Holocaust survivor Tova Friedman recently delivered a profoundly moving and urgent message to the German parliament. A living testament to unspeakable horrors, Ms. Friedman recounted how, by a miracle, she walked out of Auschwitz as a six-year-old, hidden among prisoner corpses. Her chilling testimony reminds us of the six million Jewish lives, including 1.5 million children, systematically murdered during the Nazi era.
Now 81 and a social media star on TikTok, Ms. Friedman’s powerful speech earned a standing ovation. She shared that her grandchildren, living in the US, fear expressing their Jewish identity today, especially following the October 7th attacks. “As one of the last survivors of Auschwitz… I beseech you, don’t let anti-Semitism grow and bloom here,” she pleaded, her words a direct challenge to indifference.
She powerfully asserted that while younger generations aren’t responsible for their ancestors’ actions, leaders hold a vital position. “Neutrality in the face of hatred is not neutrality – it is permission,” she declared, aiming her message at those who might dismiss the gravity of rising anti-Semitism. Her warning is clear: history shows how hatred can corrupt judgment, hollow out institutions, and endanger democracy.
German federal president Frank Walter Steinmeier echoed her sentiment, stressing that “the greatest danger for us all lies in forgetting.” Tova Friedman’s plea is a stark reminder: vigilance and courageous action are essential to prevent history from repeating its darkest chapters.
