At Yad Vashem, Prince William Recalls His Holocaust Rescuer Great-Grandmother

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03 Jul 2018
News

During his recent visit to Israel, Prince William visited the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial in Jerusalem, which he called “a profoundly moving experience.” He also met with two survivors of the Kindertransport, which brought thousands of Jewish children from throughout Europe to Britain, saving them from the Nazis. Later the prince met with Prime Minister and Mrs. Netanyahu and descendants of Haimaki and Rachel Cohen, who were saved during the Holocaust by Princess Alice, William’s great-grandmother.

At Yad Vashem, the prince wrote the following in the guest book:

“It has been a profoundly moving experience to visit Yad Vashem today,” he wrote. “It is almost impossible to comprehend this appalling event in history. Every name, photograph and memory recorded here is a tragic reminder of the loss suffered by the Jewish people. The story of the Holocaust is one of darkness and despair, questioning humanity itself.

“We must never forget the Holocaust — the murder of 6 million men, women and children, simply because they were Jewish. We all have a responsibility to remember and to teach future generations about the horrors of the past so that they can never reoccur. May the millions of Jewish people remembered by Yad Vashem never be forgotten.

“The actions of those few, who took great risks to help others, are a reminder of the human capacity for love and hope. I am honored that my own great grandmother is one of these Righteous Among the Nations.”

Read more on JTA