Introduction

There is little doubt that the Holocaust was a watershed event of the 20th century that continues to affect the world even today. As the years passed, the process of Holocaust remembrance evolved in various spheres, propelled initially by the survivors and then by others, including those who were not directly related to the event. By the time a second, and later a third, postwar generation reached maturity, the issues surrounding the remembrance and relevance of the Holocaust had become more complex, both for those who were the descendants of Holocaust survivors and those who were not. After this introduction that discusses the various stages in the worldwide development of Holocaust remembrance, the first part of this book focuses on the evolution of Holocaust remembrance and commemoration in various fields and in different parts of society over an 80-year period. The second part highlights how the “Creating Memory” initiative devoted to making Holocaust commemoration relevant for a new generation can greatly contribute to our understanding of the dynamics of Holocaust memory and commemoration in today’s world.