Tragic Déjà Vu for Holocaust Survivor

A 96-year-old Auschwitz survivor, Jerry Wartzky, recently expressed his fears about rising anti-Semitism in New York City, sharing that he feels compelled to hide his Star of David necklace.

Wartzky remarked that he believes the Democratic Party and liberal societal factions are being infiltrated by anti-Semites, creating an atmosphere where Jews feel threatened in public spaces. It’s reminiscent of Europe during the rise of the Third Reich, he contends.

“You have to keep your eye on what’s going on,” Wartzky said in a recent interview. “Now, when I walk outside, I hide the Star of David chain under my shirt.”

“It’s the same old story,” he continued, recalling his own heartbreaking history, as both of his parents perished in concentration camps. “I’ll close my shirt. I won’t advertise. Is this really the ‘Land of the Free, Home of the Brave’?”

Wartzky expressed concern over the shifting climate not just in New York, but across the United States, which he says was once a refuge for Jews escaping oppression.

He pointed out that Jews now face hostility both domestically and internationally, stating, “If you flee New York, you’re fleeing the United States. There’s nowhere else to go. Europe is corrupt.”

Originally from Poland, Wartzky survived Nazi exterminations in two ghettos before being sent to Auschwitz, where his mother was murdered. He was later moved to the Nordhausen concentration camp in Germany, where his father died shortly before liberation by American forces.

Currently, he appears increasingly disillusioned with the Democratic Party, claiming it is falling into anti-Semitic rhetoric due to its alignment with perceived socialists and extremists.

Wartzky criticized Mayor Zoran Mamdani, a pro-Palestinian democratic socialist, whom he labeled an “anti-Semite” and said, “I didn’t vote for him.” Mamdani’s support for the boycott, divestment, and sanctions campaign against Israel has sparked controversy.

Wartzky also stated his support for former President Trump, viewing him as someone combating Islamic extremism, alongside his backing of Republican Bruce Blakeman in the governor’s race.

Reflecting on his life, Wartzky noted that despite the current challenges, he has been fortunate. He ran a successful sweater knitting shop before transitioning to real estate. “I was lucky during the war. I was lucky in business. I was able to survive,” he commented, though his mind is clearly troubled by the past and present.