Remembering the Holocaust through Action
At 57, Colonel Eli Koenigsberg (Res.) dons his military uniform, embodying more than just a title. He symbolizes the legacy of two families nearly lost to history.
As the world commemorates International Holocaust Remembrance Day, marking the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau camp in 1945, Koenigsberg, deputy commander of Israel’s Home Front Army in the Jerusalem and Central District, reflects on the immediacy of the past. For him, it’s not a distant memory but a present urgency tied to the defense of Israel—what he sees as the only safe haven for Jews.
“My parents are Holocaust survivors,” Koenigsberg shared. His father’s family, a large Orthodox community in western Poland, was decimated—from around 700 family members, only he and two cousins survived. “Three out of 700,” he noted, with profound sorrow.
After enduring Auschwitz, his father tried to reach Israel in 1946 aboard a ship but was captured by the British authorities, leading to imprisonment and eventual exile. He only arrived in Israel post-independence.
“He enlisted and fought in several wars, serving in the reserves for 55 years,” Koenigsberg said, emphasizing his father’s dedication.
The tragedy extended to his mother’s family as well. Following a neighbor’s betrayal, her parents and sister were taken from their home and executed. “They had to dig their own graves,” he recounted, the weight of the history filling the silence.
Though the Holocaust wasn’t openly discussed at home, it was always felt. Now, he fears a different silence creeping in. “Eighty years later, the voices of those who lived it are fading,” he warned. “We must take up the duty of remembrance.”
Koenigsberg, a father and a grandfather, has dedicated over 36 years to the Israeli Reserves, completing more than 3,600 days of active duty. “That’s around 10 years of service,” he clarified. Despite being exempt after 45, he felt compelled to respond: “If there’s a call, we’ll be there.”
Mobilized once more after the Hamas attacks on October 7, he remarked, “What occurred was sheer hatred.” This act wasn’t about territory; it was an expression of malice.
Leading rescue and engineering units in Gaza, Koenigsberg’s forces are involved in recovery efforts and operations against terrorists. “We’ll return soon for further operations,” he indicated, looking ahead.
Despite the trauma, he finds strength in the reserve system, noting its ability to unite individuals with diverse political views. “In our reserves, we operate together, despite differences,” he explained.
He reflected on how history teaches us regarding anti-Semitism, acknowledging that it persists and may continue to do so. The worldwide reaction to Israel’s situation post-October 7 is telling, he pointed out. “Widespread atrocities barely evoke a response, yet the outcries increase when it involves Israel or Jews.”
For Koenigsberg, grief transcends mere memory. It’s about safeguarding the living. “Israel is the rightful home for all Jews,” he stressed, advocating for unity and strength: “To ensure that ‘never again’ truly means never again.”
