Emmy-Winning Film Keeps Holocaust Survivor's Story Alive

When Shira Stoll pointed her camera at Egon Salmon in 2019, she captured more than just memories. She preserved a voice that continues to teach hope and resilience years after his passing.

Stoll, a former multimedia specialist for the Staten Island Advance, created "Where Life Leads You," a video series featuring Holocaust survivors living on Staten Island. Her documentary about Salmon's journey earned her a New York Emmy Award and created a lasting gift for future generations.

Now that gift keeps giving. On April 19, 2026, Congregation Shaaray Shalom in West Hempstead will share Salmon's testimony with hundreds of attendees at a Holocaust Remembrance Program at 7 p.m.

Salmon, who died in 2022 at age 98, dedicated his final decades to Holocaust education on Staten Island. His life embodied perseverance, courage and tenacity, qualities he carried from surviving unimaginable horror to becoming a beloved community leader.

More than 20 organizations are sponsoring the evening event, which will also feature a keynote address by Rabbi Menachem Creditor, a globally respected educator and author. A Scout troop will lead the National Anthem, and Israeli youth stationed on Long Island will perform "Hatikvah," Israel's national anthem.

Why This Inspires

Salmon could have stayed silent about his past. Instead, he chose to speak, knowing his words might prevent future hatred and inspire current generations.

Stoll's camera work transformed personal memories into permanent education. Her Emmy-winning series ensures that even as survivors pass away, their voices remain clear and present for students, families and communities wrestling with lessons about humanity.

The upcoming program shows how local storytelling creates ripples far beyond one borough. Staten Island's commitment to preserving survivor testimonies through projects at Wagner College and community initiatives now reaches audiences across Long Island and beyond.

Young people attending the April ceremony will hear directly from Salmon through video, connecting them to history in ways textbooks never could. They'll witness how one man turned suffering into service and trauma into teaching.

Salmon's story reminds us that courage isn't just surviving the unsurvivable—it's choosing to share that survival so others might build a better world.