In brief
Marian Turski, a prominent figure for Holocaust remembrance and a powerful voice against rising antisemitism, died on February 18, 2025. He dedicated his life to educating others about the consequences of indifference to injustice.
Marian Turski, a renowned Holocaust survivor and a stalwart advocate against rising antisemitism, passed away on February 18, 2025, at the age of 98 in his hometown of Warsaw, Poland. Turski, who returned to Poland after World War II, became known for giving a voice to the invisible scars left by the Nazis and their accomplices. His death was announced by the Polin Museum of the History of Polish Jews, an institution he played a vital role in establishing and chaired since 2009.In a powerful speech during the 75th commemoration of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp liberation in 2020, Turski highlighted the alarming surge in antisemitism globally. “Auschwitz did not fall from the sky,” he stated in a Polityka magazine podcast, emphasizing the gradual onset of anti-Jewish persecution. He warned, “It began with small forms of persecution of Jews. It happened; it means it can happen anywhere. That is why human rights and democratic constitutions must be defended.”Turski passionately advocated for a strong societal stand against indifference, dubbing it the "11th Commandment." He urged individuals to be active against historical inaccuracies and discrimination against any minority. Failure to act, he cautioned, could lead to dire consequences, reminding listeners, “If you are indifferent, before you know it another Auschwitz will come out of the blue for you or your descendants.”Marian Turski’s legacy serves as an urgent reminder of the responsibilities shared by humanity to oppose indifference, ensure justice, and recognize the fragility of freedom in the face of rising hate.
