Over the last dozen years, there has been an unparalleled rise in hate and animosity that has created a climate of hatred that has permeated society as it has become more acceptable to treat people as “less than” themselves. This has led to an ongoing rise in hate, as has been illustrated and documented, with empirical and anecdotal evidence, in Los Angeles County’s Commission on Human Relations Annual Hate Crimes Report.

While efforts have been underway for some time to combat this rise of hatred, society as a whole needs to wake up and recognize what all of this hate can lead to if it is allowed to go unchecked.

In January, the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany, an organization dedicated to negotiating compensation and restitution for victims of Nazi persecution and their heirs, released the first-ever eight-country Index on Holocaust Knowledge and Awareness. This survey exposed a global trend in fading knowledge of basic facts about the Holocaust. The U.S. was one of the surveyed countries.

The survey results are astounding and a bit frightening. Across countries surveyed, 18–29-year-olds are more likely to believe that the number of Jews killed during the Holocaust (about 6 million) has been exaggerated. Nearly half (48%) of Americans could not name a single concentration camp, including even Auschwitz, where more than 1.1 million Jews were murdered.

One more chilling statistic: 76% of American adults surveyed believe something like the Holocaust could happen again today. While one can only speculate as to why such a large percentage of citizens believe this, it becomes crucial for all of us to recognize and realize that the events that led up to the Holocaust were fueled by hatred and the “othering” of Jews in German society. It is one of the many lessons from the Holocaust that are still relevant 80 years later.

For this reason, as well as so many others, the Jewish Federation of the Greater San Gabriel and Pomona Valley will return to the steps of Pasadena City Hall and hold its annual Every Person Has a Name on Saturday at 7 p.m. With the ongoing support of Pasadena, this event, now in its seventh year, serves as a reminder for the community as to what can happen if hate goes unchecked. The event begins with a commemoration ceremony featuring remarks by local elected officials. Then for the next 24 hours, close to 150 community members will begin reading names and other biographical information of well over 8,000 Jews who the Nazis and their supporters murdered for no other reason than the fact that they were Jews. And in so doing, they keep their memory alive.

In addition, the Jewish Federation has partnered with Anne Frank LA, a local nonprofit that creates and presents innovative, educational and cultural programs and community events that further the legacy of Anne Frank, to display their exhibition entitled “Anne Frank — A History for Today.” The hope is that people will stop by, tour the exhibition, and listen as the names are being read.

With each passing day, the last remaining Holocaust survivors are passing away. Within the next decade, there will no longer be anyone with first-hand accounts of what they experienced, taking with them their stories and experiences to the grave. It becomes our collective responsibility to continue to tell their stories and make sure that the lessons learned from their experiences continue to illustrate and serve as examples of what hate can lead to.

By participating in events like this, we help ensure that the lessons learned as a result of the Holocaust are not forgotten, no matter how many years pass, and serve as a reminder as memories are passed on to the next generation. We hope that community members will take this opportunity to help safeguard the memory of the Holocaust, promote toleranc, and protect the society in which we live.

Jason Moss is a member of the L.A. County Commission on Human Relations and the executive director of the Jewish Federation of the Greater San Gabriel and Pomona Valleys.