Today marks the International Holocaust Remembrance Day in commemoration of the savage crime perpetrated by the Nazis against Jews during the Second World War. On January 27, 1945, Soviet troops liberated the Auschwitz-Birkenau extermination camp. In 2005, the United Nations passed a resolution marking January 27 as an international day of Holocaust commemoration. In what can be the biggest slap in the face anyone could ever give Hitler, a delegation of 60 Israeli Knesset members visited the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp today.
The Israeli lawmakers, such as Economic Minister Naftali Bennet, Housing Minister Uri Ariel, and Immigration and Absorption Minister Sofa Landver, are joined by their fellow MKs, 24 Holocaust survivors and their families, as well as 250 prominent public figures such as Supreme Court Justic Elyakim Rubenstein and Chairman of Yad Vashem Avner Shalev. The delegation was lead by Opposition head Isaac Herzog (Labor) and Coalition head Yariv Levin (Likud- Yisrael Beytenu).
“Seven decades after millions of our people were cruelly murdered by the Nazi machine of destruction, it is my privilege to head the largest ever delegation of the Knesset, the parliament of the independent Jewish state, to the killing valley of Auschwitz-Birkenau” Levin said.
Polish Jewish philanthropist Sigmund Rolat, 83, and From the Depths, a Holocaust commemoration organization, collaborated with the Knesset to bring about this historic visit. Travel of Israeli lawmakers is covered by the Knesset at a cost of approximately $115,000. All other expenses, such as the ceremonies, are covered by the Auschwitz Museum and the Polish government.
Jonny Daniels, founder of From the Depths, believes it is the mission of past and present generations to bring the lessons of the Holocaust to future generations. The organization works with Holocaust survivors and preserving Jewish sites in Poland. Last September, when announcing the Knesset trip, Daniels said, “I’m part of the last generation to speak and be in touch with survivors, and a great responsibility to bring the message forward comes with that. It’s incredibly important that something be done to honor the survivors and stand with them hand-in-hand while we still can.”
For one MK, this will be his first time visiting the death camp. MK Eliezer Moses (UTJ), explained to Johnny Daniels in a conversation that he has been avoiding visiting Auschwitz because it was the place where 70 people from his family were murdered. Upon hearing of the trip, Moses said “I wanted to get to know the young man who’s taking the whole Knesset to Auschwitz. I had many opportunities to go, but I just couldn’t.”
Reflecting on the symbolism of the trip, Moses said “I signed a contract with the management at Auschwitz on the table in the conference room where the heads of the Nazi movement once sat, and I signed a contract to bring the Israeli Knesset – that’s our power.”
The delegation took off early Monday morning from Israel on two planes and arrived at the military airport in Krakow. Ahead of the visit, Herzog stated: “We are traveling from Jerusalem to the Valley of Tears; to the site of the greatest disaster and pain of our time. There are no words to describe the intensity of our feelings as those who represent the atmosphere and opinions in our democracy. We are traveling in order to remember, remind, learn and teach a less; to light a memorial candle and say a small prayer – the Yizkor prayer.”
While visiting the camps, the Israeli delegation will take part in several memorial ceremonies. Delegation members will tour the prisoner block of the Auschwitz concentration camp and the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum. They will then march from the Auschwitz camp to the Birkenau death camp where the Polish government is holding a memorial ceremony.
The Israeli delegation is joined by approximately 1,000 other dignitaries and public leaders, such as Polish, Russian, and American legislatures. While in Poland, the Knesset will hold a symbolic inter-parliamentary session with officials from the United States, Poland, and other countries. Representing the United States, U.S. House of Representatives Majority Leader Eric Cantor, Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA), and Patrick McHenry (R-NC) joined the Knesset delegation.
“The symbolism of the majority of the Knesset coming and standing with the survivors in a place which 69 years ago they didn’t imagine they’d live another day is so strong,” Daniels stated. “They’ll stand in Auschwitz-Birkenau with the government of the Jewish people and general of the Jewish army and leaders of the Jewish youth organization. There’s no stronger way to stand.”
