Echo of Babi Yar

Echo of Babi Yar
Thousands of kilometers from Kyiv, in Brooklyn, in a square in Brighton, people gathered not for a formal ceremony; those who are not indifferent to the tragedies of the past and present came, who understand that memory is not only grief, but also responsibility, and perhaps even advice for action.
Babi Yar was the site of mass executions of civilians, primarily Jews, Roma, and Soviet prisoners of war, by Nazis and Ukrainian collaborators during World War II, during the German occupation of Ukraine.
The first mass shooting took place on September 29–30, 1941, in which 33,771 Jews were killed.
In total, approximately one hundred thousand people were executed. According to some sources, only 29 people managed to escape from Babi Yar.
For some, the word "Babi Yar" conjures flames and blood along the road of death, a family pain passed down from generation to generation. For others, it's a symbol of national grief, a sign that humanity must not forget the darkest lessons of its history. Genetic memory, like a wound, never heals: even those born decades later feel it.
The rally's moderator, Anna Goldberg, brought to the meeting an original copy of the 1938 newspaper "Shturm" (Storm), featuring a monstrous caricature on the cover. This ominous document proves that the Babi Yar tragedy was premeditated, fueled by years of toxic propaganda. Anna also showed photographs of the paintings "Babi Yar" and "The Execution."
The voices of eyewitnesses and descendants rang out. Semyon Grinberg recited the mournful Kadysh and sang songs that conveyed the pain. His great-grandfather, a 104-year-old rabbi, realized that people were being led to execution and managed to shout in Yiddish, "Disperse!" Many perished, but 18 people were saved—a miracle born of a moment of courage.
Ari Kagan spoke about his grandmother, who was murdered along with her two children during the Holocaust. His words conveyed not only personal pain but also a bitter realization: today, when anti-Semitism is once again raising its head, there are those who justify terror and remain silent about atrocities. But Israel, with its modern weapons, is obligated to protect its citizens—and this right is non-negotiable.
The words of Mikhail Sirota, a prisoner at the Pechora death camp, were deeply moving. He spoke of the miracle of how 800 prisoners survived, despite being ordered by a German officer to keep them alive, defying the logic of war. Fate teetered on the brink of life and death that day, but a miracle occurred.
Alec Brook-Red said simple but true words:
"There are people who shout loudly but do nothing, and the situation is terrible. There is a tendency to misunderstand what socialism is, and that's terrible.
Among the rally's participants were renowned lawyer Tatyana Segal, Karen Lisa LichtBraun, Viktoria Zaltsman, and public figure Barry Letucci, who delivered a moving speech noting what is currently happening to young people.
In these days when Kyiv is once again experiencing destruction, the memory of Babi Yar resonates especially poignantly.
Marina Lagunova