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Philip Bendheim

80 Years after Auschwitz: Honoring Survivors with Extra Special Care and Compassion

Yad Sarah Volunteer Helping a Holocaust Survivor Write Her Life Story. (Courtesy of Yad Sarah.)
Yad Sarah Volunteer Helping a Holocaust Survivor Write Her Life Story. (Courtesy of Yad Sarah.)

Auschwitz, the largest of the Nazi concentration camps, was liberated 80 years ago today. Now, every year on January 27, we pause to commemorate International Holocaust Remembrance Day — a global day of reflection on one of humanity’s darkest chapters. Yet, for the survivors of the Holocaust, remembrance is not confined to a single day. It is a lifetime of carrying trauma and memories that shape their very existence. 

For one elderly survivor living in Jerusalem, that trauma manifested in ways that persisted until his final days. Haunted by memories of the “death train” that transported him to Auschwitz, he could not bring himself to board a regular shuttle to attend Yad Sarah’s Senior Day Center. When Yad Sarah volunteers heard of his struggle, they rallied to ensure he would never be left out. They took turns giving him rides, forming a special bond that went far beyond transportation. They regularly called to check in on him, inquire about his well-being, and even sought his advice on meaningful life decisions. When he passed away two weeks ago, those same volunteers stood alongside his family at the funeral and during shiva, mourning the deep loss together.

While the well-being of Holocaust survivors should be a priority for us all, the reality in Israel — home to 49% of the remaining 245,000 survivors — is sobering. Over half struggle to afford basic necessities like food and medicine. One in three lives alone, with many reporting feelings of deep loneliness. Financial hardships force some to forgo critical medical treatments, and nearly 10% live in institutional care, where their isolation is often exacerbated. 

For those who endured the unimaginable, their final years should not be defined by indignity and neglect. These individuals are living witnesses to history, and with each passing year, their number dwindles. As their generation fades, it is our moral imperative to ensure they live their remaining years with dignity and care.

Yet, like the man who was terrified of trains, the challenges they face extend beyond financial hardship and isolation. Many survivors carry trauma that intensifies with age, resurfacing in unexpected and debilitating ways. Medical institutions for example, with their antiseptic smells and sterile environments, can trigger memories of camp infirmaries, forced medical experiments, and other unimaginable horrors. These fears can leave survivors paralyzed, avoiding essential medical care altogether. Depression and anxiety can also affect survivors at higher rates.

In these moments, Yad Sarah steps in as a lifeline for Israel’s remaining Holocaust survivors. We provide a range of services that address both the practical and emotional needs of those who survived the unimaginable. Our home hospitalization program, which brings medical care into survivors’ homes, is invaluable. They receive the care they need without having to face the fear or distress many survivors can experience in hospitals. Home care also allows them to stay close to family and friends and the lives they have rebuilt, often avoiding the need to be placed in a managed care facility. Our dedicated volunteers work tirelessly to coordinate in-home treatments, deliver essential medical equipment, and offer compassionate support that helps survivors maintain their dignity and independence. 

Beyond the immediate physical treatment, the work of Yad Sarah carries profound emotional weight. Take the story of two Holocaust survivors whose lives were unknowingly intertwined. Both shared eerily similar recollections of their experiences in the camps. As volunteers from Yad Sarah’s Life Stories project documented their testimonies, they discovered the overlap—and realized the two survivors must have known each other during the war. They arranged a long-awaited reunion, which took time due to the survivors’ physical limitations and the distance between them. When they finally met, it was a deeply emotional moment: they recognized one another as having shared the same ghetto and knew each other’s families. After decades of separation, they were able to reconnect and fill in gaps in each other’s histories, creating a sense of closure and connection that neither thought possible.

This story, like so many others, highlights the profound resilience of Holocaust survivors. Their ability to overcome unimaginable trauma and rebuild lives filled with purpose, love, and meaning is an example to us all, especially in today’s world and the war Israel faces. As hostages return home to Israel from Gaza, many will face their own journey of trauma and healing–as do countless numbers of wounded soldiers, terror attack victims and others subjected to the war today. Survivors of the Holocaust remind us that while scars may never fully fade, it is possible to live full and meaningful lives.  

While Yad Sarah treats everyone—irrespective of age or background—with care & compassion, as this extraordinary generation grows older, it falls to all of us to ensure they are supported with the extra care and dignity they deserve. With nearly 80% of Holocaust survivors over the age of 80 and 20% over 90, the time to act is now. This International Holocaust Remembrance Day, let us not only commemorate the lives lost but also uplift those who remain. By supporting Yad Sarah, we honor their past and help ensure that survivors feel safe, valued, and cared for, living their final years with the dignity they so profoundly deserve.

About the Author
Philip Bendheim is a dedicated second-generation volunteer in the Yad Sarah family. He is a director of Yad Sarah's International Board of Overseers and USA Friends of Yad Sarah
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