June 4 is recognized internationally as Holocaust Survivor Day, a time to honor the courage, resilience and enduring legacy of Holocaust survivors.
Since 2020, communities around the world have marked the day to celebrate living survivors and recognize their contributions to Jewish life and society. The observance is led by JCC Krakow, Seed the Dream Foundation, the World Zionist Organization, the Jewish Federations of North America and UJA-Federation of New York.
According to organizers, approximately 196,600 Holocaust survivors are still living worldwide. Holocaust Survivor Day serves as a reminder not only to preserve their stories, but also to honor them in life and support their ongoing needs.
Locally, JFS Dallas is raising awareness of Holocaust Survivor Day through its Holocaust Survivor Care program and by promoting its upcoming program, “The Music We Saved,” on social media.
Over the past six years, JFS Dallas — with meaningful support from the Jewish Federation of Greater Dallas, KAVOD, Seed the Dream Foundation and other deeply invested partners — has served more than 200 Holocaust survivors in North Texas. The program provides resources and support that help survivors age in place, improve their quality of life and maintain their dignity. Services also extend to caregivers, community education programs and volunteer opportunities, including intergenerational initiatives.
“To mark this special day in the DFW area, our Holocaust Survivor Care program is preparing a musical celebratory event for our survivors and their families as well as friends and members of the community that support them,” said Dr. Yaffa Podbilewicz-Weinberg, director of Holocaust Survivor Care at JFS Dallas. “Our survivors are a testament to the resilience of the Jewish people, and their many unique life stories will continue to inspire future generations.”
The observance also highlights the continuing needs of Holocaust survivors. In 2019, Seed the Dream Foundation partnered with KAVOD to establish the KAVOD Survivors of the Holocaust Emergency Fund to help address emergency needs among survivors. At the time, organizers estimated that one-third of the approximately 100,000 Holocaust survivors living in the United States were living in poverty.
This year, Holocaust Survivor Day events are being held in 32 KAVOD communities across the country, bringing together survivors, families, caregivers and community members in celebration and solidarity.
“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.”
International Holocaust Survivor Day was launched by JCC Krakow in Poland. Organizers say it is the responsibility of younger generations not only to ensure that survivors’ experiences are never forgotten, but also to address the needs they face today and honor the extraordinary lives they have built.
