From 700 murdered relatives to 3 survivors: Holocaust descendant leads Israeli forces after Oct 7 attacks

When Col. (Res.) Eli Konigsberg puts connected his azygous astatine the property of 57, helium carries much than the value of command. He carries the communicative of 2 families astir erased from the representation of Europe.

As the satellite marks International Holocaust Remembrance Day, the day of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau attraction campy successful 1945, the lawman commandant of Israel’s Jerusalem and Central District successful the Home Front Command says the past is not distant history. For him, it lives successful memory, successful service, and successful the urgency of defending a Jewish authorities helium believes remains the lone spot wherever Jews are genuinely protected.

"Both of my parents are Holocaust survivors," Konigsberg, whose representation is blurred for information reasons, told Fox News Digital. "My begetter came from a ample Orthodox Jewish household successful occidental Poland. Before the war, the extended household numbered astir 700 people. After the Holocaust, lone my begetter and 2 cousins remained; 3 radical retired of 700."

101-YEAR-OLD KRISTALLNACHT SURVIVOR WARNS CURRENT ERA 'EQUIVALENT TO 1938' ON ANNIVERSARY OF NAZI RIOT

Col. (Res.) Eli Konigsberg, lawman commandant of Israel’s Jerusalem and Central District successful the Home Front Command whose look is blurred for information reasons, is seen operating with reserve forces during the ongoing warfare pursuing the Oct. 7 Hamas attack. (IDF)

After surviving Auschwitz, his begetter joined the Betar question and attempted to scope the Land of Israel successful 1946 aboard the vessel Theodor Herzl. He was detained by British authorities, imprisoned astatine the Atlit campy and exiled to Cyprus for astir 2 years.

Only with the declaration of Israel’s independency did helium yet arrive.

"He enlisted, fought successful the War of Independence and 4 further wars and served successful the reserves for 55 years," Konigsberg said.

On his mother’s side, the losses were nary little devastating. Her parents and sisters were taken from their location successful eastbound Poland aft neighbors informed connected them.

"They were forced to excavation their ain sedate beneath a pear histrion and were executed by gunfire," helium said.

The Holocaust was seldom discussed openly successful his puerility home, Konigsberg said, but its beingness was constant. Now, helium worries astir a antithetic silence.

"We are 80 years aft the Holocaust, and the radical who tin accidental ‘I was there. I saw’ are disappearing," helium said. "Therefore, the work of remembrance is our duty."

CHRISTIAN PASTORS, INFLUENCERS JOIN 1,000-STRONG ISRAEL MISSION BACKING JEWISH STATE, FIGHTING ANTISEMITISM

Col. (Res.) Eli Konigsberg, whose look is blurred for information reasons, is the lad of Holocaust survivors and lawman commandant of Israel’s Jerusalem and Central District successful the Home Front Command. (IDF)

That consciousness of work shaped his life. Konigsberg, a begetter of 4 daughters and a grandfather, has served much than 36 years successful Israel’s reserve forces, completing much than 3,600 days of duty.

"Ten years of reserve work successful total," helium said. In Israel, reservists are legally exempt from work astatine property 45. Konigsberg chose to continue, "When they telephone me, I volition instantly arrive." 

Following Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack, helium was mobilized erstwhile again.

"What we saw connected Oct. 7 was sidesplitting for the involvement of killing," helium said. "Not to conquer territory oregon alteration reality. It was hatred for the involvement of hatred."

WHY CHRISTIANS MUST STAND WITH ISRAEL AND THE JEWISH PEOPLE AMID SURGING ANTISEMITISM

Eli Konigsberg, whose look is blurred for information reasons, is pictured with his parent beside the burial tract of her father, his grandfather, successful Poland, aft helium was killed warring successful the Red Army against the German service 3 days earlier the extremity of World War II. (IDF)

Since then, helium has commanded rescue and dense engineering units operating successful the Gaza Envelope, wrong Gaza, and successful the north. His forces person carried retired assemblage identification, rescue operations and clearing missions aimed astatine eliminating violent hiding places.

"In the adjacent fewer days we are going backmost into Gaza again for clearing and demolition," helium said.

Despite the trauma, helium says the reserve strategy reflects thing almighty astir Israeli society. "What is beauteous astir the reserves is that radical tin clasp precise antithetic governmental opinions, and everyone inactive comes and works arsenic 1 body," helium said.

Konigsberg reflected connected what helium believes past is teaching again. "We spot present that antisemitism existed and volition proceed to beryllium successful the future," helium said.

He pointed to the planetary absorption to Israel since Oct. 7. "There are unspeakable things happening successful different places. For example, the Iranian authorities crackdown connected its ain people, and you bash not spot demonstrations similar this, but erstwhile it involves Israel and Jews, determination is an outcry," helium said.

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'Arbeit Macht Frei' motion astatine the erstwhile Nazi attraction campy Auschwitz  in Oswiecim, Poland.  (Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

For Konigsberg, remembrance is not lone astir mourning the dead. It is astir protecting the living. "The spot of each Jew is present successful Israel," helium added. "And we indispensable ever stay agreed and strong. We indispensable beryllium present successful our land, beryllium beardown and agreed and guarantee that ‘never again’ genuinely means ne'er again," helium said.