The European Jewish Association (EJA) was deeply honored to participate in yesterday’s profoundly moving ceremony commemorating the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, held at the historic site itself. Upholding our solemn commitment, we remain dedicated to our mission to combat antisemitism, preserve the memory of the Holocaust, and protect Jewish life across Europe.
Yesterday, the world united to commemorate International Holocaust Remembrance Day, marking the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau on January 27, 1945. At the site where over a million innocent lives were brutally extinguished, dignitaries, survivors, and leaders from across the world gathered to honor the memory of the six million Jews and countless others murdered during the Holocaust. Among the leaders present at the ceremony were Chancellor Scholz, King Charles III, President Zelenskyy, President Macron, and Israel’s Education Minister Kisch.
Fifty-six survivors of Auschwitz joined world leaders in the ceremony, which took place in a giant tent placed over the camp’s infamous gates—a gate that has become a symbol of Auschwitz’s grim history. This event was not only a moment to honor the victims but also a painful acknowledgment that this may be one of the final commemorations attended by those who lived through the horrors of Auschwitz, who bear witness firsthand to what they endured and how they survived.
Holocaust survivor Tova Friedman, who was just six years old when Auschwitz was liberated by the Red Army, delivered a poignant message: “We are here to proclaim and pledge that we will never allow history to repeat itself.” Tova, who survived by hiding among the dead to evade Nazi soldiers, shared how, at age 86, she is still haunted by the memories of those dark times.
Polish historian and Holocaust survivor Marian Turski echoed this sentiment, quoting Rabbi Nachman of Breslov: “All the world is a narrow bridge, and the main thing is not to be afraid.” His words, along with the testimonies of survivors, serve as a warning and reflect the survivors’ fears about the alarming rise of antisemitism and hatred in today’s world and a call to the world’s leaders to not be afraid and fight against antisemitism.
