By: Myriam Brenner, Education Program Coordinator

On January 27, 1945, Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest Nazi death camp, was liberated. Since 2005, when the United Nations designated this date as International Holocaust Remembrance Day, it has strengthened the memory of the victims of the Holocaust.

January 27 also reminds us that the largest genocide in history was the culmination of step-by-step decisions taken by individuals resulting in a tidal wave of antisemitism, hate and intolerance. It is imperative that we educate ourselves about this history to be better equipped to speak out against antisemitism and hate in all its forms.

An impactful way to learn this history is through firsthand accounts of Holocaust survivors such as Max Eisen. Max was born in 1929 in Moldava, in the former Czechoslovakia. When he was 15, Max and his family were violently taken away from their home during Passover and deported to Auschwitz. After being selected for slave labour and finding a way to survive in Auschwitz, Max’s father and uncle were selected for medical testing. Max last saw his father on July 9,1944 who asked Max – if he survived – to tell the world what had happened to their family. Miraculously, Max survived the death march from Auschwitz in January 1945 and was eventually liberated by the Americans in May 1945. Only three out of sixty family members (including himself) survived the Holocaust. In 1949, he immigrated to Canada in search of a new life.

Fo rmore than 30 years, Max was dedicated to educating people about the Holocaust. He was appointed to the Order of Canada in 2021 for his contribution to Holocaust Education and for his promotion of transformational dialogue on human rights, tolerance and respect. Sadly, he passed away in 2022, but one can still bear witness to his incredible story of resilience by listening to his recording: www.fswc.ca/never-forget-me-learning-from-survivors

or reading his poignant memoir: www.bychancealone.com

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