In NYC, over two hundred Holocaust survivors came together at the Museum of Jewish Heritage to mark a significant yet somber milestone: the 80th anniversary of Auschwitz's liberation. The event, noted as one of the largest gatherings of survivors in the country, coincided with International Holocaust Remembrance Day.
Alice Ginsburg, a survivor who endured the horrors of Auschwitz as a young girl, shared her poignant memories and a message against hate at the museum. "Hate is like a disease. It starts with one group and spreads to another group," she told the Gothamist. "We have to eliminate hate by speaking against injustice." The event not only served as a remembrance but also as stark reminder of the dwindling number of witnesses to one of history's darkest chapters.
Meanwhile, at the original site of the Auschwitz concentration camp, survivors expressed concerns about the rise of modern-day antisemitism. Among the poignant voices was Leon Weintraub, a 99-year-old survivor from Poland, who condemned the current wave of hatred. "This ideology, an attitude that preaches hostility and hatred towards others, defines racism, antisemitism and homophobia as virtues," Weintraub stated, as reported by AP News. His words bring to light an unsettling mirror to the past.
Back in The Museum of Jewish Heritage, a new exhibit titled "Survivor Stories" debuted, featuring pre-recorded videos of survivors with the assistance of non-generative AI technology. Toby Levy, one of the survivors featured in the exhibit, expressed her fears to the Gothamist: "I'm scared [that] when I am gone, all the deniers will come up to say it never happened. Well, we have live witnesses forever now." Levy's testimony, along with others, forms an enduring archive against denial and distortion.
Jack Kliger, president and CEO of the Museum of Jewish Heritage, emphasized the urgency of capturing these histories, understanding that time is running out. Such efforts are in direct response to worrying statistics, like those cited by City Councilmember Julie Menin, revealing that 34% of Millennial and Gen Z New Yorkers believe the Holocaust was a myth or exaggerated, according to the Gothamist. These initiatives aim to confront such misinformation and underscore the importance of firsthand accounts in preserving the truth of historical atrocities.
