(Communicated by the President's Spokesperson)
President Reuven Rivlin today (Tuesday, 13 October 2015), accompanied President of India Pranab Mukherjee, on his visit to the Holocaust memorial 'Yad Vashem', as he began his historic state visit to Israel – the first of its kind by an Indian president.
As the two presidents met, President Rivlin noted to his Indian counterpart that he was greatly moved to host him on his first visit to Israel. President Mukherjee thanked President Rivlin for his warm welcome and said he was excited to have the opportunity to visit Israel.
The two presidents together visited the Hall of Names at Yad Vashem, in which are stored millions of gathered testimonies to those who perished in the Holocaust. They looked at the many pictures and 'witness testimonies' on display, as President Rivlin explained to his guest about the museum, and the importance of the work done there to preserve the memory of the victims.
The two presidents went on to a memorial ceremony held at the Hall of Remembrance, in which the President of India laid a wreath and rekindled the 'eternal flame' in the hall. The hall has been kept as a place of remembrance for the victims of the Holocaust and includes the names of the death and concentration camps displayed geographically on the floor, along with a memorial stone, under which were interred ashes of the victims gathered from the Nazi camps.
Following the recitation of the memorial prayer, President Rivlin walked together with President Mukherjee around the circumference of the hall and explained to him the significance of the room, and the ceremony held there.