Atlanta Jewish Foundation Impact Story
June 17, 2026
On June 4, Atlanta’s Jewish community gathered at Congregation B’nai Torah for a celebration unlike any other. Approximately 190 people, including 80 Holocaust survivors and their family members and caregivers, came together for Holocaust Survivor Day – a day dedicated to resilience, courage, and life.
Now in its sixth year globally and fourth year in Atlanta, Holocaust Survivor Day was created by Jonathan Ornstein, CEO of the Jewish Community Centre of Krakow, to honor survivors not only for the horrors they endured during the Holocaust, but for the remarkable lives they built afterward.
“We needed a day that was for survivors,” Ornstein has said. “Not a day to focus on the sadness of what happened, but on what they did afterward.” The day shifts the focus from loss to legacy, celebrating the strength and resilience required to rebuild families and communities in the face of unimaginable hardship.
The Atlanta event was organized and emceed by Cherie Aviv, founder and chair of the Holocaust Survivor Support Fund, convened by the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta.
It is part of a growing international movement, with celebrations taking place across the United States and around the world. This year’s program included a special video message from Ornstein, video greetings from communities throughout the United States, Israel, and Krakow, and a moving highlight reel featuring local survivors participating in cultural programs, holiday celebrations, and social gatherings.
Being Seen Matters
One of the most meaningful aspects of the day is helping survivors feel recognized and connected.
“The misconception I hear all the time is, ‘I thought they were all gone,’” Aviv shared. “But Holocaust survivors are still very much with us.”
Today, approximately 196,000 Holocaust survivors remain worldwide. About 97,000 live in Israel, and roughly 31,000 live in the United States. In Georgia, there are about 250 survivors; many survivors are now in their 80s, 90s, and beyond.
Renee Kutner, President & CEO of Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta, welcomed the guests: “Your presence is a gift to all of us. Your stories, your wisdom, and your example continue to shape our community and inspire future generations, for whom the message of choosing to thrive as a Jew is so important today.”
Guests at the event gave a round of applause to survivors in attendance and offered special recognition to a survivor who will soon celebrate their 102nd birthday.
“The survivors who attended the event spoke to me about how celebrated, loved, and cared for they felt by so many in the community,” shared Anat Granath, a local case manager with Jewish Family & Career Services (JF&CS) who works closely with Holocaust survivors.
A Common Language
Music has become an important tradition of Holocaust Survivor Day. This year’s entertainment featured selections from Fiddler on the Roof, performed by Atlanta-based artists and produced by Ali White, Director of Marketing and Communications at The Breman.
As Aviv explained, many survivors come from different countries and speak different first languages, particularly those who immigrated from the former Soviet Union. “Music isn’t just celebratory. It’s a universal language that unites us all and lifts our spirits.”
Actor Brian Kurlander, who performed at the event, echoed that feeling: “What a privilege to perform for this audience and celebrate the extraordinary resilience of the survivors, their families, and the community that supports them. It was a truly moving experience. During ‘If I Were a Rich Man,’ everyone started clapping to the music, and it just lifted us all and made us one!”
Diana Fiedotin, former Senior Director of Strategic Relations at American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC), shared “Supporting Holocaust survivors is near and dear to my heart, being able to do so in a celebratory and fun way was joyful and meaningful.”
A Unifying Approach
The event highlighted something uniquely powerful about Atlanta’s Jewish community: collaboration.
“Today was a celebration of our Jewish community working together around a shared commitment, to honor and care for survivors,” Aviv reflected. “That’s what the Jewish Federation does best. It creates community and brings people together around a common goal.”
Holocaust Survivor Day was made possible through the partnership and support of Seed the Dream Foundation, Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta, Jewish Family & Career Services (JF&CS), The Breman, Eternal Life-Hemshech, Am Yisrael Chai/The Daffodil Project, Georgia Commission on the Holocaust, Jewish HomeLife, Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta (MJCCA), Congregation B’nai Torah, Specialized Printing, and Cherie and Gary Aviv.
Answering the Growing Need
The Holocaust Survivor Support Fund was established in 2016 by the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta to address the shortfall of funding from the Claims Conference – the organization responsible for negotiating compensation and support for Holocaust Survivors worldwide. While the Claims Conference provides critical and impactful funding, those resources are limited and often cannot cover the growing needs of survivors in their final years.
That is where HSSF steps in.
In partnership with JF&CS, the Holocaust Survivor Support Fund helps provide essential support, including home care, dental care, prescription assistance, groceries, home-delivered meals, medical equipment, emergency financial assistance, and other critical services that help survivors in need age with dignity and comfort.
Atlanta Jewish Foundation donors have been supporting the HSSF through their Donor-Advised Fund (DAF), allowing them to maximize both impact and tax benefits.
Aviv’s connection to this work is deeply personal. Her late mother-in-law was a Holocaust survivor from Hungary who survived multiple concentration camps before rebuilding her life in Israel. Aviv was profoundly moved by her warmth, generosity, and resilience. “She changed my life,” Aviv said. “You saw someone who endured so much yet was still so loving and giving.”
That experience opened Aviv’s eyes to the challenges many aging survivors face and inspired her to give back. In 2025 alone, HSSF helped 158 Holocaust survivors in Georgia and provided over 500 touchpoints of support across a range of services.
Getting Involved
For many survivors, Holocaust Survivor Day is more than an event – it is a reminder that their stories, sacrifices, and contributions continue to matter to the community they helped build.
As survivors age and their needs continue to grow, community support remains essential. Through the Holocaust Survivor Support Fund, donors can help ensure that local survivors receive the care, dignity, and companionship they deserve in their later years.
To make a grant through your Donor-Advised Fund, visit your DAF Donor Portal or contact Ghila Sanders, VP of Philanthropic Advisory, to learn more.
