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Tech entrepreneur Elon Musk privately toured the Auschwitz-Birkenau site, a former Nazi German concentration camp, on Monday, ahead of addressing a conference focused on the growing concerns surrounding antisemitism. The visit comes in the wake of criticism directed at Musk's social media platform, X, for hosting controversial content.
Accompanied by European Jewish Association (EJA) Chairman Rabbi Menachem Margolin, conservative U.S. journalist Ben Shapiro, and Holocaust survivor Gidon Lev, Musk engaged in a solemn visit to the historic site. The EJA reported that Musk laid a wreath at the Wall of Death and participated in a brief memorial ceremony and service conducted by the Birkenau memorial.
The visit to Auschwitz-Birkenau, a symbol of the atrocities committed during the Holocaust, is seen against the backdrop of heightened scrutiny faced by Musk's social media platform, X, in recent times. The platform has come under fire for content that has raised concerns about antisemitism. Musk's decision to visit the memorial site underscores an acknowledgment of the historical significance and a proactive engagement with the broader conversation on combating hate speech and prejudice.
The presence of Rabbi Menachem Margolin, Ben Shapiro, and Holocaust survivor Gidon Lev during Musk's visit adds a poignant dimension, highlighting the collective effort to address the complex issues surrounding antisemitism. The wreath-laying and memorial ceremony further emphasize Musk's recognition of the solemnity of the site and the gravity of the issues at hand.
