The Embassies of Israel and Germany in Manila partnered to commemorate the International Holocaust Remembrance Day through Zikaron BaSalon where participants gather to hear the story of a Holocaust survivor.
Israeli Ambassador Ilan Fluss and German Ambassador Andreas Pfaffernoschke
The event was held on February 13 at the residence of the German Ambassador and was attended by the diplomatic community, Jewish community, and some local government officials.
Irene Shashar, 86 years old, joined via Zoom from Israel and recalled the nightmare she went through at the age of five.
"I stand here today in front of you to tell you, Hitler did not win,"Shashar proudly said.
After the Nazis invaded Poland, Jews were persecuted. Irene, along with her parents, had to move to the ghetto. All Jews were ordered to move there and suffer terrible conditions, torture, and hunger. Irene spent most of her childhood hiding in different places with her beloved doll named Laleczka. She stayed quiet while hiding in cabinets where she hadn't seen the daylight.