I’ll share with you what comes to my mind today when I reflect upon the events from April-May 1943.
I wasn’t in the Warsaw ghetto. I was imprisoned in another ghetto, in Łódź (Litzmannstadtghetto). I was sent to Auschwitz and I survived two death marches—the last one from Buchenwald to Theresienstadt. There, I was liberated by the Soviet Army, which consisted mainly of Russians. My gratitude towards them, towards those who liberated me from the German camps, will live as long as I live…
And yet… how could I remain indifferent, how could I remain silent when today the Russian Army invades our neighbour and annexes its land? Can I remain silent when Russian missiles demolish Ukrainian infrastructure—residential buildings, hospitals, monuments of culture? All this will result in a drastic rise in mortality rate and will reduce the lifespan of hundreds of thousands of civilians!
How can I be silent when I see what happened in Bucha, knowing how the Germans annihilated Polish Michniów, Belarussian Khatyn, Czech Lidice or French Oradour?
Marek Edelman, one of the commanders of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising— I was privileged to know him personally and I talked to him on numerous occasions—used to repeat these significant words:
"Life is of utmost importance! Once you have life—freedom is of utmost importance! And then, often, you must sacrifice your life again to fight for freedom!"
Honourable Mr Presidents,
Distinguished Guests,
Dear Friends,
125 years ago, in response to the antisemitic Dreyfuss Affair, Emil Zola shouted: "J’accuse!" I accuse!
Zola’s cry sent shockwaves across France and—in some way—across Europe. I do
believe, in fact I am deeply convinced that today—in order to pay tribute to the
Warsaw Ghetto Fighters—a loud cry should be repeated from here, from Warsaw: J’accuse!
Against antisemitism!
Against violation of human rights!
Against discrimination!
Against aggression on your neighbour’s territory!
Against falsifying history!
Against disrespecting the interests and will of a minority (whatever it may be) by a majority in power (wherever it may be)!
J’accuse, I accuse people indifferent to evil.
People, be alert! It’s easy to gather support by means of hatred. And yet, will this hatred not spell doom—upon myself, upon you, upon your children and grandchildren?
That is why I accuse those who incite hatred. J’accuse!