86-Year-Old Holocaust Survivor Shares Hope With Students

When George Rishfeld walked into Campbell High School, he carried with him a story that no textbook could fully capture.

The 86-year-old Holocaust survivor recently visited the Georgia campus to share his firsthand account of survival, resilience, and the power of human kindness. At just three years old, Rishfeld was rescued and hidden by a Catholic family who risked everything to save him.

"The reason I survived was because of a Catholic family that saved me," Rishfeld told the assembled students and families. For over three years, he lived in silence and secrecy in their apartment, where discovery would have meant death for everyone involved.

Both Rishfeld and his parents survived the Holocaust, a reality made possible by strangers who chose compassion over fear. His story brought World War II out of history books and into the hearts of students who listened intently to every word.

The visit happened because of student leadership. Maxwell Zhiss, president of Campbell High School's Jewish Cultural Club, organized the event because he understood something important about time.

"Holocaust survivors won't be here forever, and that's a sad thing to think about," Zhiss said. "But it's important that while we still have the opportunity to have people who went through such a dark time, history can live on."

The Ripple Effect

Rishfeld's message extended beyond his personal story to address the present day. He spoke candidly about antisemitism and the role schools play in fighting hatred through understanding.

"We're never going to stop antisemitism because it goes back to the Romans," he acknowledged. "But we have to get it under better control, and the only way to do that is through education."

The program demonstrated how student-led initiatives can create profound learning experiences. Through clubs like the Jewish Cultural Club, young people at Campbell High School are building bridges between past and present, fostering dialogue that strengthens their entire community.

For the students who filled the room that day, history became personal. They heard about courage from someone who lived it, about hope from someone who survived unimaginable darkness, and about the difference one family's kindness can make across generations.

Rishfeld's visit reminds us that the most important lessons are often taught face to face, and that students who listen today become the storytellers of tomorrow.