Holocaust survivor Arie Itamar warns of rising antisemitism across the globe

In a two-part interview with Christian journalist Paul Calvert, Holocaust survivor Arie Itamar reflects on his harrowing escape from Europe aboard the Exodus ship in 1947 and the enduring lessons he draws from that experience.

Part One explored Itamar’s dramatic journey, the unlikely brotherhood that developed between Jewish Holocaust survivors and the young North African crewmen recruited by the Haganah – the main Jewish paramilitary organization from the early 1920s until 1948 – to manage the overcrowded ship, and the message of courage and resilience he continues to share with Israelis today.

In Part Two of the interview, Itamar discusses the persistence of antisemitism, speaking candidly about the chilling parallels he sees between the past and the present.

Itamar described his experience attending the “March of Life” in Berlin. This movement organizes marches at Holocaust sites all over Europe and around the world to memorialize the victims and reconcile the legacy of Nazi crimes with the descendants of perpetrators. Many of these descendants approached him in tears, pleading forgiveness. “I tell them, ‘Look, I forgive you personally, but I cannot speak in the name of Holocaust survivors. I am a private person.’”

One encounter with a German doctor left a deep impression on Itamar. Her grandfather, also a doctor, had conducted medical experiments on human beings during World War II. Itamar encouraged her that her work as a cancer researcher was dedicated to preserving life rather than death, showing she had broken free from her family’s dark past.

Deeply troubled by the resurgence of worldwide antisemitism since Oct. 7, 2023, Itamar compared the Hamas massacres to events like the Nazi massacre in Babi Yar, Kyiv in Ukraine.

“It is much more terrible than Babi Yar because the terrorists have direct contact with the victims, killing them by hand, raping women, girls, and so.” He argued that so-called “uninvolved” Gazans celebrate attacks by sharing photos with their families, who then publicly cheer them on.

For Itamar, modern antisemitism is not new, but like volcanic lava lurking beneath the surface – it’s ready to erupt at any moment. Media portrayals also feed the problem, he said, citing years of biased coverage in Europe.

“The way to fight the antisemitism is to fight. What does it mean? All Jewish organizations in Europe, in America, together with Israeli institutions like Mossad, Secret Services has to build a special fighting group which will deal with people like BDS [Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions] or like other antisemitics.”

Itamar is adamant that Christians have a vital role in this struggle and calls on believers around the world to join forces with Jewish communities and Israel in combating antisemitism.

This can mean refusing to patronize businesses that display derogatory signs in their storefronts, as well as taking legal measures against antisemitic organizations and individuals. Exposing hatred, he said, must make antisemites “afraid” rather than forcing Jews to hide in fear.

By linking his Holocaust testimony to present realities, Arie Itamar warns that antisemitism cannot be ignored or explained away but must be confronted.

His appeal to Christians and Jews alike is clear: Stand together, take action, and ensure that hatred never triumphs over truth.

Click below to listen to the full interview.