KRAKÓW - From January 24 to 27, the World Jewish Congress (WJC) Elevate led a delegation of 40 members, spanning 24 countries in six continents, to Kraków, Poland to honor the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau. The delegation, comprising representatives from WJC NextGen and the WJC Jewish Diplomatic Corps, engaged in meaningful discussions with Holocaust survivors and addressed critical issues shaping the Jewish future. The dialogue also reflected on the significance of preserving Holocaust memory in the aftermath of the October 7 massacre, underscoring the urgency of combating antisemitism and safeguarding Jewish heritage.
After a guided tour of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp, the group welcomed Shabbat with a welcoming dinner with the Jewish Community of Kraków. The next day, Holocaust survivor Jona Laks shared her harrowing testimony, recounting her experiences as a child in Auschwitz and emphasizing the importance of educating future generations about the atrocities she witnessed.
Elevate members then broke out into collaborative discussions on various pressing issues facing the Jewish world. Breakout sessions were led by WJC leading experts such as Ernest Herzog, Head of Combating Antisemitism, Intelligence & Security; Daniel Radomski, Head of WJC Strategy & Programs; and WJC Jewish Diplomatic Corps members Ira Rosensaft (Germany) and Alex Ryvchin (Australia), co-CEO of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry. There, the speakers spoke about the most pressing issues facing the Jewish community today, ranging from the threat of Iran to strengthening Zionism within Jewish communities.
The following day began with a private preview screening of The Last Twins of Auschwitz before an insightful discussion, led by Professor Dina Porat, Senior Academic Advisor at Yad Vashem, on what Holocaust legacy looks like in the aftermath of the October 7 terror attacks in Israel, and another session, on the perspectives of the perpetrators, led by Mr. Laurence Rees, an award-winning author and Holocaust historian.
WJC President Ronald S. Lauder and the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial Foundation, of which Amb. Lauder also serves as chair and who has dedicated decades to preserving the site, hosted a dinner with the survivors of Auschwitz-Birkenau. At the end of the trip, WJC Elevate embarked on a walking tour of what remains of the 1942 Kraków Ghetto, before attending the 80th Anniversary Commemoration of the Liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau to honor the memory of the Holocaust victims, highlight the enduring importance of Holocaust education, and underscore the unwavering commitment to combating antisemitism and hatred.
