TEL AVIV, Israel — Yehuda Bauer, a prominent scholar in Holocaust studies whose impact on how the world comprehends this historical atrocity spans decades, has passed away in Jerusalem at the age of 98.
The news of his death was disclosed by Yad Vashem, Israel’s national Holocaust memorial, although no specific details regarding the cause were mentioned.
Over a remarkable career that lasted more than sixty years, Bauer authored numerous books and initiated various international efforts aimed at Holocaust education. His proficiency in several languages, including Czech, Slovak, German, Hebrew, Yiddish, English, French, and Polish, enabled him to engage with original source materials and reach diverse global audiences. He even took on the challenge of learning Welsh while attending Cardiff University.
Dr. David Silberklang, a senior historian at the International Institute for Holocaust Research at Yad Vashem and a long-time colleague of Bauer, emphasized that Bauer’s significant insight was recognizing the universal implications of the Holocaust. He argued that the events of the Holocaust demonstrate the dark potential of humanity, a potential that remains relevant today.
Born in 1926 in Prague, Bauer’s family fled Europe in 1939, reaching British Mandate Palestine through Romania. After completing his studies in Wales, he became a member of Kibbutz Shoval in southern Israel and later pursued further education at the Hebrew University. For the last several decades, he lived in Jerusalem.
Bauer embarked on his scholarly journey in the 1960s, a time marked by a shift in discussions surrounding the Holocaust in Israel. Initially, many survivors found it difficult to talk about their harrowing experiences, and it took time for the nation to achieve the perspective necessary to explore the Holocaust from an academic viewpoint. Bauer was a pioneer in this investigative effort, striving to unearth important narratives that had been previously overshadowed by pain and silence.
He challenged the prevailing feelings of shame and guilt surrounding the notion that European Jews had passively succumbed to their fate, instead highlighting the various forms of resistance exhibited during the Holocaust. Bauer’s research introduced the idea that victims employed various strategies, not just armed rebellion, to combat their oppression.
Among his acclaimed works are titles such as “American Jewry and the Holocaust,” which investigates the American response during World War II; “Jews for Sale?”, focusing on efforts to rescue Jews during the Holocaust; “Death of the Shtetl,” which reflects on the destruction of small Jewish communities in Europe; and “Rethinking the Holocaust,” which tackles essential questions about how to define the Holocaust and whether it can be compared to other genocides. Bauer was known for his ability to reach non-academic audiences, making significant contributions through public speaking engagements worldwide.
In collaboration with European leaders, he played a vital role in establishing the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) in 1998, which comprises over 35 nations committed to funding Holocaust education and remembrance efforts. Bauer was instrumental in formulating the Working Definition of Antisemitism, a framework many governments and organizations utilize to address discrimination and hate crimes against Jews.
In recognition of his contributions to Holocaust education, Bauer received the Israel Prize, one of the nation’s highest accolades, in 1998. Even in his later years, he remained active in academic discourse, publishing opinion pieces and engaging in discussions.
Silberklang noted that Bauer contested comparisons between the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7 and the Holocaust, stressing that the Palestinian organization lacks the organization and strength that characterized the Nazis, especially given that the state of Israel exists as a military counterforce.
A passionate music lover, Bauer had a rich baritone voice and was known to enjoy singing alongside colleagues or even performing traditional Welsh folk songs he had picked up during his university days, as recalled by Silberklang.
He is survived by two daughters, three stepchildren, and multiple grandchildren.