Jerusalem Municipality has demonstrated historical sensitivity and commitment to universal values of memory, commemoration, and respect for human suffering.

Your support for this project reflects the spirit of solidarity, historical responsibility, and commitment to human rights that characterizes Jerusalem as a city of international importance. This action will be preserved in the collective memory and in the hearts of the Ukrainian people, the families of the victims, and all seekers of justice and history throughout the world.

There is no doubt that this monument will also serve as an important educational focal point that will allow Israeli citizens and visitors from around the world to learn about important chapters in history, and to derive lessons regarding the dangers inherent in totalitarian regimes and the use of vital resources as tools for political oppression.

We thank you wholeheartedly for your important partnership in this project and for your contribution to perpetuating the memory of the victims of the Holodomor. Your support constitutes an important component in the international effort to recognize one of the most tragic and significant events of the 20th century.

With thanks and deep appreciation,

Dim Amor, Journalist and the "Maakav" Editorial Team.

Photo: Ludmila Kerbel, from Facebook, in accordance with Section 27a of the Copyright Law