On a frosty Polish winter evening, 96-year-old Esther Senot stood before approximately 100 shivering students at Auschwitz-Birkenau, recounting her harrowing experiences as a teenager during World War II. The chill did little to dampen the gravity of the moment as Senot, alongside her memories, vividly brought to life the horrors she faced upon her arrival at the infamous Nazi death camp on September 2, 1943.
Senot spoke about her older sister, who, frail and emaciated, implored her, "I won't make it any farther. You're young: promise me if you make it out, you'll tell this story so we're not the forgotten ones of history." This solemn vow, made years ago, fueled Senot's return to Auschwitz today, emphasizing the camp's dark legacy as she sought to educate the younger generation.
The camp at Auschwitz-Birkenau is a somber symbol of Nazi Germany's genocide; between 1940 and 1945, over one million people were slaughtered here, predominantly Jews, alongside Poles, Roma, and Soviet prisoners of war. Senot’s narrative aimed not only to recount personal trauma but also to memorialize the countless victims of this atrocity.
The students came from various backgrounds, including Charlotte and Raphael, both aged 16. Reflecting on their experience, Charlotte stated, "We'd been giving figures in class but now we realize what people had gone through." It was evident to these young visitors, born long after the events, just how powerful hearing from someone who lived through them could be.
For Raphael, the visit was transformative. "Being born in 2008, I didn't think I'd have the experience of hearing a survivor," he noted, connecting his studies to the real-life testimonies of individuals like Senot. Such firsthand accounts are becoming increasingly rare; as each year passes, the number of survivors dwindle, placing the onus of remembrance squarely on the shoulders of today’s youth.
During her testimony, Senot also connected the past to the future, highlighting the importance of storytelling. She said, "If we, at our age, take the time to warn you, it's in the hope it never happens again." This plea underscored the urgency to keep the memory of the Holocaust alive, especially as time erases the living history of its survivors.
Haim Korsia, Chief Rabbi of France, noted the goal of such educational trips: "That's the whole point of taking young people to Auschwitz today— they become witness to witnesses." His organization has led such trips for over two decades, aiming to instill awareness and advocacy against hate and forgetting.
Still, as the last living witnesses of the Holocaust near the end of their lives, there are fears about how future generations will perceive this dark chapter of history. Alexandre Borycki, president of a remembrance organization, expressed concerns about how the Holocaust may be viewed as merely historical, akin to ancient history, disconnecting it from the experiences of those who lived it.
Esther Senot’s experience and those shared by her contemporaries remind us of the significance of places like Auschwitz as more than just memorials; they are educational sites where the horrors of the past confront the responsibility of the present. Students' reflections, such as Raphael’s observation of the physical artifacts of oppression like clothing and suitcases, highlight the need for tangible connections to history.
While engaging younger generations through historical education remains important, the emergence of social media is prompting new avenues for remembrance. Sophie Nahum, for example, is using platforms like TikTok to bridge the gap where traditional media falls short, curtailing attention spans and disinterest. She acknowledges the platform’s flaws but believes it can play a pivotal role, stating, "Young people read little or nothing in the press, and watch very little television. They don't watch long historical documentaries on the big channels." By sharing survivors' stories through short clips, she aims to connect with youth on their terms.
Lastly, as tensions rise globally, especially relating to anti-Semitism, there is renewed urgency to share and advocate for Holocaust remembrance. The existential threats faced by communities today echo the painful history of Jews during WWII. Esther Senot's narrative at Auschwitz serves as both a reminder and rallying cry for collective remembrance and action—one young generation listening to the stories of survivors like her, ensuring they are never forgotten.