On an evening marked by emotion and remembrance, on October 25, 2025, the Cathedral da Sé, in São Paulo, once again became the stage for one of the most meaningful gestures in Brazil’s recent history. Fifty years after the assassination of Vladimir Herzog, religious leaders and representatives of various traditions came together to reaffirm their commitment to human rights, democracy, and truth.
In his speech, Rabbi Uri Lam emphasized the importance of keeping alive the memory of Herzog, Cardinal Paulo Evaristo Arns, Rabbi Henry Sobel, Pastor Jaime Wright, and all victims of the military dictatorship in Brazil.
| “To remember is to resist. To resist is to live,” said the rabbi.
The ceremony recalled the ecumenical act held in 1975, when more than 8,000 people defied repression and gathered in the same cathedral to honor Herzog’s memory and denounce the violence of the regime.
“There are voices that time cannot silence,” Rabbi Lam reminded the audience, stressing that democracy is a daily construction, and that art and memory are powerful forms of resistance.
The rabbi also recalled the strength of Clarice Herzog, who transformed her pain into activism, and the courage of the religious leaders who refused to remain silent in the face of injustice.
| “When a State lies to conceal a crime, the victims die and hope for the future dies as well,” he said.
The gathering concluded with the Shehecheianu prayer, in gratitude for life and for the ongoing possibility of resisting and striving for a more just, compassionate, and democratic Brazil.
| “May the memories of all victims be a blessing to us all.”
