world? …Come, moon; cast a glance from your shining eyes on this cursed dark earth…”.
During the commemoration, Auschwitz Survivor Bernard Offen addressed the audience.
“I am almost 97 years young, and I am a survivor of five camps including this one. Why do I mention those days? When you survive the Holocaust, when each day was a struggle to stay alive, you realize that each day of life is precious,” he said.
During his speech Bernard Offen recalled the moment on the Auschwitz ramp when he was separated from his father: “My father was sent to the left, toward death, and I was sent to the right. I remember that moment—our eye contact and the feeling that we were seeing each other for the last time. He was sent to his death and I was given a chance to live. Then they tattooed a number on my forearm and
I was transferred to a transit camp. There, when I asked what had happened to my father, my fellow prisoners replied that he was turned into smoke. It took me some time to understand what that meant.”
In his speech Bernard Offen also shared a reflection directed toward the future: “Today, as I look at contemporary times, I see many signs I know all too well. I see hatred resurgent. I see violence beginning to be justified once again. I see people who believe their anger is more valuable than another human life. I say this because I am an old man who has seen where indifference leads to. And I say this because I believe—I truly believe—that we can choose differently.”
“I ask you today, let memory not be a burden. Let it be a light that guides us in the darkness. We, the witnesses, will soon pass away, but
I believe this light will remain with you,” Bernard Offen emphasized.
The commemoration event also included
a film featuring short reflections by Survivors on the significance of memory in the contemporary world. They included Irene Weiss, Eva Szepesi, Lidia Maksymowicz, Janina Iwańska, Eva Umlauf, Barbara Wojnarowska-Gautier, Zdzisława Włodarczyk, Leon Weintraub, Bogdan Bartnikowski, and Marian Turski.
“We must, as thinking people, who want good for humanity, one day break this spiral of evil.” (Leon Weintraub)
“I always repeat to the students at schools that they should learn from what has happened, that it can always repeat. Be alert, don't be silent!” (Eva Szepesi)
“Think and remember about the tragic past, but not get stuck in hatred towards other people, who think or speak differently. Look at the world in a positive way. It is very difficult, but we should do that. There is no other way.” (Bogdan Bartnikowski)
Yossi Matias, Vice President of Engineering and Research at Google and Head of Google Research, spoke on behalf of the donors of the Auschwitz-Birkenau Foundation.
“I clearly remember my first visit to Auschwitz 14 years ago. Standing on this ground transformed the stories, pictures and documentaries into a crushing reality. Feeling the magnitude of the silence that is impossible to convey. The realization that what happened here is beyond comprehension,” he said.
“But today, these memories are being challenged by growing shadow of distortion. The preservation of testimony has never been more critical. It is no longer enough to simply make information available. Our responsibility is to ensure it remains trusted and deeply understood. By leveraging technology, we can transform historical content into living memory, one that remains accessible and profoundly felt by the generations to come,” added Yossi Matias.
“So, we are redoubling our efforts. We are working with the Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum to leverage the best of our technology, to help empower those who are doing the important work. We want to help preserve these testimonies and allow the world to experience this place through a digital lens,” he added.
“I want to express my sincere thanks to the Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum and Foundation for your tireless, holy work. Please know that we remain committed to supporting you in this shared mission” concluded Yossi Mattias.
The Director of the Auschwitz Memorial, Dr. Piotr M. A. Cywiński, dedicated his address to memory and experience.
“Today we live in difficult times, when an order built through immense effort is fracturing, when international law is violated, and when
world? …Come, moon; cast a glance from your shining eyes on this cursed dark earth…”.
During the commemoration, Auschwitz Survivor Bernard Offen addressed the audience.
“I am almost 97 years young, and I am a survivor of five camps including this one. Why do I mention those days? When you survive the Holocaust, when each day was a struggle to stay alive, you realize that each day of life is precious,” he said.
During his speech Bernard Offen recalled the moment on the Auschwitz ramp when he was separated from his father: “My father was sent to the left, toward death, and I was sent to the right. I remember that moment—our eye contact and the feeling that we were seeing each other for the last time. He was sent to his death and I was given a chance to live. Then they tattooed a number on my forearm and
I was transferred to a transit camp. There, when I asked what had happened to my father, my fellow prisoners replied that he was turned into smoke. It took me some time to understand what that meant.”
In his speech Bernard Offen also shared a reflection directed toward the future: “Today, as I look at contemporary times, I see many signs I know all too well. I see hatred resurgent. I see violence beginning to be justified once again. I see people who believe their anger is more valuable than another human life. I say this because I am an old man who has seen where indifference leads to. And I say this because I believe—I truly believe—that we can choose differently.”
“I ask you today, let memory not be a burden. Let it be a light that guides us in the darkness. We, the witnesses, will soon pass away, but
I believe this light will remain with you,” Bernard Offen emphasized.
The commemoration event also included
a film featuring short reflections by Survivors on the significance of memory in the contemporary world. They included Irene Weiss, Eva Szepesi, Lidia Maksymowicz, Janina Iwańska, Eva Umlauf, Barbara Wojnarowska-Gautier, Zdzisława Włodarczyk, Leon Weintraub, Bogdan Bartnikowski, and Marian Turski.
“We must, as thinking people, who want good for humanity, one day break this spiral of evil.” (Leon Weintraub)
“I always repeat to the students at schools that they should learn from what has happened, that it can always repeat. Be alert, don't be silent!” (Eva Szepesi)
“Think and remember about the tragic past, but not get stuck in hatred towards other people, who think or speak differently. Look at the world in a positive way. It is very difficult, but we should do that. There is no other way.” (Bogdan Bartnikowski)
Yossi Matias, Vice President of Engineering and Research at Google and Head of Google Research, spoke on behalf of the donors of the Auschwitz-Birkenau Foundation.
“I clearly remember my first visit to Auschwitz 14 years ago. Standing on this ground transformed the stories, pictures and documentaries into a crushing reality. Feeling the magnitude of the silence that is impossible to convey. The realization that what happened here is beyond comprehension,” he said.
“But today, these memories are being challenged by growing shadow of distortion. The preservation of testimony has never been more critical. It is no longer enough to simply make information available. Our responsibility is to ensure it remains trusted and deeply understood. By leveraging technology, we can transform historical content into living memory, one that remains accessible and profoundly felt by the generations to come,” added Yossi Matias.
“So, we are redoubling our efforts. We are working with the Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum to leverage the best of our technology, to help empower those who are doing the important work. We want to help preserve these testimonies and allow the world to experience this place through a digital lens,” he added.
“I want to express my sincere thanks to the Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum and Foundation for your tireless, holy work. Please know that we remain committed to supporting you in this shared mission” concluded Yossi Mattias.
The Director of the Auschwitz Memorial, Dr. Piotr M. A. Cywiński, dedicated his address to memory and experience.
“Today we live in difficult times, when an order built through immense effort is fracturing, when international law is violated, and when