BMH Holocaust Memorial

Today, at the BMH in Nicosia, we gathered for a memorial ceremony marking 77 years since the closure of the Detention Camps in Cyprus, where Jewish Holocaust survivors were held after World War II.

This memorial site commemorates the 2,200 babies born between 1946 and 1949 to survivors who found temporary refuge on the island. It stands as a powerful reminder of the deep bonds formed between Cypriots and Israelis—bonds rooted in resilience, solidarity, and a shared history.

During the ceremony, the Chief Rabbi of Cyprus, Rabbi Arie Zeev Raskin, recited a prayer in memory of those who did not survive. The prayer, known as Kel Maleh Rachamim, calls upon divine compassion for the souls of the victims and serves as a solemn tribute to their memory, honoring their lives and ensuring they are never forgotten.

The story of the Detention Camps is not only a chapter in Cyprus–Israel relations, but a central part of many Israelis’ personal histories and collective memory, continuing to shape identities across generations.

#cyprus #holocaust