On January 27, the world pauses to commemorate International Holocaust Remembrance Day. This day, established by the United Nations (U.N.), marks the liberation of Auschwitz in 1945—a moment that should have closed the gates on humanity’s darkest horrors. Auschwitz was the place where nearly all of my grandfather’s family—his aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents—were murdered. It is a wound that never fully heals, a reminder of the depth of human cruelty and the fragility of decency. And yet today, I find myself asking: has Auschwitz ever truly been liberated?
Yes, the barbed wire was cut, and the death marches halted. The Nazi regime was defeated, and Auschwitz—the physical place—was emptied of its prisoners. But the hatred that built it, the ideologies that fed it, the evil that allowed it to happen? Those still linger, simmering beneath the surface, waiting for their moment to erupt.
On October 7, 2023, that hatred erupted again. Hamas terrorists invaded Israel, bringing with them horrors almost too terrible to describe: families massacred in their homes, children burned alive, women brutalized and dragged through the streets. Over 1,200 Jewish lives were taken in a single day—the largest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust. And then, in the aftermath, the world rose—not to mourn, but to rally. Across cities and countries, voices shouted for the destruction of Israel and the Jewish people. It wasn’t just individuals; it was crowds, millions, fueling chants of hatred that echo Auschwitz in modern disguise.
The ADL’s recent report revealed that nearly half of adults worldwide harbor anti-Semitic beliefs. This staggering reality lays bare the magnitude of the battle we face. The U.N. calls this day a time to reaffirm humanity’s commitment to eradicate anti-Semitism, to strengthen the moral solidarity of humankind. These are noble words. But words are not enough. The Jewish people are asking: who will stand with us? Who will act?
I think of Corrie ten Boom, the Dutch evangelical Christian who, along with her family, risked her life to save Jews during the Holocaust. In her small home above a clock shop, she built a secret room to hide those fleeing Nazi terror. When her actions were discovered, she was sent to Ravensbrück concentration camp. There, surrounded by death and despair, her unshakable faith became a source of hope for others. She survived, later sharing her story with the world and declaring, “There is no pit so deep that God’s love is not deeper still.” Corrie’s story is one of extraordinary courage—not the absence of fear, but the refusal to let fear win.
I also think of Anne Frank, who, like so many, perished in the Holocaust. Her diary has become a symbol of resilience and humanity in the face of unimaginable evil. But Anne’s story is not just hers—it belongs to those who risked everything to hide her. Victor Kugler, Miep Gies, Johannes Kleiman, and Jan Gies made a moral choice to defy darkness and protect the innocent. Their bravery reminds us that even in the most terrifying times, there were lights that refused to go out.
When I read about recent anti-Semitic attacks in Amsterdam, not far from the clock shop where Corrie ten Boom hid Jews and the Secret Annex where Anne Frank and her family hid, I feel the weight of history pressing down on my heart. We said “Never Again,” yet here we are—again. But while Anne’s story ended in tragedy, it did not end in silence. Her words survive. Corrie ten Boom’s faith survives. Their stories remind us that even in the darkest of times, there are lights that refuse to go out.
Today, we need friends like these. Israel is a small nation, and the Jewish people make up less than 0.2% of the world’s population. We cannot stand alone – and we are not alone. Over 750,000 Christians have chosen to stand with Israel through the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews. They are not just supporters—they are partners who give generously through The Fellowship to provide critical support to Israel and her people. Their faith drives their belief that blessing the Jewish people is not just an act of love—it is an affirmation of the values we share: the sanctity of life, the pursuit of freedom, and respect for all of God’s creation.
On this International Holocaust Remembrance Day, let us honor the memory of six million Jews – not with platitudes, but with action. The fight against anti-Semitism is not a theoretical one; it demands courage. It demands moral clarity. It demands that we take sides, because neutrality in the face of evil is complicity.
The Jewish people are fighting the same hateful philosophy that built Auschwitz. The question is not whether we will fight—we are already fighting. The question is, will you join us? Together, Christians and Jews, and all who believe in justice and human dignity, can become the “we” that U.N. envisions, the “we” that Corrie ten Boom prayed for, the “we” that Anne Frank dreamed of, the “we” that humanity so desperately needs.
Because together, we can ensure that Auschwitz is not just a place of memory but a place where evil was defeated—and will never rise again.