Holocaust Survivor's Story Lives On Through AI in Arizona

Esther Basch wanted to make sure the world would never forget what she survived. Seven months after spending three days recording her Holocaust story using interactive technology, the 96-year-old passed away, but her voice will continue teaching students for generations to come.

The Arizona Jewish Historical Society and Hilton Family Holocaust Education Center unveiled "Triumph in Tragedy: Stories of Courage and Connection" last November. Visitors at Yavapai Community College in Prescott can ask the exhibit questions and receive real-time responses from Basch, thanks to technology developed by the University of Southern California.

Born in Czechoslovakia in 1928, Basch arrived at Auschwitz concentration camp on her 16th birthday. She never saw her parents again after Nazi soldiers separated them at the camp gates. She even encountered Dr. Josef Mengele, known as the "Angel of Death," during her imprisonment.

American soldiers liberated Basch on April 14, 1945. She earned the nickname "Honey Girl" after becoming seriously ill from eating a jar of honey too quickly in her excitement after liberation. After the war, she lived in Israel, France, and Canada before settling in Arizona, where she dedicated her life to education and public speaking.

"She shared her story so young people would understand the dangers of hatred and the power of their own choices," said her daughter Rachel. Basch's message was simple but powerful: "I can forgive, but I can't forget."

Why This Inspires

Around 70 Holocaust survivors still live in Arizona, and fewer than 200,000 remain worldwide. As this generation passes, technology ensures their testimonies won't disappear with them.

Tony Fusco, Holocaust education director for the society, said another 100-year-old Arizona survivor, Oskar Knoblauch, also recorded an interactive interview now displayed at the Arizona State Capitol Museum. These digital testimonies use holographic technology to create conversations that feel remarkably real.

The exhibit will tour Arizona locations through March 2027 before finding a permanent home at the new Hilton Family Holocaust Education Center opening next year. The museum will showcase stories from Holocaust survivors who called Arizona home, along with artifacts and historical information about the Holocaust timeline.

"When survivors can no longer stand in front of a classroom, we have a responsibility to ensure their voices still can," said Talli Dippold, the museum's executive director. "Esther's testimony does more than tell history. It invites conversation, challenges indifference and reminds every generation that their choices matter."

Basch believed everyone should choose compassion, caring, and love, and now her message of hope after unimaginable tragedy will echo through classrooms forever.