Margot Friedländer: A Voice for Tolerance and Holocaust Remembrance Passes Away at 103

Margot Friedländer, a Holocaust survivor who spent decades advocating for remembrance and tolerance, passed away at 103. Her return to Germany catalyzed her mission to educate new generations on the importance of remembering the past.

Margot Friedländer, a Holocaust survivor who spent over six decades in the United States before returning to Germany, has died at the age of 103. Her death was confirmed by the Margot Friedländer Foundation, dedicated to promoting tolerance and democracy. Friedländer, who found her voice as an advocate for Holocaust remembrance after her husband’s death in 2010, became a prominent figure in Germany, captivating younger audiences with her powerful stories.

After fleeing to New York in 1946, she lived a life of apparent calm, only sharing her traumatic experiences with a select few, until she felt compelled to tell her story following the loss of her husband, Adolf. Initially reluctant to revisit her past, she began writing about her early memories after joining a memoir-writing class at the 92nd Street Y, encouraged by program director Jo Frances Brown.

Her candid storytelling resonated deeply with many, as she emphasized the importance of listening to stories like hers to foster understanding and tolerance. "It helps me to talk about what happened,” she stated during a UNICEF Club event in 2023, as she encouraged young people to acknowledge and learn from history to prevent similar atrocities. Friedländer's legacy of remembrance and advocacy continues to inspire, ensuring that the memories of the Holocaust endure.