6 Holocaust Survivors Share Stories at Atlanta Memorial

George Rishfeld was just a child when his parents threw him over a barbed wire fence in Warsaw to save his life. A gentile family caught him and hid him from the Nazis for the rest of the war, giving him a St. Christopher medal he wears to this day.

Now 87 and living in Atlanta, Rishfeld travels constantly to share his story. "The more I do, the younger I feel and the more energy I have," he says. "It really rejuvenates me, because that's what I'm saved for."

This Sunday, Rishfeld will join five other Holocaust survivors at Greenwood Cemetery for the Breman Museum's 61st annual Yom HaShoah Commemoration. The six speakers range in age from 87 to 96, representing a generation that's quickly disappearing.

When Rishfeld arrived in Georgia in 2007, at least 20 survivors lived in the area. That number has vastly dwindled, leaving second and third generation descendants to carry the torch.

"Pretty soon, we'll be gone, and the story has to be maintained," Rishfeld says. He hopes his testimony inspires people to keep talking about what happened. "Don't just be quiet, because if you're quiet, you're doing an injustice to the past and to history."

The ceremony will feature powerful rituals honoring both those who died and those who survived. Children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren of survivors will bring flowers to the Memorial to the Six Million monument, while survivors light candles remembering lost loved ones.

A youth choir made up of children from local Jewish day schools will perform, creating a bridge between generations. Rabbi Joe Prass, director of the Weinberg Center for Holocaust Education, says this connection matters deeply.

"Eighty years ago may seem like ancient history to some of our population, but hearing a survivor, knowing that this is part of their lived experience, is all the more important," Prass explains.

Why This Inspires

These survivors have faced unimaginable horror, yet they choose to spend their final years giving back. They travel to schools, museums and events not for recognition, but to ensure their murdered loved ones are never forgotten. Their message isn't just about remembering the past; it's a call to action for the present.

About 350 people, both Jewish and non-Jewish, are expected at Sunday's event. Prass hopes they'll leave understanding two critical lessons: remember the Holocaust, and be active agents in society who refuse to sit back when others are threatened.

Rishfeld puts it simply: "That's the whole point. You can't forget this, because what happens then can happen again. And if you don't talk about it, it will happen again."

These survivors are racing against time, but their stories will echo through generations.