– Written by 3G Holocaust Survivor – Sophie Kleinhandler
“What does it mean to live a life that matters? As the granddaughter of a Holocaust survivor, it is something I ponder often… I started sharing my Grandfather’s story from my third-generation perspective a few years ago and have not looked back since. I am no stranger to the fact that the number of survivors is dwindling and that is why, now more than ever, we must share the stories of the Shoah. My Grandpa is a child survivor from Paris, France who was saved, along with his mother and brother, by the French Resistance. His father perished in Auschwitz, along with countless other family members. My Grandpa is the one who has shown me what it means to live a life that matters, and is my inspiration in doing so.
I am part of the last generation that will have the privilege of meeting Holocaust survivors, this is both incredible and terrifying. It’s incredible to have heard their stories of bravery and resilience, but terrifying to bear witness to the atrocities committed against them. The Holocaust is part of the Jewish peoples’ history, but it is part of my identity. The value of ZACHOR (remembrance) has been ingrained in me from a very young age. I have had the privilege of bearing witness to my Grandpa’s story, but many people are not afforded with a living legacy and constant reminder of what the Jewish people went through. I have devoted myself to educating others on not only the Holocaust, but on hatred and how it affects us all today. I recently got involved with The ZACHOR Holocaust Remembrance Foundation and their mission for Holocaust education and human rights.
As soon as I heard about ZACHOR, I knew I needed to be part of their community. One of their endeavors is distributing the ZACHOR pin; founder, Ben Lesser was once gifted a gold pin with the Hebrew letters of ZACHOR. He was so touched by this gift and began wearing it to his speaking engagements and all over. Ben decided that he needed to use this pin as a way to engage people all over the world in learning about the Holocaust and hatred. Ben says: “As long as there is a need for Holocaust education, there will be a need for these ZACHOR pins and The ZACHOR Foundation.” I couldn’t agree more! The ZACHOR pin is a constant reminder of all that we have endured and all that we shall never forget. For anyone reading this, I urge you to claim your complimentary (for a limited time only) ZACHOR pin and wear it with pride! Wearing this pin allows others to seek you out and ask questions about the meaning behind it. I will wear my pin loud and proud and to anyone who asks, I will tell them that I am wearing the ZACHOR pin to give a voice to those who were silenced, to honor the strength in those who survived, and support family and friends who inherit this legacy. Why will you wear your ZACHOR pin?
Every day, I thank my lucky stars to have my grandfather in my life; I truly don’t know where I would be without him. I have never met anyone with so much love in their heart or kindness in their bones. He chooses to live each and every day as a blessing and he chooses love.”
Thank You Mr. Lesser for letting me use your blog to tell my story.
~ Sincerely, Sophie.
To learn more or be a part of our Generation Now initiative, please visit us at: https://www.zachorfoundation.org/generation-now/
To claim your complimentary pin, please use the COUPON code – NOW
Living a Life That Matters 