Margot Friedländer: Memory of a century of a century in Berlin

Margot Friedländer: Memory of a century of a century in Berlin

Berlin, Deutschland - On July 9, 2025, an emotional memorial event for the Holocaust-surviving Margot Friedländer took place in the Berlin Philharmonic. Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier held a moving commemorative speech in which he emphasized the central importance of tolerance and humanity. "Her voice was a warning voice that should remind us of the injustice that has happened," said Steinmeier and paid tribute to the 103-year-old Friedländer, who died in Berlin on May 9, 2025 and was buried on May 15 at the Jewish Cemetery Weißensee. The event was broadcast live by the RBB and attracted numerous prominent guests, including Bundestag President Julia Klöckner and former Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

Friedländer, who was the last of her family to survive the Schoah, was deported to the Theresienstadt concentration camp in 1944. Her parents and brother were not the same luck and were murdered by the National Socialists. After the Second World War, she emigrated to the USA, but returned to Berlin at the age of 88. Her tireless commitment to anti -Semitism, racism and exclusion made her one of the best -known contemporary witnesses of her generation. The Margot Friedländer Foundation, which she founded in 2023, has set itself the task of continuing its life's work and keeping the memory of the atrocities of National Socialism alive.

an inheritance of the memory

In his speech, Steinmeier also emphasized that reminding of the crimes of the past and the fight against forgetting are central duties of today's society. Many speakers, including Hedi Bouden, the winner of the Margot Friedländer Personality Prize 2024, emphasized responsibility to raise awareness of society to the dangers of right -wing extremism and anti -Semitism. Bouden described Friedländer as a "zewig century" and asked critical questions about the acceptance of extremist ideologies in society.

The event was musically framed by singer Max Raabe and a swing band that gave a special note to the solemn occasion. Steinmeier praised Friedländer not only as a contemporary witness, but also as a person with great kindness and radiance. Your voice will continue to stand for tolerance and understanding.

a last look back

Felix Klein, the anti-Semitism representative, emphasized how important Friedländer was inheritance for memory of the Holocaust. "We have to make sure that such stories are not forgotten," he said. Josef Schuster, President of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, also underlined that Friedländer will stand for a fairer and peaceful world as a warning voice.

The response and participation in the commemoration clearly show that Margot Friedländer was an inspiring and influential personality, whose life and work will still sustainably sustainably sustainably. Their commitment gives the memory of the horrors of the Holocaust a lively voice and asks us all to stand up for a better future.