Steven Spielberg has spoken out regarding the recent attacks in Israel on October 7th.
In an exclusive feature released through the USC Shoah Foundation, an organization he founded in 1994 dedicated to archiving interviews with Holocaust survivors and witnesses, the acclaimed director expressed shock at the brutality witnessed against the Jewish community.
“I never fathomed that I would witness such appalling cruelty against Jews in my lifetime,” Spielberg shared.
The foundation has been actively gathering testimonies from survivors of the October 7th attacks as part of its initiative, Countering Antisemitism Through Testimony Collection, aimed at documenting instances of post-Holocaust antisemitism.
Spielberg emphasized that this initiative aims to “empower survivors’ voices as a potent tool against the alarming surge of antisemitism and animosity.”
“These dual initiatives – recording survivor testimonies from the October 7th attacks and the continuous documentation of Holocaust accounts – signify our commitment to survivors: that their narratives will be documented and disseminated to uphold history and strive for a world free from antisemitism and all forms of hatred,” he asserted.
He urged for unity and unwavering dedication to these causes, stating, “Our solidarity in these endeavors is paramount.”
CNN has sought commentary from a spokesperson representing Spielberg to obtain further insights.
The USC Shoah Foundation possesses one of the most extensive collections of video testimonies from Holocaust survivors and witnesses.
CNN previously reported the Shoah Foundation’s intentions to document the stories of October 7th survivors, with plans to revisit those individuals over time to incorporate their evolving perspectives.
Spielberg is renowned for directing the critically acclaimed film “Schindler’s List” in 1993, which received seven Oscars and depicted the true story of Oskar Schindler, who saved over 1,000 Jews during the Holocaust.
Inspired by encounters with Holocaust survivors during the production of “Schindler’s List,” Spielberg established the USC Shoah Foundation. Over time, it has expanded its scope to document subsequent genocides in regions like Cambodia and Rwanda.
