HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR TOMI Reichental has died at the age of 90.
Mr Reichental was born in Czechoslovakia in 1935 and he and his family were deported to Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in northern Germany in 1944.
He lost 35 close family members in the Holocaust and came to Ireland in 1960 to build a new life.
In 2011, Mr Reichental published his autobiography ‘I Was a Boy in Belsen’, which recounted his experiences as a child prisoner in the Bergen-Belsen.
The Jewish Representative Council of Ireland said it is “deeply saddened” by Mr Reichental’s passing.
It described Mr Reichental as one of Ireland’s “most remarkable voices of remembrance, education, and humanity”.
“Having survived the horrors of Bergen-Belsen as a child, he dedicated much of his later life to ensuring that future generations would learn from the Holocaust and understand the dangers of hatred, prejudice, and indifference,” it added.
The Jewish Representative Council of Ireland said that for decades, Mr Reichental shared his testimony with students, communities, and audiences across Ireland.
It said Mr Reichental “touched countless lives with his honesty, dignity, and unwavering belief in the importance of memory and reconciliation”.
“Tomi was not only a survivor; he was a teacher, a witness, and a cherished member of Irish society.
“His contribution to Holocaust education and to the fight against antisemitism and racism leaves a lasting legacy.”
Taoiseach Micheál Martin said he was “deeply saddened” to learn or Mr Reichental’s death. He described him as “someone who dedicated his life to teaching new generations about the evil of The Holocaust”.
“As a cherished member of Ireland’s Jewish community, Tomi leaves a lasting legacy of dignity, courage and enlightenment of others about the dangers of hatred and antisemitism,” Martin said.
President Catherine Connolly meanwhile said “Tomi made an exceptional contribution to Irish society”.
She said that by “bringing his personal experience of Bergen-Belsen and of his family’s suffering in the Holocaust to public attention and, through his experiences, (he) made a very significant contribution to the causes of peace and understanding.”
A memorial service will be held at a future date for Mr Reichental.