Summary
On June 4, Holocaust Survivor Day honors the courage, resilience, and enduring legacy of Holocaust Survivors around the world. Led by organizations including KAVOD, JCC, Seed the Dream Foundation, Jewish Federations of North America, and local partners such as Jewish Family and Children’s Services of Southern Arizona, the observance celebrates Survivors' contributions, amplifies their stories, and promotes intergenerational remembrance. Through community events, educational initiatives, and ongoing support services, Holocaust Survivor Day serves as a powerful tribute to living Survivors and a commitment to preserving their legacy for future generations.
On June 4, We Celebrate the Remarkable Lives and Enduring Legacy of Holocaust Survivors
Since 2020, we have marked this date to honor the courage of living Holocaust Survivors and recognize the profound impact they continue to have through remembrance, tribute, and intergenerational connection.
Tucson, Arizona — June 4, 2026 — 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.
“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.”
Locally, Jewish Family & Children’s Services of Southern Arizona (JFCS) supports Survivors through our Holocaust Survivor’s Day by hosting an event for Holocaust Survivors and their families. We get together, share music and food, and create a space to celebrate Holocaust Survivors. Throughout the year, we proudly provide our Survivors with opportunities to share their stories to be posted on our website and with opportunities to share their stories at the Tucson Jewish Museum & Holocaust Center with students who are touring the museum.
“Our Holocaust Survivors are the living heart of our community, carrying stories of unimaginable loss, extraordinary resilience, and enduring hope,” said Kseniya DeLano, President & CEO of JFCS. “Listening to their stories ensures their legacy lives on through future generations.”
About Holocaust Survivor Day
June 4 is celebrated as Holocaust Survivor Day, an initiative launched by the JCC in Krakow, Poland. International Holocaust Survivor Day recognizes the bravery, resilience, and strength of the approximately 196,600 Holocaust survivors still living today. It is the responsibility of younger generations not only to ensure that their pasts are never forgotten, but also to support and address the needs they face today.
About Seed the Dream Foundation
Seed the Dream Foundation, an impact-driven family foundation, advances lasting change in communities across the United States and Israel. Our philanthropy seeks to inspire hope and resilience in six priority areas: Educational Access, Combating Antisemitism, Israel & Peoplehood, Women’s Empowerment, Crisis Response & Health Initiatives, and Impact Investing.
About Jewish Family & Children’s Services of Southern Arizona
Since 1941, we have helped individuals and families in crisis, children and adults who have experienced trauma, people with disabilities, older adults, and neighbors without basic necessities. Our clients come from all age groups, economic backgrounds and all beliefs. Our mission is to help all people meet their full potential by providing expert community and behavioral health services. We are guided by the Jewish values of healing the world (tikkun olam) with loving kindness (chesed) as we strive to make the world a more just place for all (tzedek).
The JFCS Holocaust Survivor Day Event is made possible through the generous funding of KAVOD SHEF in partnership with Seed the Dream Foundation
