CHELSEA, Manhattan (PIX11) — The Center for Jewish History held a special event where two Holocaust survivors shared their stories on International Holocaust Remembrance Day.
“It is the International holocaust Remembrance Day, and it was also simultaneous with the liberation of the horrible concentration camps in Auschwitz,” Gabriella Major, who was just two years old when her family faced unimaginable loss, said Tuesday.
“Members of my extended family, including my grandparents, were murdered,” adding, “the Germans were losing the war and they had to quickly annihilate the Jews in Hungary.”
Toby Levy was eight years old, living in Ukraine, when the Holocaust upended her childhood.
“When my father comes and tells my mom that the Germans are going to relocate us to Levov, my father says I don’t believe them, they are going to shoot us outside of the city, we are going into hiding,” Levy said.
Levy and her family hid for two years to survive during that time; her father asked her to make a promise. “If we make it, you go to school and you would have to tell the world, I fulfilled his wishes.”
More: Latest News from Around the Tri-State
Both women now dedicate their lives to educating younger generations about the Holocaust and its lasting lessons.
“When I speak to children, I say Jews alone cannot solve the problems I need you all to help us,” said Levy.
They warn that remembering history is essential, especially as hate resurfaces. “Unfortunately, history is repeating itself; one would have never thought that 81 years later we are at this point,” added Major.
The Anne Frank exhibition is currently on display at the Center for Jewish History through Feb. 1. Both women encourage New Yorkers to visit and learn more about this history.
Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.