“Oct. 7, a day that shook the world as Hamas fighters invaded southern Israel, marking the deadliest attack on Jews since the Holocaust. As Holocaust Remembrance Day approaches this Sunday, the weight of this somber occasion is heightened for Jews worldwide. For Judith Tzamir, a Holocaust survivor from Germany, Oct. 7 prompted a pilgrimage she had long avoided – a visit to Auschwitz, the Nazi concentration camp in Poland.
March of the Living
Tzamir, along with 55 other Holocaust survivors and thousands of participants, will join the March of the Living. This event recreates the march from Auschwitz to Birkenau, where one million Jews perished under Nazi Germany’s rule. It is a poignant reminder of the horrors of the past that continue to echo in the present.
A Personal Journey
Tzamir, now residing in Israel, faces the haunting memories of her childhood, left behind in Berlin under the care of strangers. Her journey from the shadows of the past to the resilience of the present is a testimony of survival and hope in the face of unspeakable atrocities.
From Trauma to Tragedy
As the Israeli-Palestinian conflict escalates, the fear and trauma of past attacks resurface for Tzamir and other Holocaust survivors. Forced to evacuate their homes, the echoes of war reverberate through the generations, leaving scars that may never fully heal.
A Retrospect on Resilience
The stories of Holocaust survivors like Tzamir serve as a reminder of the resilience of the human spirit in the face of unimaginable tragedy. As we commemorate Holocaust Remembrance Day, may we honor their courage and strength, and vow to never forget the lessons of the past – lest history repeat itself.”
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