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Tributes paid to Holocaust survivor Tomi Reichental who has died aged 90
PA Media
Holocaust Awareness Ireland said the Jewish community `has lost a beloved son´ and that `Ireland has lost a cherished citizen´.
Received: 16:38:51 on 31st May 2026
Taoiseach Micheal Martin has led tributes to Holocaust survivor Tomi Reichental, who has died at the age of 90.
Mr Reichental was deported from his home in Slovakia to the Bergen-Belsen Nazi concentration camp at the age of nine, where he survived until the site was liberated in 1945.
Thirty-five members of his family were murdered in the Holocaust.
Mr Reichental moved to Ireland in 1959 and went on to become an educator on the horrors of the Holocaust.
In a statement on social media, the Taoiseach said: “Deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Tomi Reichental, someone who dedicated his life to teaching new generations about the evil of the Holocaust.”
Oliver Sears, founder of Holocaust Awareness Ireland, said in a statement on social media: “Everyone who met Tomi remarked on his ability to tell his story with honesty, dignity, and humanity.
“Through his testimony, he demonstrated how easily people can be othered and how entire communities can be demonised.
“His unwavering contribution to Holocaust education and interfaith relations will never be forgotten.
“The Jewish community has lost a beloved son. Ireland has lost a cherished citizen.”
Founder of the Irish Muslim Council, Shaykh Dr Umar Al-Qadri, described Mr Reichental as “a remarkable human being, whose life journey embodied both the tragedy of humanity’s darkest moments and the hope that can emerge from resilience, forgiveness, and compassion”.
He posted on social media: “He consistently spoke out against hate, division, and the dehumanisation that paves the way for violence and atrocity.
“He was also a passionate supporter of Syrian refugees in Ireland. Having experienced persecution and displacement in his own life, he showed immense empathy towards those fleeing war and oppression.
“His compassion for refugees was a testament to his belief in our shared humanity and our collective responsibility to care for the vulnerable.”
He said: “Today, I join people of all faiths and backgrounds in mourning his loss. I am heartbroken by his passing.”