A Thousand Miracles: From Surviving the Holocaust to Judging Genocide

Theodor Meron's astonishing memoir chronicles his journey from being a young Jewish boy during the onset of the Second World War to becoming a prominent figure in international criminal justice. As a child, Meron endured the horrors of ghettos and concentration camps, tragically losing most of his family before finding refuge in British-controlled Palestine after the Holocaust. Over the decades, he rose to prominence as a distinguished judge and scholar, presiding over several UN tribunals and delivering pivotal judgments on genocide and war crimes. His career is marked by his relentless pursuit of justice, often challenging prevailing norms as a legal adviser, diplomat, and judge. Notably, in 1967, he authored a significant legal opinion deeming Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank illegal under international law while working with Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Presently, he continues to exert influence by advising the International Criminal Court on potential war crimes related to the Russia-Ukraine conflict and issues in Israel and Gaza since 2023. In a time when international justice institutions face significant challenges, Meron's life stands as a powerful testament to the critical importance of accountability and justice.