Jewish survivor of Oświęcim addresses modern anti -Semitism

Jewish survivor of Oświęcim addresses modern anti -Semitism

in Oświęcim, a city with 34,000 inhabitants, only lives one Jew-the young Israelin Hila Weisz-Gut. This choice of the place of residence is remarkable, since the most famous property of the city is its proximity to the National Socialist concentration and extermination camp Auschwitz, in which at least 1.1 million people , mainly Jews were killed.

The story of Hila Weisz-Gut

Almost every member of the family of Weisz-Gut's grandmother was gassed there on arrival in a transport from Hungary. From her bedroom window, Weisz-Gut has a view of Auschwitz III-Monowitz, where her grandmother survived.

Weisz-Gut moved from Israel to her Polish husband in his hometown Oświęcim in 2023, whereby she was aware of the tragic history of her own family.

The reactions to your place of residence

Weisz-Gut is often skepticism and even contempt by other Jews and Israelis because of their choice of residence. If her late grandmother experiences her address, she would "turn around in the grave", she told CNN. Her neighbors in Oświęcim, on the other hand, are friendly and helpful, ask questions and wish their "shabbat Shalom", which means peace on the Sabbath. "I didn't even have an argument that had to do with anti -Semitism," she said.

The importance of Jewish presence

for Weisz-Gut it is essential to preserve a Jewish presence in the city-albeit small. In view of the upcoming 80th anniversary of the liberation of the camp on January 27, surveillance groups observe a worrying trend in Europe: den increase in anti-Semitism .

global conflicts and anti -Semitism

personal and collective memories

"We have observed that there is an increase in anti -Semitic incidents in Europe during every crisis in the Middle East," said Nicole Romain, spokeswoman for the agency. "On average, 96 % of the Jews told us that they have experienced anti -Semitism in their lives and 80 % believe that it has gotten worse in recent years," she added.

The story of Oświęcim, whose population was almost 60 % Jewish in 1939, before the Nazis arrived, impressively reminds of what mischievous anti -Semitism can trigger.

engagement in the Jewish Community

Weisz-Gut is currently working in the city's Oshpitzin-Jewish Museum. There she forms Israeli visitors about the once lively Jewish community of the region. The museum has confirmed that it is the only Jew that lives in Oświęcim.

The personal fight against forgetting

In conversation with CNN, Weisz-Gut said that her grandmother never wanted to talk about her experiences in the Second World War. "When I asked her about Auschwitz, she sent me out of her house," she said.

The past year in which she lives so close to Auschwitz has become more important for Weisz-Gut. On October 7, 2023, she was shocked when she saw videos of Israelis on social media, which fled out of panic at the Nova Music Festival after Hamas Militant had attacked. Her mother, who lives 10 minutes from the Lebanese border in northern Israel, had to look for refuge in an underground shelter due to attacks by Hezbollah.

a feeling of threat

Weisz-Gut describes that she felt far away in Oświęcim intensive fear. Alone she went to the city's last active synagogue to pray. "I felt the urge to open the Aron Hakodesh, the Holy Arche," she said CNN. "It was devastating," she said. "How, really happens again?"

Since the attack, Weisz-Gut has the feeling of being confronted with the growing prejudice in Europe on a personal level. During a visit to London, her mother and husband advised her to caution and suggested that she take off her Jewish star necklace. She also wore long sleeves to cover a tattoo in Hebrew. "Since the war in Gaza, people have not been having been having been having been having been having been having been between Jews and Israelis," she said. "There are no clear limits."

The worrying statistics

The Community Security Trust, a Jewish Security Organization, recorded in the first half of 2024 in Great Britain 1,978 anti -Semitic incidents, a record high. Also in Great Britain was a dramatic climb An anti -Muslim hatred since the attacks of October 7th.

France, which has the largest Jewish population in Europe, recently reported a strong increase in anti -Semitism since October 7, whereby the reports reported increased by 284 %. In Germany there was also a Starking Anti -Semitic criminal offenses, like a government report Shows with a higher incidence of violence.

hate in the digital world

Most of the problem manifests itself online and on social media. "The digital world is the wild west. There are no rules, no law. The consequences are almost not available," said Derviş Hızarcı, CEO of the Kiga organization based in Berlin, whose international network encate hate and anti -Semitism fought. "I believe that online hatred is the biggest challenge after October 7th."

a sign of resistance

Nevertheless, Weisz-Gut is determined to lead a Jewish life in Europe, especially in a city that has been made the largest killing machine in modern history by the Nazis. "For me it is a statement that they have tried to break and eradicate us, but have failed," she said of her presence in a place that is so strong with the Nazi regime. "We are the generation that is here to say: 'You weren't successful. Never again." "