Steven Spielberg Holds Special Reception for 100 Holocaust Survivors From Around the World

Photo: Steven Spielberg speaking at the UN on International Holocaust Rememberance Day in 2014

Credit: Reuters

The World Jewish Congress and the USC Shoah Foundation held a special reception yestserday at the Holiday Inn Kraków for 100 Auschwitz survivors who arrived in Poland from at least 19 countries to participate in today's observance of the 70th anniversary of the camp’s liberation, for International Holocaust Remembrance Day.

Joining the survivors at the event were Ronald S. Lauder, president of the World Jewish Congress; film director Steven Spielberg, founding chair of the USC Shoah Foundation; and David Zaslav, president and CEO of Discovery Communications.

“Their testimonies give each survivor everlasting life and give all of us everlasting value,” said Spielberg at tonight’s reception.

“We need to be preserving places like Auschwitz so people can see for themselves how evil ideologies can become tangible acts of murder. My hope for tomorrow’s commemoration is that the survivors will feel confident that we are renewing their call to remember. We will make sure the lessons of the past remain with us in the present so that we can now and forever find humanitarian ways to fight the inhumanity.”

“I believe that you don’t just represent survivors,” Lauder told the 100 Auschwitz survivors at the reception. “All of you here tonight represent one the greatest forces of light over darkness. And for that we are not just grateful, we are in awe of you. You inspire us all.”