The Mayor of Jerusalem Moshe Leon, who has served in the role since December 2018. Regarding the importance of Holocaust education and remembrance, Lion treats it as a critical priority, emphasizing its active role in shaping modern society and combating global antisemitism.
The Mayor's visit to the Porto Holocaust Museum in recent months was very emotional. When the museum director Dr. Michael Rothwell pointed out the names of his grandparents murdered in the Polish extermination camps, Mayor Leon stated that his own family's survival was fueled by his grandfather’s unwavering dream of making aliyah (immigrating) to Jerusalem from Greece, using his platform to tie historical education directly to the identity of the city.
Leon has stated that Holocaust remembrance and the heroism intertwined with it are not passive history but act as a "living moral compass" that guides society through times of trial and strengthens the State of Israel. As the world increasingly challenges historical facts, society’s duty does not stop at telling stories of the past; education must actively protect the truth of the events. He advocates for an educational approach that highlights not just the destruction of Jewish lives, but also the stories of survival, resistance, and human endurance.
Every year, while speaking at Yad Vashem (the World Holocaust Remembrance Center), Leon often remarks that the ultimate answer to rising global antisemitism is the enduring strength of the Jewish people and the continued flourishing and rebuilding of Jerusalem.
Once made the Jewish capital by King David, Jerusalem is special. It serves as a universal symbol of unity because it acts as the singular geographic intersection of history, prophecy, and divine connection for billions of people. For the Jewish people, it is the absolute center of their spiritual, historical, and national identity, a devotion that has historically inspired deep reverence across Christianity and Islam, creating a shared sacred geography.
