Holocaust Remembrance Day: ‘The world hasn’t learned its lesson,’ warn Auschwitz survivors

Auschwitz Memorial stressed survivors' emotional toll, allowing them to bring a companion for support during the event

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Monday marked Holocaust Memorial Day and the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the Nazi concentration camp where approximately 1.1 million people were murdered from 1940 to 1945. Survivors, world leaders, and dignitaries gathered in Poland to commemorate the event, with the focus firmly on the testimonies of those who lived through the Holocaust.

Jona Laks, 94, returned to Auschwitz, recalling the horrors she endured as a child alongside her twin sister, Miriam, who both suffered inhuman medical experiments conducted by SS physician Josef Mengele. Laks, initially lined up for the gas chambers, was saved by her older sister, who insisted the twins not be separated. “It’s necessary for the world to know,” she told CNN, emphasizing that lessons from the Holocaust are being forgotten.

Michael Bornstein, another survivor, echoed this sentiment, stating, “Nothing will be easy about returning” to Auschwitz. The commemoration included symbolic gestures, such as a freight train car placed near the camp’s main gate, honoring the 420,000 Hungarian Jews deported to Auschwitz.

World leaders, including Britain’s King Charles, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and French President Emmanuel Macron, attended but refrained from making speeches, leaving the spotlight on the survivors’ voices. In a statement, Scholz said, “We mourn their deaths. And express our deepest sympathy. We’ll never forget them. Not today, not tomorrow.”

The Auschwitz Memorial and Museum highlighted the emotional toll on survivors, inviting them to bring a companion for support. The museum described the event as an opportunity for global reflection and remembrance, particularly as antisemitism rises across Europe.

Since October 2023, antisemitic incidents have surged in Europe, fueled by tensions in the Middle East. The European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights reported over a 400% increase in incidents, with many Jewish individuals hiding their identities or avoiding public events. FRA Director Sirpa Rautio warned that this trend severely impacts Jewish communities’ safety and dignity.

Alongside antisemitism, Europe has also seen a spike in Islamophobic incidents, including mosque attacks and verbal abuse, following escalated conflicts in the Middle East. The anniversary serves as a poignant reminder of the need for vigilance against hate and bigotry in all forms.