The 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz
This was published as a TEDxKazimierz post a few hours ago ·
January 27, 2020 marks the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, the largest and deadliest Nazi concentration complex. It i's an appropriate day to remember and draw attention to Jonathan Ornstein and Robert Desmond's talk at the first TEDxKazimierz in 2015 about the Ride For The Living (RFTL) 60-mile (97 km) bike ride from Auschwitz-Birkenau to the Jewish Community Centre in Krakow. See their TEDxKazimierz talk here https://youtu.be/51r50KsrT48
Jonathan and Robert on stage in 2015
Pre event publicity in 2015
Robert's first Ride is an idea that has grown and developed beyond imagination. It now attracts people from all around the world., determined to remember the victims and celebrate life, proving that the Nazis failed.
The important idea in this talk is that as well as never forgetting the appalling Nazi crimes, the best way to honour the memory of those who died is to rebuild positive Jewish life in Poland and elsewhere. This is the ultimate defeat of Nazi ideology.
I've twice done the Ride For The Living and strongly recommend it, in so many ways, as honouring the memory of those who did, raising funds for positive projects for the future, and showing solidarity with those who want to live in a better more positive world. It is an emotionally and physically demanding experience that you cannot forget, meeting people whose relatives were murdered there, and reminding you of what really matters in life.
More information about the Ride For The Living https://ridefortheliving.org
TEDxKazimierz is not the only TEDx putting important ideas and projects from the Jewish world on the stage. Here are a few I'd like to share.
The JCC Krakow - Jonathan Ornstein at TEDxWarsaw - https://youtu.be/-G003xe9WsE
Jewish descent on the rise: Rabbi Michael Schudrich at TEDxWarsaw https://youtu.be/TxzG1ZPJKy4
If not me, then who? Janusz Makuch founder of the Jewish Culture Festival in Krakow at TEDxKrakow
https://youtu.be/3kZS4-3GQUo
There is a wonderful and moving TEDxMidAtlantic Talk by Holocaust survivor Werner Reich "How the Magic of Kindness Sustains Us" you can watch here.
A TEDx talk distributed on TED.com
I'd like to give the last word to Norman Davies who published this article in the excellent Notes from Poland website.. Norman is widely recognised in Poland as one of the foremost historians of our country.
https://notesfrompoland.com/…/norman-davies-auschwitz-and-t…
It certainly contains "ideas worth spreading", which is the mission of TED and all TEDx-es. Please feel free to share and/or comment.