With the passing of Simon Wiesenthal, the world lost one of its true heroes. More importantly, the 6 million Jews murdered in the Holocaust lost their greatest champion.
We mourn his loss.
Even though he lived to 96, Wiesenthal’s work remained incomplete. He busted over 1,100 former Nazis and their henchmen, but he himself acknowledged that many remain at large and will likely elude justice.
Nevertheless, Wiesenthal said he was pleased knowing those evil men would never have a peaceful night’s rest, looking over their shoulders and wondering if the famed Nazi hunter was hot on their trail.
Born in Ukraine in 1908, Wiesenthal’s life was punctuated by tragedy. His father died in World War I. He and Cyla, his wife of 67 years, later lost 89 family members to the Holocaust. Wiesenthal himself was one of only 34 survivors of the Janowska death camp that once housed over 100,000 Jews.
Practically from the minute of his liberation, the former architectural engineer devoted his life to finding the perpetrators of genocide.
He was very good at it.
Among his prize catches, the Nazi who arrested Anne Frank and her family, and many former camp guards who were found living comfortably in South America or the United States.
He also took credit for locating Adolf Eichmann (later kidnapped, tried and executed by Israel), though his role in the capture has been disputed. His greatest regret: failing to nab notorious Auschwitz butcher Josef Mengele, who died a free man in Brazil in 1979.
Still, operating out of his modest Vienna office, he reeled in an admirable haul of monsters. An unassuming man, he took on near-superhero status (he was the subject of a couple of Hollywood films), and he set a new standard for the pursuit of justice.
With Wiesenthal’s passing, we wonder: Who will take his place?
Surely time and the actuarial tables will take care of the last Nazi war criminals. But history has taught us all too well, eventually a new pharaoh will arise, and another after that.
In a world seemingly more dangerous than ever, the Jewish people — indeed all of humanity — will need more Simon Wiesenthals to take on the relentless work of justice.
Wiesenthal’s first name is derived from the Hebrew meaning “to hear,” not unlike our central prayer, the Sh’ma.
Simon Wiesenthal was indeed heard around the world. With the Wiesenthal Center in Los Angeles and his unparalleled record of accomplishment, his reputation is assured for all time.
Sadly, the work he began may never be done.