Auschwitz at its 80th liberation ceremonies

Auschwitz-Birkenau — On January 27, 2025, the world marked the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the notorious Nazi extermination camp where more than a million Jews and other persecuted groups were systematically murdered during the Holocaust. I wasn’t going to miss it. I’ve traveled to Auschwitz countless times and wrote my book “Holocaust Holiday” about the experiences. But this 80th commemoration was unique, not only because it represents one of the last opportunities to have survivors join us for an important commemoration date, but because it comes just 15 months after October 7.

Most of European royalty were there, with King Charles III leading the way. It was an attempt for the survivors to directly address the outrageous explosion of antisemitism in Europe, with the actual leaders listening. Would they give a damn, or continue to see Israel as a genocidal state?

I love Poland and I am close to many government officials, especially from the more right wing Law and Justice Party, which strongly supported Israel at the EU. But new Prime Minister Donald Tusk actually used to run the EU, so you can imagine his own position on Israel. He stupidly announced a month ago that should PM Netanyahu attend the commemoration, he might be arrested in accordance with the fraudulent ICC warrant. Well, that was pretty stupid — even though the announcement was later reversed — and caused Israel to send no serious delegation other than its minister of education.

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Wow, what a missed opportunity.

The best speech by far was by Ronald Lauder, the president of the World Jewish Congress. He hit all the right notes on antisemitism as he stared right at King Charles and the kings, queens, and princesses of the Netherlands, Norway, Luxembourg, and Sweden, in addition to German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron. He spoke of October 7 as the worst day since the Holocaust and said that campuses and street protests had become an antisemitic abomination. It was a courageous speech.

In the days leading up to the commemoration, I shared with my audience how five years ago, on the 75th, there wasn’t even an American delegation. This time Howard Lutnick, Steve Whitmer, Charles Kushner, and others headed the delegation. I thanked Whitmer for his efforts at releasing the hostages. He immediately said to me, “Thank President Trump.” Well said.

I walked over to Brigitte Macron, the first lady of France, and apologized to her that rabid antisemite Candace Owens humiliates her daily in the United States by calling her a man. The Macrons are currently suing her. I told Brigitte that Owens hates me even more and has called me a murderer. “She’s just jealous of you, as she is of the Jewish people,” I told her.

“French women are known for their class and sophistication, and the Jews are known for their generosity and education, all of which are qualities that Candace will never have. So she hates you and she hates the Jews even more.” Mrs. Macron gave me a hug and called over her husband, the president, to take a picture together.

To Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky I said, “You’ve been a Jewish lion, opposing the brutality of that murderer Putin. I know there’s a dip in the world’s support, but it will come back. Never lose heart and always promote the fact that your fight for justice stems from your Jewishness. After all, that’s why you’re here at Auschwitz.” He too thanked me and hugged me.

To the president of Germany, whom I had met several times but especially on the 80th anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto uprising, I offered my thanks. “I know how hard it must be to represent a country responsible for all these atrocities. And yet, every time you get up to speak, you are so candid about the deep shame of Germany and how the country will never fully live down what it did in the Holocaust. That takes moral courage. We in the Jewish community deeply appreciate it. You have never made any attempt at evading even a hint of responsibility.”

And to London’s Mayor Sadiq Khan, whom I had seen five years earlier as well, I said, “We in the Jewish community could not be more grateful that the Muslim mayor of London continually comes to honor and remember our six million martyrs.

But it wasn’t for the world leaders that I came to Auschwitz but out of a deep sense of duty to honor the victims and educate future generations. We’ve learned after October 7 the importance of bearing witness to the atrocities committed, both in 1942 and in 2023.

It goes without saying that the most important speakers and attendees were the survivors themselves. In 2020, a month before the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, about 250 survivors joined us. This week there were only 50. Marian Turski and Leon Weintraub delivered poignant speeches, warning of the rising tide of antisemitism and the dangers of forgetting history. They also mentioned the urgent need to release all the hostages. Turski implored attendees to be vigilant against intolerance, emphasizing that Auschwitz did not fall from the sky but was the result of gradual hatred and discrimination, the likes of which we are witnessing now as well.

King Charles and the world leaders, including Chancellor Scholz and  President Volodymyr, all lit candles to honor the victims. We can only hope that they also did so to reaffirm their commitment to fighting antisemitism and standing with Israel.

King Charles’s grandmother, Princess Alice of Greece, was a remarkable woman who saved many Jews in Athens, is recognized by Yad Vashem as righteous among the nations, and is buried in Jerusalem. Earlier in the day Charles met Holocaust survivors at the JCC in Krakow.  And yet he has remained mostly silent on the atrocities of October 7. That needs to change.

Holocaust remembrance serves as a powerful tool against antisemitism. By educating individuals about the atrocities committed during World War II, societies can foster empathy, understanding, and a commitment to preventing such events in the future. The United Nations emphasizes that Holocaust education helps combat hatred and promotes human rights worldwide. If only they practiced it themselves. A good start would be to stop allowing their actual venues and employees in Gaza not be used to murder Jews in terror attacks.

To his credit, Lauder also spoke of how social media platforms have become breeding grounds for hate speech and Holocaust denial, making education more critical than ever. He highlighted the spread of antisemitism via social media during the commemoration, calling for increased efforts to counteract this trend.

I am a personal witness to how bad it is, receiving countless and explicit death threats nearly every day.

Studies have shown that individuals who receive Holocaust education are more likely to challenge intolerant behavior and exhibit higher rates of critical thinking. This underscores the importance of integrating Holocaust studies into educational curricula to build a more tolerant and informed society. It must therefore always be taught in schools. “The Diary of Anne Frank” and Elie Wiesel’s “Night” must be required reading in our high schools. And I brought my small Torah, dedicated to the memory of Elie Wiesel, with me to Auschwitz and held it when I was called on by the president of Poland, Andrej Duda, to join the public prayer before the world leaders with Poland’s chief rabbi, Michael Schudrich, who has built the community almost from scratch and is a true Jewish hero.

I have long been an advocate for Holocaust remembrance and education. My participation in the 80th-anniversary commemoration is a continuation of those simple efforts to ensure that the lessons of the Holocaust remain relevant. My wife, Debbie, is from a Holocaust family decimated from Slovakia, and her great-uncle Yisrael Wiesner was murdered at Auschwitz when he was 22 years old. I said Kaddish for him before the world leaders at the ceremony.

In a world where antisemitism is resurging, we all play a crucial role in reminding the world that, one tweet at a time, it can all God forbid end at a place like Auschwitz if it’s not fought with continuous effort and vigilance.

In the wake of October 7, the 80th anniversary of Auschwitz’s liberation is not just a moment to remember the victims but also a call to action. Holocaust remembrance is vital in the fight against antisemitism. By educating ourselves and others, honoring the memories of those lost, and standing against hatred in all its forms, we can work towards a world where such atrocities and especially genocide never happen again.

Rabbi Shmuley Boteach of Englewood is the author of 36 books, including his most recent, “The Israel Warrior.” Follow him on Instagram and X @RabbiShmuley.