King Charles has warned against the “dangerous re-emergence of antisemitism” and highlighted the responsibility of the living to remember the atrocities of the Holocaust in a speech commemorating the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz.
Speaking at the Jewish Community Centre in Krakow, Poland ahead of his visit to Auschwitz, the monarch acknowledged the “sombre” and “sacred” day of remembrance as “a moment when we recall the depths to which humanity can sink when evil is allowed to flourish, ignored for too long by the world.
“And it is a moment when we recall the powerful testimonies of survivors such as Lily Ebert, who so sadly passed away in October, and who collectively taught us to cherish our freedom, to challenge prejudice and never to be a bystander in the face of violence and hate.”
“In a world that remains full of turmoil and strife, and has witnessed the dangerous re-emergence of antisemitism, there can be no more important message.”
King Charles III unveils a commemorative plaque with Executive Director, Jewish Community Centre, Jonathan Ornstein during his visit to the Jewish Community Centre (JCC) Krakow. (Photo by Victoria Jones - Pool/Getty Images)
King Charles added: “As the number of Holocaust survivors regrettably diminishes with the passage of time, the responsibility of remembrance rests far heavier on our shoulders, and on those of generations yet unborn. The act of remembering the evils of the past remains a vital task and in so doing, we inform our present and shape our future.”
JCC Krakow, where the King delivered his emotional speech, was established in 2008 thanks to an initiative led by Charles himself, then Prince of Wales, in collaboration with the local Jewish community and World Jewish Relief.
“Standing on the steps of this wonderfully vibrant Centre some seventeen years ago, having encouraged its construction and taken immense pride in opening it,” he said, “I was filled with a sense of hope and optimism at the life and energy that coursed through the building.
“So, returning today, along with World Jewish Relief, of which I am extremely proud to be patron, that sense of hope and optimism has only grown. With their support, together with other generous benefactors, this centre has blossomed from the bud of an idea into an essential hub for the community.”
He added: “In a post-Holocaust world, projects such as this centre are how we recover our faith in humanity. They also show us there is much work still to be done if we are not just to remember the past, but to use it to inspire us to build a kinder and more compassionate world for future generations; a world of which we can be truly proud.”
