Today, on 27 January 2025, the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the concentration and extermination camp, the images from Auschwitz Birkenau have impressively shown us how important it has remained for Europe and the international community to remember the incomparable horror of the genocide committed by Nazi Germany. This with the firm will not only to put a stop to such acts and the inhuman attitude that fuels them, but also to promote social cohesion in advance.
In an exchange with Ruth Weiss, she asked us to once again put her thoughts, especially on the social mission, in writing – in an excerpt from her moving speech on Holocaust remembrance in the state parliament of North Rhine-Westphalia 2023, which remains very topical.
Quote at the beginning: … […]
Ladies and gentlemen
the dramatic effect of the Holocaust film [television documentary 1979, a turning point in the culture of remembrance ndr] has long since faded. Ralph Giordano has called the post-war silence [of the 1950s ndr] the 2nd guilt.
The increasing hatred of Jews must not become a third guilt!
It is therefore to be commended that individuals and institutions deal with the past, interview living contemporary witnesses, research archives and much more. The year 2021 was dedicated to 1700 years of Jewish life in German territories, thanks to an entry from the year 321.
How do you deal with Holocaust deniers and conspiracy theorists? How do you break down prejudices, the core stones of hatred?
How can Nazi crimes be better explained so that the next generation understands, learns and internalizes that such crimes will never happen again?
A school principal told me that the young people were distraught, many speechless about the current problems. Their teachers try to absorb fears in the classroom and discuss topics.
History and religious education could take greater account of conflicts with war, tyranny and human rights. To do this, explain why the Torah, the five books of Moses, with principles of a just society – like the Christian Old Testament – is related to the other two monotheistic religions.
The topics of anti-Semitism, the great cultural contribution of Jews over 1700 years as well as that of all immigrants since the 19th century, but also Islamophobia should find their place in school lessons – preferably as a debate guide with an experienced moderator.
Direct encounters break down prejudices –
such as the Central Council of Jews’ “Meet a Jew” project, as well as visits to synagogues and mosques. Digitization and globalization make podcasts or simulated holographic conversations possible, among other things.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Susan Neiman [American philosopher, director of the Einstein Forum in Potsdam ndr] spoke of “the ability to hope”.
An inclusive harmonious society can only be promoted together with justice, respect and tolerance. This goal, plus a majority that condemns anti-Semitic, anti-Islamic, anti-foreigner attacks and approves of coming to terms with the past, allows hope for a future in Germany in which anti-Semitic, xenophobic attacks are history, so that police protection is no longer needed for Jewish institutions.
This dream wish must be the benchmark.
A world, to conclude with Adorno, in which all people can be different without fear.
[End of quote]
The RWG invites you to relive the commemoration in the >>Link of the State Parliament of North Rhine-Westphalia
There you will find Ruth Weiss in the preliminaries at 0:44:00 to 1:12:40 . Afterwards – in the heats 1:15:25 to 1:18:00 – you can listen once again to the South African soprano Pumeza Matshikiza, who sensitively performed Maurice Ravel’s ‘Kaddish’ to commemorate this.
The full text of Ruth Weiss’ commemorative speech can be found >>here
On the end of the war and the liberation of the concentration camps – and the efforts of the liberators to make the population aware of the extent of the horror – we refer to Ruth’s contribution to the anniversary of May 8, 1945 >>here