”This clean-up operation is a continuation of the international student-led ‘’Make Their Memory Shine movement,’’ aiming to clean all Stolpersteine in Europe through an intercultural and educational environment. This massive operation will be aided by dozens of individuals from all walks of life alongside a social media awareness campaign under #MakeTheirMemoryShine.

 

Ahead of Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day, the Brussels-based European Jewish Association (EJA) is organizing together with several other partners organisations a unique event next Wednesday that will see volunteers clean in Brussels all 458 so-called ”Stolpersteine”, or Stumbling Stones, which are individual memorials dedicated to the memory of a victim of the Nazi regime and are usually placed in front of the victim’s former residence.

90.000 Stones can be found from Spain to Finland. The Stolpersteine project wzs originally initiated by the German artist Gunter Demnig in 1992.

This clean-up operation is a continuation of the international student-led ‘’Make Their Memory Shine movement,’’ aiming to clean all Stolpersteine in Europe through an intercultural and educational environment. This massive operation will be aided by dozens of individuals from all walks of life alongside a social media awareness campaign under #MakeTheirMemoryShine.

Throughout Wednesday, individuals will clean Stolpersteine in the city of Brussels. The EJA staff will provide basic cleaning kits, for those who require it, and instructions to registered volunteers that will gather the kits before April 27th.

Throughout the afternoon, teams of volunteers will be established and assigned Stolpersteine to clean throughout the city.

The goal is to expose Brussels’ citizens to the Holocaust, communicate with volunteers of all backgrounds whilst permitting space for conversations and education.

The organizers find this interaction and exposure essential, considering 34% of Europeans know little to nothing about the Holocaust. Grassroot conversations ensure that memories and minorities are respected, knowledge and lessons of the Holocaust are known whilst reminding us of the consequences of hate.

On this occasion, the Jewish Museum will host an event featuring several speakers including Brussels Mayor Philippe Close, ‘Roma Dignity’ President Costel Nastasie and Holocaust survivor and President of the Foruml of Jewish Organizations in Antwerp Régine Suchowolski-Sluszny.