June 4 is Holocaust Survivor Day, a time to celebrate the bravery, resilience, and strength of those who survived the Holocaust. While International Holocaust Remembrance Day and Yom HaShoah are for honoring the memory of all the people taken by the Holocaust, Survivor Day is about celebrating survivors and everything they continue to teach us.
On June 11, we invited Holocaust survivors, their families, and friends to join Jewish Family Service and the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle for our fourth annual Holocaust Survivor Day celebration. We celebrated and honored survivors with a festive lunch, including a live Klezmer band and dancing. The program was offered in both English and Russian, as many survivors in our area came from the former Soviet Union. This event was made possible with support from Seed the Dream Foundation and KAVOD SHEF. JFS Schocken Family CEO Will Berkovitz spoke at the event, along with State Rep. Roger Goodman (D-45).
“Every one of your stories is a light. When shared, those lights help illuminate truth, dignity, and humanity in a world that sometimes forgets. We gain so much from listening — not just facts of history, but the wisdom of how to live with purpose and joy,” said Rabbi Will Berkovitz. “Events like this remind us that connection is sacred. When we gather — across generations, across cultures — we build bridges that carry memory forward and make the future stronger.”
It’s especially important to celebrate and support people who endured the horrors of the Holocaust now, as these elders age and experience financial challenges. The Jewish Federation of North America estimates that about 80,000 Holocaust survivors are living in the United States. A recent report estimates that survivors’ median age is 87 years old and that 70% of survivors will pass away in the next decade. And as many as one in three survivors live in poverty. As costs rise and federal support programs are cut, this vulnerable population is struggling to pay for food, medicine, rent, and other essential items on their fixed incomes.
At JFS, we believe Holocaust Survivors are not only witnesses to history—they are our teachers. Their lives and stories shape our understanding of justice, dignity, and perseverance. We are proud to support survivors in our community through care management, social connection, and other essential services that affirm their value and legacy.
Let us carry their stories forward, today and every day.
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