Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine today announced at a ceremony honoring the 78^th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau that the H. Lee Dennison Building will be illuminated yellow on Saturday, January 27, 2024, in recognition of Holocaust Remembrance Day.

“It’s important that we take a moment to remember all of the lives lost, the millions of innocent Jewish people and other victims who were persecuted by the Nazi regime,” said Romaine. “Today and every day we reaffirm our commitment to combat hatred and intolerance in any form and ensure that the lessons of the past are never forgotten as we work to create a more just and compassionate society for future generations.”

On January 27, we will observe International Holocaust Remembrance Day. This annual event was created by the United Nations in 2005 to mark the day that Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest Holocaust death camp, was liberated by the Russian army in 1945. The purpose of International Holocaust Remembrance Day is to serve as a date for official commemoration of the victims of the Nazi regime and to promote Holocaust education throughout the world. 

“Our board is grateful to County Executive Ed Romaine for commemorating International Holocaust Remembrance Day and honoring the lives of the six million Jews and others murdered in the Nazi Holocaust. By illuminating the H. Lee Dennison building in yellow, the County evokes the yellow Stars of David the Nazis forced Jews to wear. This year the yellow lights also call to mind the ribbons symbolizing the more than 130 Israeli, American and foreign hostages—kidnapped in Israel in a genocidal rampage by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023—who remain captive in Gaza. We pledge to double our efforts to bring them home and fight the Jew hatred that fueled both the Shoah and the October 7 massacre, "said Allan Richter, Chairman, Suffolk County Jewish Advisory Board.

“As Holocaust distortion and denial grow, it becomes increasingly important to spread education and awareness. As the amount of survivors dwindle, we rely on public officials, educators and all people of good will to keep the memories and lessons of the Holocaust alive. AJC thanks Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine for lighting the Dennison Building yellow in honor of International Holocaust Remembrance Day. As a former history teacher and dedicated public servant he has long carried this important message,” said Eric Post, Director and Jim Neuwirth, President, American Jewish Committee Long Island Region.

“StandWithUs, an international non-partisan organization that fights antisemitism, is grateful to Suffolk County Executive Romaine for marking this important day. Holocaust education and remembrance are critical to preventing anti-Jewish bigotry and other dangerous forms of hate. This is true given the rise in antisemitism, and particularly important for our students, the leaders of tomorrow, who are facing many forms of antisemitism in their schools and communities, which have escalated since the October 7 massacre,” said Avi Posnick, StandWithUs Northeast Director.

“The Jewish Community Relations Council of Long Island expresses gratitude to Suffolk County’s Leadership for their observance of International Holocaust Remembrance Day.  By illuminating the H. Lee Dennison Building in yellow, Suffolk County honors the memory of those who perished and those who survived the Holocaust.  In the words of Elie Wiesel, “For the dead and the living, we must bear witness,” and Suffolk County’s commitment to remembrance this Thursday is a testament to that solemn duty.  Thank you, Suffolk County, for ensuring that we always remember and never forget the profound impact of this period in history,” said Mindy Perlmutter, Jewish Community Relations Council of Long Island (JCRC-LI).