Meet Ronald Lauder, a philanthropist leading the fight against antisemitism |
As we commemorate Holocaust Remembrance Day, we honor the six million Jews of Blessed Memory and the millions of others who were killed by the evil Nazi regime. Ceremonies are being held around the world that include the lighting of six torches for the six million Jewish victims. As someone who is personally involved in many Organizations and Jewish Advocacy Groups, I have had the honor of meeting someone who has helped lead the fight against the troubling and growing trend of antisemitism and who has raised global awareness of the atrocities that were commited by the Nazis during the Holocaust.
Ronald Lauder is a prominent billionaire businessman, philanthropist, and art collector, best known as the President of the World Jewish Congress (since 2007) and co-founder of the Neue Galerie New York. A stalwart supporter of Jewish education and Holocaust remembrance, he established the Ronald S. Lauder Foundation and chairs the Auschwitz Birkenau Memorial Foundation. As leader of the World Jewish Congress since 2007, he focuses on combating global antisemitism, protecting Jewish rights, and representing Jewish communities worldwide, in which the Ronald S. Lauder Foundation runs 20 plus Jewish schools, kindergartens, and summer camps in Central and Eastern Europe.
He co-founded the Neue Galerie New York (opened 2001), a museum dedicated to Austrian and German art. He is a renowned collector, specializing in areas ranging from medieval armor to Early Renaissance gold-ground paintings. He also served as the US Ambassador to Austria (1986–1987) under President Reagan and as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for European and NATO policy. In a day and age where technology is being used as a major weapon to spread lies and a mass dissemination of false claims against Israel and the Jewish people, Ronald Lauder has taken it upon himself to lead the fight in every way possible. He has actively promoted the use of social media to combat misinformation and advocates for strong, united coalitions against antisemitism.
As someone who was born in the Jewish community of Cologne, Germany, I have returned to visit many of the Jewish historical sites all across the continent of Europe. Cologne, Germany, was home to one of Europe’s oldest Jewish communities, which was nearly annihilated during the Holocaust. Of the approximately 18,000–20,000 Jewish residents living there in 1933, more than 11,000 were murdered in extermination camps. On the night of November 9–10, all of Cologne’s seven synagogues were plundered and set on fire. Jewish homes and businesses were systematically destroyed or “Aryanized,” a process where property was forcibly transferred to non-Jews. I have visited the Dachau Concentration camp in Germany (which was the first regular Nazi concentration camp, serving as a “model” for the SS system of terror), the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam (where Anne Frank, her family, and four others hid from Nazi persecution during World War II), the Brasov Holocaust memorial (a monument that was erected by the Jewish Community of Brașov, Romania to honor victims from the city and Northern Transylvania) or the Shoes on the Danube Bank in Budapest, Hungary (a memorial consists of 60 pairs of iron shoes, sculpted in the style of the 1940s. It includes various footwear, such as men’s work boots, women’s heels, and tiny children’s shoes, all permanently fixed to the stone embankment), in which each place has left a lasting and emotional impact on me as we reflect on the atrocities that occurred to the Jewish people, Hashem’s chosen Nation.
As I visited these historic sites and saw the little shoes of children killed during the Holocaust, I am often reminded of the future generations that could have been and a speech that Mr. Lauder gave recently really resonated with me. World Jewish Congress President Ronald S. Lauder frequently emphasizes the 1.5 million Jewish children murdered in the Holocaust, focusing on the stolen future generations, the “missing millions” who never had the chance to exist, and the duty to fight rising antisemitism 80 years later to protect today’s children. Lauder highlights that the 1.5 million children killed represent not just a loss of life then, but generations of descendants—scientists, artists, and leaders—who were never born. He has shared that seeing Jewish children today often sparks a personal realization: “That could have been me, and that could have been my child”. This perspective drives his sense of responsibility to ensure the survival of Jewish culture.
As we teach the both World and future generations the powerful slogan of “Never again”, we accept upon ourselves a solemn pledge and prayer that the horrors of the Holocaust must never be repeated. While it originated as a specific promise among survivors to prevent another Jewish catastrophe, it has since evolved into a universal call to action against all forms of mass atrocity, hate, and human rights.
Global antisemitism in early 2026 has reached historic highs, with a significant rise in physical assaults, arson, and vandalism reported worldwide, particularly linked to ongoing geopolitical tensions and the aftermath of the October 7, 2023, attacks. Data shows a surge in incidents, with over 1,000 cases recorded in 72 countries. Over 57% of incidents in February 2026 were directly related to Israel-related antisemitism. Vandalism and violence are increasingly targeting Jewish individuals and institutions. As we fight the good fight against antisemitism and to preserve the Memory of the Holocaust both now and for future generations to come, I want to thank Ronald Lauder for his steadfast vision and dedication to both the Jewish people and our dear friends around the World.