At 94 years old Ruth Cohen visited Auschwitz-Birkenau 80 years after her survival from the Nazi death camp which killed her mother and brother and many numerous family members. Ruth Cohen joined a group from the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum while entering Auschwitz through the deadly “Arbeit Macht Frei” gate during a Tuesday visit.
At age 14 Cohen came to Auschwitz in May 1944 without comprehension about the gas chambers and crematoriums which would kill her family members. The situation made her feel awful because it was terrible according to her NBC News interview. Being cognizant of the situation now makes the whole experience more terrible than ever.
Despite feeling emotional pain Cohen refused to miss visiting the wooden-crafted barrack she occupied with 11 other girls when she was there. Having survived Hitler she stood with victory in Auschwitz before smiling for a photograph at the location where 1.1 million people perished. 
The return of Cohen served as a powerful symbol of her ability to overcome difficult circumstances. She dedicates her time at the Holocaust Museum by telling her story to fight against growing antisemitism. She predicted that conditions in the world are deteriorating. “Nobody is remembering what happened.” The discovery of her grandmother’s name in the memorial book made Barbara cry tears as her daughter visited Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp. “It’s so real,” she said.
Cohen delivered a clear universal message which stated that love “would never allow something similar to occur.” Hate might.” Through her life story she demonstrates both historical lessons and requires constructive action for the upcoming generations.
