8 Holocaust Survivors Lead Israel's Memorial Ceremony

At 90 and older, eight Holocaust survivors will stand before their nation on Monday evening, lighting memorial torches and speaking on behalf of millions who didn't survive.

Their stories cross Lithuania, Ukraine, the Netherlands, Poland, Libya, Hungary, and Romania. Each represents a different path through darkness and into light.

Saadia Bahat survived labor camps in Estonia and a death march while suffering from typhus. After liberation in 1946, he reached Israel, fought in the War of Independence despite being wounded, and spent 37 years at Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, earning the Israel Defense Prize. "I couldn't look my grandchildren in the eye if I wasn't contributing my all," he says.

Michael Sidko survived the Babi Yar massacre as a five-year-old, protected by his older brother and hidden by two brave women later recognized as Righteous Among the Nations. He became an engineer, immigrated to Israel in 2000, and now shares his story so others will remember.

Miriam Bar Lev endured two years in Bergen-Belsen starting at age six. She rebuilt her life, raised a family, and continues to bear witness to what happened and what came after.

Why This Inspires

These survivors didn't just endure. They built careers, raised families, contributed to their nation's defense and innovation, and chose to stand publicly year after year to ensure their experiences teach future generations. Their presence at Yad Vashem represents both memory and the unstoppable human capacity to rebuild.

The ceremony takes place Monday at 8 p.m., placing survivors at the heart of Israel's national remembrance for another year.