On June 4, the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia, in partnership with Jewish Family and Children’s Service of Greater Philadelphia (JFCS) and Seed the Dream Foundation convened over 80 Holocaust survivors and their descendants to celebrate Holocaust Survivor Day at the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History.

Additional partners included ADL Philadelphia, 3G Philly, Children of Jewish Holocaust Survivors Association, Gratz College, Philadelphia Holocaust Remembrance Foundation, and Sons & Daughters of Holocaust Survivors. The program featured museum tours, a kosher luncheon, and Klezmer music and dancing. Holocaust Survivor Day was recognized as a new annual holiday by the City of Philadelphia and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania with proclamations issued from Mayor Jim Kenney and Governor Josh Shapiro, respectively, solidifying this as a celebration of local significance.

Organizations from around the world held their own events simultaneously, as part of JCC Krakow’s Holocaust Survivor Day project.

While Holocaust survivors are teachers, the responsibility of passing on their legacy lies with each of us. By honoring the lives of these survivors, Greater Philadelphia can celebrate their collective joys and achievements —and carry on their legacies to help shape the future of our community.

The Jewish Federation and Jewish Family and Children’s Service of Greater Philadelphia are committed to ensuring that survivors, both locally and internationally, receive the support and services needed to age with dignity and share their experiences.

The Jewish Federation is dedicated to preserving the memory of those who perished in the Holocaust, supporting those who survived and educating the next generation. Last year, 45,497 Holocaust survivors worldwide were served through organizations and programs supported by the Jewish Federation.

JFCS’ Holocaust Survivor Support Program helps survivors age safely and independently in their homes through holistic, comprehensive services. JFCS’ work with survivors, their families, and caregivers uses a trauma-informed lens in order to ensure survivors in Philadelphia and the surrounding counties maintain a high quality of life, connection to resources, individualized support from our staff, and a strong sense of community.

Since 1901, the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia has served as the hub of the region’s Jewish communities, providing an infrastructure of support for Jewish people and organizations in need. Through the various grants, emergency funding, restricted gifts, endowments and our partnership with the Foundation for Jewish Day Schools, we invest more than $40 million each fiscal year to care for and protect those in need, and support a thriving and vibrant Jewish community locally, in Israel and around the world.

Jewish Family and Children’s Service of Greater Philadelphia has a unique and vital mission: to strengthen families and individuals across generations and cultures to achieve stability, independence, and community. JFCS offers a wide range of programs such as an adoption network and fertility fund, parenting programs, prevention services, financial assistance and care management, older adult services, and more.