President of Mazsihisz: The Legacy of Auschwitz – Remembrance and Responsibility

"Unity, solidarity, and shared responsibility are the pillars upon which we must defend the lessons drawn from the horrors of the past. The future belongs to those who can learn from history and strive for a more humane world."

The following are the reflections of Prof. Dr. Andor Grósz, President of the Federation of Jewish Communities in Hungary (Mazsihisz):

Eighty years ago, on January 27, 1945, the Red Army liberated the Auschwitz-Birkenau death camps, bringing an end to an inhuman nightmare. Today, we honor the memory of the victims. During the Holocaust, Nazi Germany and its collaborators systematically murdered six million Jews.

This staggering number is almost impossible to fathom, yet as painful as it may be, it is our duty to confront it. Among these victims were over 600,000 Hungarian Jews—men, women, and children who lived, loved, and dreamed just as we do.

The near-total destruction of Hungary’s Jewish communities in the countryside is forever etched not only in the tragic history of Jewish communities but also in the annals of Hungarian history. The lives lost left an irreparable void, not only within the families of the victims but in the very fabric of the nation. Auschwitz stands as a stain not only on Jewish history but on all of humanity—a moment when civilization turned against itself, when Europe betrayed its own values.

Eight decades later, we must ask ourselves: Have we truly internalized the meaning of the phrase "NEVER AGAIN"? For decades, this declaration inspired hope, but did we genuinely believe it could protect our Jewish brothers and sisters? The events of October 7, 2023, profoundly shook this belief and changed us all. Unity, solidarity, and shared responsibility are the tools by which we must safeguard the hard-won lessons of history. The future belongs to those who draw strength from these lessons and work tirelessly to build a more compassionate world.

The terrorist organizations that target Jewish civilians embody the same inhuman hatred that gave rise to Auschwitz. The civilized world has a moral obligation to confront such forces in defense of peace. "NEVER AGAIN" must resonate not as an empty slogan but as a guiding principle in our every action. Remembering the past is our obligation, but shaping a better future is our ultimate responsibility.

Prof. Dr. Andor Grósz
President of Mazsihisz