HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR DAY 2026
June 4, 2026, marked the sixth annual Holocaust Survivor Day. This year, HSD continued its global reach, with more than 50 events across North America and celebrations in communities across Europe, Africa, and South America. The diverse slate of programming included luncheons, musical performances, poetry, intergenerational gatherings, and community-wide celebrations, bringing people together to honor survivors and celebrate their lives and contributions. See below to read about some of the highlights.
JCC Krakow
Hosted an intergenerational musical performance where the JCC Choir, Hillel Student Band, and JCC's preschoolers performed various songs to celebrate survivors’ lives. The backdrop was an exhibition of the survivors' professional portraits, captured at the previous year's celebration. What followed was a festive luncheon where survivors were gifted roses and certificates to acknowledge their resilience and legacy.
EUROPE
JCC Budapest
Hosted a celebration featuring poetry reading and the creation of a community time capsule. Participants preserved personal memories and artifacts as a way of connecting generations and ensuring that the community's stories will be carried forward.
Hacoaj JCC | Buenos Aires, Argentina
Welcomed more than 6,000 visitors to the JCC over the June 4th weekend, displaying a short film that honors their local Holocaust survivors and spreading Holocaust Survivor Day awareness throughout the Buenos Aires Jewish community. The screen displayed throughout the week of Holocaust Survivor Day, pictured here, reads: "They survived. They rebuilt. Today we celebrate".
SOUTH AMERICA
AFRICA
Naomi Hadar, CEO of African Friends of Sheba Medical Center, spoke about Holocaust Survivor Day on 101.9 CHAI FM, sharing plans for a celebration centered around food and treasured family recipes that survived WW2. The conversation highlighted the role of food and family traditions in preserving memory across generations.
Johannesburg, South Africa
NORTH AMERICA
Hosted a special gathering bringing together survivors, community members, and leaders for an opportunity to commemorate Holocaust Survivor Day and reflect on the importance of preserving survivors' stories. The event received coverage from JNS.
UJA-Federation of New York | Manhattan, New York
Westchester Jewish Community Services | Westchester, New York
Hosted its sixth annual Holocaust Survivor Day luncheon, welcoming more than 50 survivors for a celebration of their lives and contributions. Read about the WJCS event.
JFCS of Southern New Jersey | Camden County, New Jersey
Held two luncheon events where survivors were welcomed by local government dignitaries and entertained through live Hebrew and Yiddish musical performances. Survivors walked away with individualized gifts including handmade cards created by Hebrew school students.
Jewish Community Services | Baltimore, Maryland
Hosted a festive luncheon celebrating local Holocaust survivors and highlighting the integral role that survivors play in their community. The event received coverage from the Baltimore Jewish Times.
Goodman Jewish Family Services | Broward County, Florida
Celebrated nearly 130 Holocaust survivors, including nine centenarians, at a special community event. The celebration received coverage from local television news outlets NBC Miami and Local 10.
Alpert Jewish Family Services | Palm Beach County, Florida
Brought together more than 150 Holocaust survivors for a community celebration honoring their lives, experiences, and enduring contributions. The event received coverage from the South Florida Sun Sentinel.
Florida’s Gulf Coast Federation & JFCS | Tampa Bay, Florida
Hosted an intergenerational luncheon where survivors shared personal reflections and stories, which highlighted their courage, perseverance, and hope. Attendees enjoyed Jewish music and walked away with fresh flowers to take home as a keepsake of the day.
International March of The Living | Toronto, Canada
Hosted a premiere of the film “There’s Always a Better Tomorrow”, where Holocaust survivor Nate Leipciger sends a message to younger generations about the importance of continuing to pass on survivors’ memories.