03 March 2025 Time to read: 4 mins

Israel takes over IHRA Presidency from the United Kingdom

Jerusalem 3.3.2025 - Today, Israel assumes the Presidency of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) from the United Kingdom. Dani Dayan, Chairman of Yad Vashem, is the IHRA Chair during the Israeli Presidency. 

The Israeli Presidency follows the successful UK Presidency, which under the motto of “In Plain Sight” saw the adoption of key IHRA resources like the Recommendations on Teaching and Learning about the Genocide of the Roma, initiatives like “My Hometown” which asked young people to research what happened in their towns during the Holocaust, and a report to take stock of the successes and challenges 25 years after the adoption of the Stockholm Declaration.  

At the handover ceremony in Jerusalem, outgoing IHRA Chair Lord Eric Pickles said, “The aim of the UK IHRA Presidency was to bring out the best in the IHRA, engender confidence in difficult times, and, above all, strengthen the organization. Those of us who attended the poignant 80th anniversary ceremony at Auschwitz-Birkenau in January know that we will never see the like again. Ten years from now, at the 90th anniversary, it is unlikely there will be Holocaust survivors to speak. We are now the custodians of their memory. We must remember and tell the truth.” 

Ten years from now, at the 90th anniversary, it is unlikely there will be Holocaust survivors to speak. We are now the custodians of their memory. We must remember and tell the truth.” 

Lord Eric Pickles, outgoing IHRA Chair

Israel’s Presidency will be guided by the theme Crossroads of Generations, emphasizing the passing of the torch of Holocaust remembrance from the survivors to future generations.

Addressing the audience at the handover ceremony, incoming IHRA Chair Dani Dayan stated:  “We are at a crossroads of generations, and the responsibility of preserving the memory and sharing the stories of the Holocaust will soon rest solely on our shoulders. The voices of the victims and survivors demand that we honor their legacy by standing firm against Holocaust denial, distortion, and hatred. In a world witnessing a dramatic rise in antisemitism and grappling with the challenges and opportunities of emerging technologies, our obligation to historical truth has never been more critical.


Our Presidency aims to lead in leveraging the IHRA’s accomplishments, expertise and potential for the effective enhancement of Holocaust remembrance worldwide.” 

Israel's Presidency logo

The handover ceremony included a video address by Shoah survivor Arnold Clevs. Born in 1933 in Kovno, Lithuania, Arnold survived 11 concentration camps during the Holocaust and later emigrated to the United States. He has lived in Jerusalem since 2021. Other speakers include IHRA Secretary General, Michaela Küchler, and Advisor to the IHRA, Dr Robert Williams. IHRA delegates Dr Steven Cooke and Alina Bricman will speak on behalf of the IHRA’s Working Groups and Committees.

As the number of Holocaust survivors dwindles, the Israeli Presidency seeks to ensure accurate and meaningful remembrance in a world without witnesses. Fostering innovative approaches to research and education will also be a priority. Israel’s Presidency will introduce several major initiatives that align with its theme and guiding principles:

  • Reaffirming the Survivors’ Declaration – Originally drafted at Yad Vashem in 2002, Israel will lead an international campaign to reaffirm global commitment to the Survivor’s Declaration and the values that it reflects.
  • Two Global Hackathons – One focusing on design and visual storytelling around the theme Crossroads of Generations, in collaboration with the International Union of Designers; the other leveraging technology to enhance Holocaust remembrance.
  • Facing the threat to Holocaust remembrance from contemporary antisemitism – Expert-based data regarding the threat and good practices in responding to it will be presented in a variety of contexts and platforms.
  • Recalling and Perpetuating the Legacy of the late Professor Yehuda Bauer – A major academic conference at Yad Vashem in autumn 2025 in memory of IHRA’s Honorary Chairman, the late Professor Yehuda Bauer, will bring together multiple generations of Holocaust researchers to discuss the future of Holocaust studies.

As Israel takes on the IHRA Presidency, it does so with respect for the past and dedication to securing the future of Holocaust remembrance. Through the Crossroads of Generations theme, the Israeli Presidency will serve as a bridge between history and the future, ensuring that remembrance remains a relevant and powerful guide for generations to come.

Israeli Foreign Affairs Minister Gideon Sa’ar said, “Today, 80 years after the end of World War II and the Holocaust, the State of Israel assumes the leadership of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA). The antisemitism that resulted in the Holocaust has not been eradicated from the world. On the contrary, over the past year and a half, we have witnessed it intensifying dramatically, targeting both the Jewish people and the Jewish state. The new antisemites attack Israel’s right to exist and its right to defend itself. It is our duty not only to remember the Holocaust but also to ensure the existence of the Jewish state, which serves as the guarantee of Jewish continuity for generations to come, while also preserving and passing on the memory of the Holocaust to future generations.”

For more information about the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, please contact Mara Antoce at mara.antoce@plmr.co.uk or +44 (0)785 284 4323.

For details about the Israeli Presidency please contact Ari Rabinovitch at ari.rabinovitch@yadvashem.org.il or +972 (0)2 644 3412.

The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) unites governments and experts to strengthen, advance and promote Holocaust education, remembrance, and research worldwide and uphold the commitments of the 2000 Stockholm Declaration and the 2020 IHRA Ministerial Declaration.  

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