In Berlin Christoph Heubner, the Executive Vice President of the International Auschwitz Committee, paid tribute to Esther Bejaranos who has died:

"Auschwitz survivors around the globe are deeply saddened by the death of their wonderful friend, fellow sufferer, and companion. The great witness of the times, Esther Bejarano, has passed away in Hamburg at the age of 96. She was active in the International Auschwitz Committee for many years.

Esther Bejarano survived Auschwitz as a member of The Women’s Orchestra of Auschwitz. Throughout her life, what she had seen inside the camp drove her repeatedly towards her fellow human beings.

In her later years, she found a variety of creative ways to tell about this place of death and to preserve the memory of those murdered there from oblivion. In this way, Esther Bejarano became one of the legendary witnesses of the times of Auschwitz, and the survivors of Auschwitz are profoundly grateful to her.

Her great gift was her ability to win over people for the preservation of memory and remembrance. It was just as legendary as her anger at the stupidity of right-wing extremism, as well as the anti-Semitism that is flaring up everywhere and which deeply distressed her. But hatred was never an option for her. She put her faith in life and in her fellow human beings, despite her anger and her realistic view of the world. Time and again Esther Bejarano addressed especially young people, and they were fascinated and challenged by the courage of this tiny-huge personality, who stood on the stage in front of them and asked them to assume responsibility for themselves and their future.

Esther Bejarano brought much light to the world, so that now, with her death the shadows are lengthening. We shall painfully miss her, particularly in these days of growing anti-Semitism."