On Holocaust Survivor Day, we join together to honor and celebrate the Holocaust Survivors across the United States. This worldwide initiative is rooted in gratitude for the gift of our Survivors’ legacies and in recognition of their lives, families, and contributions to our communities.
“As Jews around the world feel the increase of antisemitism, our survivors are a reminder of the strength and resilience of our people,” said Jonathan Ornstein, Executive Director, JCC Krakow. “Let us renew our efforts to thank them, honor them, and learn from them at a time when their courageous voices are needed most.”
JCC Krakow, Seed the Dream Foundation, World Zionist Organization, Jewish Federations of North America, and UJA New York, have been leading the international effort to highlight the voices and legacies of living Holocaust Survivors. The special day spotlights Survivors not only as witnesses to history, but as bearers of wisdom whose lives continue to guide communities today.
This call to action resonates strongly within communities like Jewish Federation in the Heart of New Jersey, where supporting Holocaust Survivors and preserving their stories remains a vital and ongoing priority.
“The Holocaust Survivors still among us carry history in the most personal and powerful way. They have transformed pain into perseverance, loss into legacy, and survival into generations of life,” said Marcy Gringlas, President and co-founder of Seed the Dream Foundation. “On this day, we celebrate them and learn from their courage and grace: from what they endured and the extraordinary life and meaning they moved forward to create.”
The June 4 observance also reflects the shared commitment of the organizations to ensure that Holocaust remembrance remains deeply connected to living testimony. At a time when firsthand voices matter more than ever, Holocaust Survivor Day serves as a powerful reminder that to honor Survivors is also to cherish them in life.
“On Holocaust Survivor Day, we have the profound privilege to honor and celebrate the Survivors still among us, remarkable individuals whose strength and humanity continue to inspire us every day,” said Talia Kaplan, Executive Director of Seed the Dream Foundation. “This day is an opportunity to express our gratitude, listen to their stories, and celebrate the enduring legacy they have built.”
In 2019, Seed the Dream Foundation partnered with KAVOD to establish the KAVOD Survivors of the Holocaust Emergency Fund (SHEF) to address the unmet emergency needs of Survivors. At that time, it was estimated that one-third of the 100,000 Survivors across the US were living in poverty.
This year, Holocaust Survivor Day events are taking place in 32 KAVOD SHEF communities across the United States, bringing together Survivors, families, caregivers, and community members in solidarity and celebration.
“Holocaust Survivor Day is a day to lift up the Survivors still with us and to recognize the dignity, wisdom, and resilience they embody,” said Amy Israel Pregulman, Executive Director and Co-Founder of KAVOD. “When we fund services for Holocaust Survivors, we are caring for treasured members of our community and reinforcing the values we want that community to stand for.”
Across the globe, Jewish organizations are opening their doors to Holocaust Survivors and their families for a series of celebratory luncheons and gatherings that blend music, food, and ceremony into a powerful testament to human resilience. These events are more than a meal; they are a collective act of remembrance, honoring those who endured unimaginable hardship and emerged with courage and fortitude.
“Holocaust Survivor Day is a celebration of extraordinary strength,” said Shelley Rood Wernick, Associate Vice President of Jewish Federations of North America’s Center on Aging, Trauma, and Holocaust Survivor Care. “Survivors rebuilt their lives from unimaginable loss and gifted the world with hope, wisdom, and moral clarity. Our task is to honor that legacy by ensuring every survivor feels valued and is cared for, today and every day.”
Thanks to a grant requested and received from the Seed the Dream Foundation, Jewish Federation in the Heart of NJ is grateful to sponsor a luncheon for Holocaust survivors, hosted by Jewish Family Services.
"On Holocaust Survivor Day, I'm reminded how much we owe to the survivors in our community—not only for sharing their stories, but for the resilience and wisdom they've brought to Jewish life for generations,” said Susan Antman, Executive Director of Jewish Federation in the Heart of New Jersey. “Working for an organization that has supported Holocaust survivors for decades, I've seen firsthand that honoring survivors means more than remembering the past. It means ensuring they feel valued, connected, and cared for today. We are proud to stand with them, celebrate their strength, and help preserve their legacy for future generations."
As communities across the country and around the world come together to honor Holocaust Survivors, Jewish Federation in the Heart of New Jersey remains deeply committed to ensuring that these remarkable individuals are not only remembered, but actively cared for, supported, and celebrated. Through meaningful partnerships, communal leadership, and programs like this year’s luncheon, the Federation continues to play a vital role in uplifting Survivors and preserving their stories for generations to come. Holocaust Survivor Day reminds us that remembrance is not passive. It is a responsibility rooted in action, in gratitude, and in community. By standing with our Survivors today, we affirm the values that define us and ensure that their legacy continues to guide and strengthen Jewish life for years ahead.