The European Jewish Congress co-organised with Peace People Planet the “Symphony for Life” concert at the Temple Synagogue in Krakow, marking the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau extermination camp.
This unique event breathed life back into the choral synagogue and featured performances by renowned musicians and artists from France, Israel, and the United States, honouring the memory of the victims of the Shoah and symbolically restoring the voices silenced by barbarity.
EJC Executive Vice-President Raya Kalenova addressed the hundreds of participants at the event, which included distinguished policymakers, diplomats, leaders of Jewish communities from across the world, and Holocaust survivors, emphasising the need for the stories of the millions murdered under the Nazi regime to continue to be told for generations to come.
“As we stand here, let us reflect on the resilience of our people. For despite the darkness, we rebuilt. Despite the pain, we persevered. And despite the hatred, we brought light back into the world. We carried the weight of memory forward, not as a burden, but as a torch—lighting the path towards a world where ‘never again’ is not just a phrase but a promise,” said Ms Kalenova.
Participants had the privilege of hearing France’s most famous singer, composer, and actor, Patrick Bruel, who performed his song “The Empty Chairs” in tribute to all those who have lost a loved one since 7th October. He was accompanied by Israeli violinist virtuoso Michael Shaham, who also performed several pieces on one of the “Violins of Hope” that resonates in Auschwitz, adorned with six-sided stars that were added by the original violin makers.
The women’s choir “Voix de Stras” sang a series of lullabies in tribute to the lost children of the Holocaust, and legendary voice and multiple award-winning singer Liz McComb, a descendant of Black American slaves, performed several emotional pieces. All the artists came together for a final moving performance of “Imagine” by John Lennon. The evening was narrated by writer and film director Amanda Sthers.
Cliquez ici pour la version française.
