World Jewish Congress Delegation Marks 80 Years Since the Liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau - World Jewish Congress
World Jewish Congress Delegation Marks 80 Years Since the Liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau
Kraków, 27 — 28 January 2025

The World Jewish Congress (WJC) marked International Holocaust Remembrance Day and the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi extermination camp of Auschwitz-Birkenau with a series of solemn commemorations, high-level discussions, and impactful initiatives that showcased and underscored the organization’s unwavering commitment to preserving the painful memories of the Shoah for generations to come.

We were honored to stand alongside Holocaust survivors, Jewish community leaders, government representatives, and corporate leaders in Auschwitz-Birkenau and Krakow throughout the week leading up to International Holocaust Remembrance Day (27 January 2025) to ensure that the memory of the Shoah remains a guiding force in confronting contemporary hate.

WJC President Ronald S. Lauder Calls on World Leaders to Stand Against Rising Antisemitism

WJC President Ronald S. Lauder joined Holocaust survivors and global leaders from more than 50 countries in during a moving commemoration at the Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp, where more than one million Jews were murdered during the Holocaust.

Standing at the site of the largest Nazi killing center, Amb. Lauder delivered a powerful message about the urgent need to combat rising antisemitism, emphasizing the direct link between the evil that fueled the Holocaust and the Jew-hatred behind the October 7 terror attacks on Israel.

“The virulent antisemitism that led to the Holocaust is still rampant around the globe today,” he said.


Lauder stressed that antisemitism “had its willing supporters then, and it has them now”, pointing to the indifference of those who stood by during the Holocaust and those who remain silent today in the face of rising hatred. He warned that the lessons of Auschwitz remain tragically relevant and urged world leaders to act decisively:

“This is not just about the past. It is about today. It is about tomorrow. It is about what kind of world we want to live in.”


He emphasized that attacks against Jews are not only a threat to Jewish communities but an assault on the fundamental values of civil society:

“These attacks are not just targeting Jews. They are an attack on Judeo-Christian values, which are the bedrock of Western civilization.”

Watch: Ronald S. Lauder's full remarks from Auschwitz-Birkenau

Lauder spoke alongside four Auschwitz survivors and Dr. Piotr Cywiński, Director of the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial Museum. He declared that direct testimony must play a central role in educating future generations as the number of survivors left to tell their tale decreases with each passing year.

Holocaust survivor Tova Friedman spoke movingly about Jewish resilience in the aftermath of the Holocaust, making a profound statement about how the Jewish people have chosen to respond to history’s darkest moments:

“Instead, our revenge has been to build a strong Jewish country and raise our families in peace. Many of you here have your wonderful families with you, just as I do. Eighty years after liberation, the world is again in crisis. Our Jewish-Christian values have been overshadowed worldwide by prejudice, fear, suspicion, and extremism. And the rampant antisemitism that is spreading among the nations is shocking.”


The event was attended by a historic WJC delegation comprising top organizational leadership, Jewish communal heads, and Holocaust survivors, brought together by Amb. Lauder and organized with the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial Foundation and its Auschwitz 80 Committee.

(c) Shahar Azran / WJC

(c) Shahar Azran / WJC

(c) Shahar Azran / WJC

(c) Shahar Azran / WJC

(c) Shahar Azran / WJC

(c) Shahar Azran / WJC

(c) Shahar Azran / WJC

Jewish Communities Unite to Mark 80th Anniversary of Auschwitz Liberation

A WJC delegation, organized by Ambassador Lauder, included Jewish community heads, Holocaust survivors, and top organizational leaders as well as more than 40 members of WJC's Elevate initiative from 24 countries across six continents.

The delegation engaged with survivors and addressed key issues shaping the Jewish future. Conversations focused on preserving Holocaust memory post-October 7 massacre and the urgent need to combat antisemitism and protect Jewish heritage.

Following a visit to Auschwitz-Birkenau, the group marked Shabbat with a dinner hosted by the Jewish Community of Kraków. Holocaust survivor Jona Laks shared her testimony, emphasizing Holocaust education. Elevate members participated in breakout discussions on key Jewish issues, led by WJC experts including Ernest Herzog, Daniel Radomski, and Jewish Diplomatic Corps members Ira Rosensaft and Alex Ryvchin.

The next day featured a private screening of The Last Twins of Auschwitz followed by a discussion led by Professor Dina Porat, Senior Academic Advisor at Yad Vashem, on the Holocaust legacy after the October 7 terror attacks. Another session, focusing on perpetrators' perspectives, was led by award-winning author and Holocaust historian Laurence Rees.

(c) Diana Kapica / WJC

(c) Shahar Azran / WJC

(c) Yoni Hammerman / WJC

(c) Diana Kapica / WJC

(c) Diana Kapica / WJC

(c) Diana Kapica / WJC

Corporate Accountability: Acknowledging the Past at Monowitz (Auschwitz III)

In an historic step toward acknowledging the role of corporate complicity in the Holocaust, WJC organized a visit to Monowitz (Auschwitz III) with the CEOs of Bayer AG and BASF SE, whose predecessor company, I.G. Farben, constructed and facility to produce synthetic rubber and fuel using Jewish slave labor.

At this site, the executives confronted their companies’ histories and reaffirmed their commitment to fighting antisemitism and upholding human rights today.

BASF CEO Dr. Markus Kamieth reflected on the moral weight of the visit: “With the knowledge of the past, we have a responsibility to preserve the memory of what happened and ensure that history is never repeated.”

Bayer CEO Bill Anderson acknowledged the company’s duty to remember: “Together, we must ensure that the voices of the past continue to resonate in our actions—today and in the future.”

Additionally, Evonik leadership visited the Schindler Factory in Krakow, together with the Auschwitz-Birkenau Foundation, reinforcing the company’s commitment to Holocaust education and acknowledging Nazi-era crimes.

Siemens CEO Roland Busch met the group at Auschwitz-Birkenau for the main ceremony.

(c) Shahar Azran / WJC

(c) Shahar Azran / WJC

(c) Shahar Azran / WJC

(c) Shahar Azran / WJC

SECCA Forum: Technology and the Fight Against Antisemitism

On Tuesday, the WJC convened a meeting of the Special Envoys and Coordinators Combating Antisemitism (SECCA) Forum in Krakow, bringing together government officials, Jewish community leaders, and technology experts to tackle antisemitism and Holocaust distortion in the digital age.

A key focus of the forum was direct engagement with Meta, TikTok, and X, who sent representative to discuss their content moderation policies, the role of AI in detecting hate speech, and the spread of antisemitism post-October 7.

Nell McCarthy, Vice President of Trust & Safety at Meta, acknowledged the platform’s partnership with WJC in countering Holocaust denial: “We recognize the role that we can play in fulfilling the promise of Never Again and we appreciate the invitation to participate in the SECCA Forum to hear voices of Jewish communities from around the world in this critical time.”

Valiant Richey, Global Head of Outreach & Partnerships at TikTok, emphasized the importance of education: “We share WJC’s commitment to remembrance and education, which are critical to preventing hate and fostering common ground.”

Wifredo Fernandez, Head of US & Canada Government Affairs at X, affirmed that the company will continue to work with WJC to tackle antisemitism: “We look forward to continued collaboration with the World Jewish Congress and the Special Envoys and Coordinators on this critical challenge.”

Additionally, WJC’s Technology and Human Rights Institute (TecHRI) presented its study “Human vs. AI: Comparison of Online Antisemitism Experience”, revealing both the limitations and potential of AI in combating hate speech.

The forum also featured thought-provoking contributions from experts that included TecHRI advisory council members Prof. Yuval Shany and Dr. Ahmed Shaheed, as well as Dr. Rob Williams, the Finci-Viterbi Executive Director of USC Shoah Foundation, and Hannah Rose of the Institute for Strategic Dialogue. They shared insights on regulating online hate speech and protecting vulnerable communities, emphasizing collaborative policymaking; the enforcement of best practices; and the essential role of partnerships between civil society, governments and the private sector.

Separately, prominent global leaders including Miguel Ángel Moratinos, High Representative for the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations, introduced the UN Action Plan to combat antisemitism, while Poland’s Deputy Minister of Justice Dariusz Mazur outlined that country’s National Strategy and priorities for its upcoming EU presidency. Alice Nderitu, former UN Under-Secretary-General and Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, also addressed the group.

(c) Shahar Azran / WJC

(c) Shahar Azran / WJC

(c) Shahar Azran / WJC

(c) Shahar Azran / WJC

(c) Shahar Azran / WJC

#WeRemember: Illuminating the Past to Build a Stronger Future

As part of the World Jewish Congress’ annual #WeRemember campaign for International Holocaust Remembrance Day, a global initiative to combat Holocaust denial and distortion, Jewish communities, governments, sports clubs and leaders of industry showed their support to ensure the memory of the Holocaust is never forgotten. This year’s campaign featured the illumination of iconic landmarks including the European Commission headquarters in Brussels and the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, as well as Israel’s Knesset, foreign ministry, the Jerusalem city walls, and Tel Aviv’s Azrieli Center. Major landmarks in Switzerland, Greece, Czech Republic, Canada, New York, and beyond also took part. By projecting the #WeRemember message or lighting buildings in yellow, these striking visual tributes signified solidarity against rising antisemitism.

The WJC also expanded its partnership with UNESCO and TikTok to connect millions of users with verified educational resources, including aboutholocaust.org. In 2024, more than 4 million social media users visited the site. The campaign continues to guide social media platforms to meaningfully address Holocaust distortion and misinformation, and to ensure that younger generations engage with accurate and accessible Holocaust educational resources.

(c) Shahar Azran / WJC

(c) Shahar Azran / WJC

(c) Shahar Azran / WJC

(c) Shahar Azran / WJC

(c) Shahar Azran / WJC

(c) Shahar Azran / WJC