Holocaust Survivor's Final Wish Reaches Thousands

A Raleigh Holocaust survivor who spent his final breath asking a friend to share his story is still changing hearts six years after his death.

Abe Piasek survived Nazi labor and death camps as a teenager in Poland, losing his parents, sister, and nearly everyone he loved. For decades, he kept the trauma to himself.

When he finally found his voice, Abe wanted everyone to hear it. He spoke to high school teacher Steve Goldberg's students, and their connection sparked an unlikely friendship.

Steve interviewed Abe twice at his home, learning details of unimaginable suffering. Then Abe did something even Steve couldn't believe.

He stepped inside a cattle car at the Holocaust Museum in Washington, DC. The same type of car that transported Jews to death camps. With students gathered around and a camera rolling, Abe shared his experience in the darkness.

"My heart is pounding, and I had to show you," he told the students that day. Steve still gets chills remembering Abe's courage.

As Abe's health declined, he called Steve to his bedside with an urgent request. "Keep telling my story," he whispered.

Steve took those words seriously. He left his teaching career to devote himself to sharing Abe's testimony full time.

Why This Inspires

Steve has now presented Abe's story 175 times across theaters and auditoriums. Video footage of Abe brings audiences to tears, but Steve makes sure they see more than the horror.

He shows them how Abe rebuilt his life with joy, humor, and an unwavering commitment to kindness. Abe's daughter Pamela says watching her father on screen makes it feel like he never left.

Abe's core message was simple but powerful: never use the word hate. "You can dislike very strongly," he would say, "but never use the word hate."

He also urged people to stand up when they see bullying or cruelty. Don't just watch. Act.

Pamela watches Steve carry her father's legacy forward and knows he was the right choice. "My dad's story could not be in better hands," she says.

Through Steve's dedication, Abe's voice still fills rooms and his plea for compassion reaches new hearts every week.