An ‘incredibly moving and touching’ Holocaust Memorial event was held in the Welsh Parliament this week.
Hedi Argent MBE, a Holocaust survivor, gave a very frank and moving talk about what it was like growing up in Austria during those difficult times.
She spoke about the awful experience she had as a Jewish child at school, her family’s escape to England in 1939 and spoke of some of the family she sadly lost.
Hedi also shared a rather frightening fact. If we held a minute’s silence for every one of the six million Jewish people killed in the Holocaust then we would be silent for 11 years and five months.
Natasha Asghar, Member of the Welsh Parliament for South East Wales, attended Wednesday’s (Jan 25) event and met with Hedi afterwards.
The event, which was co-sponsored by Natasha’s colleague Darren Millar MS, was held just days before Holocaust Memorial Day.
Speaking afterwards, Natasha Asghar MS said:
“There wasn’t a dry eye in the room after listening to Hedi’s harrowing and incredibly moving contribution ahead of Holocaust Memorial Day.
“We must never forget the cruelty and horrors that millions of people faced during the Holocaust and only by remembering and educating people about the past can we build a safer future.
“I am truly in awe of Hedi and her bravery and courage in speaking out. She is an inspiration and I want to thank her for sharing her heart wrenching testimony with us all.
“Today, as we mark Holocaust Memorial Day, I would urge everyone to take a moment to reflect on the atrocities committed and think about how we can all play our part to make sure history doesn’t repeat itself and create a safer society free of hatred and violence."
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Cynhaliwyd digwyddiad ‘hynod deimladwy ac emosiynol’ i Gofio'r Holocost yn Senedd Cymru yr wythnos hon.
Rhoddodd Hedi Argent MBE, un o oroeswyr yr Holocost, sgwrs onest a theimladwy iawn am sut brofiad oedd cael i magu yn Awstria yn ystod y cyfnod anodd hwnnw.
Soniodd am y profiad ofnadwy a gafodd fel plentyn Iddewig yn yr ysgol, ei theulu yn dianc i Loegr ym 1939 a soniodd am rai o’r teulu a gollodd yn drist iawn.
Rhannodd Hedi ffaith frawychus hefyd. Pe baem yn cynnal munud o dawelwch ar gyfer pob un o'r chwe miliwn o bobl Iddewig a laddwyd yn yr Holocost yna byddem yn dawel am 11 mlynedd a phum mis.
Aeth Natasha Asghar, Aelod o Senedd Cymru dros Dde Ddwyrain Cymru, i’r digwyddiad ddydd Mercher (Ionawr 25) ac fe wnaeth gyfarfod â Hedi wedi hynny.
Cynhaliwyd y digwyddiad, a gafodd ei noddi ar y cyd gan gydweithiwr Natasha, Darren Millar AS, ychydig ddyddiau cyn Diwrnod Cofio’r Holocost.
Wrth siarad wedyn, dywedodd Natasha Asghar AS:
“Doedd dim un llygad sych yn yr ystafell ar ôl gwrando ar gyfraniad dirdynnol a hynod deimladwy Hedi cyn Diwrnod Cofio’r Holocost.
“Ddylen ni byth anghofio’r creulondeb a’r erchylltra a wynebodd miliynau o bobl yn ystod yr Holocost, a dim ond drwy gofio ac addysgu pobl am y gorffennol y gallwn greu dyfodol mwy diogel.
“Rydw i wir wedi fy syfrdanu gan Hedi a’i dewrder wrth siarad. Mae hi'n ysbrydoliaeth a hoffwn ddiolch iddi am rannu ei thystiolaeth dorcalonnus gyda ni i gyd.
“Heddiw, wrth i ni nodi Diwrnod Cofio’r Holocost, byddwn yn annog pawb i gymryd eiliad i fyfyrio ar yr erchyllterau a gyflawnwyd a meddwl sut y gallwn ni i gyd chwarae ein rhan i sicrhau nad yw hanes yn ailadrodd ei hun a chreu cymdeithas fwy diogel heb gasineb a thrais.”
