TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Yehuda Bauer, a leading Holocaust scholar from Israel renowned for his significant contributions to the global understanding of the Holocaust, passed away in Jerusalem at the age of 98. His death was announced by Yad Vashem, Israel’s national Holocaust memorial, on Friday evening, although no specific cause was disclosed.
Bauer was born in Prague in 1926 and experienced the harrowing realities of adolescent upheaval as his family fled Europe in 1939, ultimately arriving in British Mandate Palestine via Romania. After completing his studies in Wales, he joined Kibbutz Shoval in southern Israel and pursued further education at the Hebrew University, spending the final decades of his life in Jerusalem.
His career spanned over six decades, during which he published numerous books and initiated various international Holocaust education projects. Fluent in several languages—including Czech, Slovak, German, Hebrew, Yiddish, English, French, and Polish—he even took the time to learn Welsh while studying in Cardiff. This linguistic proficiency enabled him to engage deeply with primary source materials and reach diverse audiences worldwide.
“He emphasized that the Holocaust represents not just a singular historical event affecting a specific group but reflects universal lessons about humanity,” noted Dr. David Silberklang, a senior historian at Yad Vashem and a long-time collaborator of Bauer.
Through his research, Bauer challenged prevailing narratives of Holocaust victims as passive and instead highlighted various forms of resistance, including cultural preservation and smuggling, which complemented armed efforts against their oppressors.
As a pioneer in Holocaust studies during the 1960s, Bauer entered the academic scene at a time when Israel was beginning to confront its own Holocaust legacy. In the immediate aftermath of the genocide, a cultural silence shrouded discussions, as survivors grappled with their trauma and sought to rebuild their lives. Silberklang commented on this transition, stating that it required time and emotional distance for Israelis to approach the subject with academic rigor, and Bauer was among the first to do so.
Some of Bauer’s most influential works include “American Jewry and the Holocaust,” which examines the American response to World War II; “Jews for Sale?,” focusing on negotiations to rescue Jews during the Holocaust; “Death of the Shtetl,” detailing the destruction of small Jewish communities in Europe; and “Rethinking the Holocaust,” which invites important discussions about its definitions and comparisons with other genocides. He was committed to engaging with non-academic audiences, delivering lectures globally to foster wider understanding.
Bauer was instrumental in the establishment of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) in 1998, a coalition of more than 35 nations advocating for governmental support of Holocaust education and remembrance efforts. He also contributed to the creation of the Working Definition of Antisemitism widely embraced by various governments and organizations to address hate crimes against Jews.
In recognition of his impactful work, Bauer was awarded the Israel Prize, one of the nation’s highest accolades, in 1998. Until the end of his life, he remained active in academia, writing opinion pieces and participating in scholarly debates. He notably expressed his disagreement with comparing Hamas’ assault on Israel on October 7 to the Holocaust, arguing that the situation lacked the same scale and organization as the Nazi regime, while emphasizing Israel’s existence as a state prepared for military defense.
A passionate music lover, Bauer was remembered for his rich baritone voice and often entertained colleagues by singing traditional Welsh folk songs or duets. He is survived by two daughters, three stepchildren, and numerous grandchildren.
