On a frigid January day, a remarkable gathering is taking place on the hallowed grounds of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the notorious Nazi concentration and extermination camp in southern Poland. Amid the solemn ceremony marking 80 years since the camp’s liberation, attended by royals, heads of state, and dignitaries from over 50 countries, the true guests of honor are a rapidly dwindling group: the camp’s survivors.
Only around 50 survivors, now in their late 80s and 90s, are expected to make the journey back to the site where 1.1 million people, overwhelmingly Jews, were systematically murdered between 1940 and 1945. But while their physical presence wanes with each passing year, their resolve to bear witness has never been stronger—or more urgently needed in a world witnessing an alarming resurgence of antisemitism, xenophobia, and Holocaust denial.
A Precious Few, A Pressing Mission
The ceremony’s organizers have made a deliberate choice to give center stage to the survivors, acutely aware that this may be one of the last chances for the world to hear their stories firsthand. In a poignant break from tradition, no politicians are scheduled to speak; instead, the voices of those who endured the unimaginable horrors of Auschwitz will echo across the infamous “Arbeit Macht Frei” gate, through the barracks that once housed starving prisoners, and over the ruins of gas chambers where countless innocents perished.
“This year, we are focusing on the survivors and their message. We all know that for the 90th anniversary, it will not be possible to have a large group.”
Pawel Sawicki, Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum spokesperson
Their words carry an unparalleled moral authority—and a stark warning for a world where hate is on the march once more. With antisemitic incidents hitting record highs, far-right extremism gaining ground, and surveys showing shocking ignorance about the Holocaust among younger generations, the survivors’ call to vigilance could not be more timely.
Honoring the Past, Protecting the Future
For the world leaders assembled in Auschwitz, the anniversary demands more than somber reflections and pledges of “never again.” It requires a concrete commitment to combating the toxic ideologies that paved the way to genocide and ensuring that the history and lessons of the Holocaust are never forgotten.
This includes bolstering Holocaust education, cracking down on hate speech and incitement, providing robust support for remaining survivors, and preserving sites like Auschwitz-Birkenau as eternal testaments to the depths of human cruelty—and the resilience of the human spirit. Only by turning remembrance into action can we truly honor the memory of the six million Jews and countless others murdered by the Nazis.
“Auschwitz emerged as the leading symbol of the Holocaust, because it was a labor camp and a relatively large number of its inmates lived to tell their stories. Eighty years on, however, only an estimated 1,000 survive.”
As the world watches the ceremony at Auschwitz, we must listen to the survivors’ stories with renewed attention and urgency. We must commit to carrying forward their legacy long after their voices have faded. And above all, we must heed the clarion call that echoes from the darkest chapter of human history: never forget, never again.
A Solemn Vow for All Humanity
Eighty years ago, the gates of Auschwitz swung open and a few thousand emaciated prisoners tasted freedom after years of unthinkable torment. Since that day, the survivors have borne the weight of memory, determined to ensure that their suffering was not in vain.
As the number of living survivors shrinks with each passing year, it falls to all of us—individuals, communities, and nations—to take up their torch of remembrance and make a solemn vow: that Auschwitz will forever stand as a warning to the world of the evil that can arise when hate goes unchecked, that we will confront antisemitism and all forms of bigotry wherever they rear their head, and that we will work tirelessly to build a future where “never again” is truly more than a slogan.
Only then can we truly honor the memory of those lost in the Holocaust and fulfill our sacred duty to the survivors who lived to bear witness. As the world pauses to remember the darkest chapter in human history, may their enduring message of vigilance and hope light the way forward for all humanity.
