{"id":256128,"date":"2026-06-05T05:13:50","date_gmt":"2026-06-05T05:13:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/256128\/"},"modified":"2026-06-05T05:13:50","modified_gmt":"2026-06-05T05:13:50","slug":"survivors-officials-mark-holocaust-survivor-day-at-uja-in-manhattan-israel-jewish-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/256128\/","title":{"rendered":"Survivors, officials mark Holocaust Survivor Day at UJA in Manhattan – Israel & Jewish News"},"content":{"rendered":"

(Jun. 5, 2026 \/ JNS)\n <\/p>\n

Julie Menin, the first Jewish speaker of the New York City Council, is very aware of her family\u2019s experiences during the Holocaust.<\/p>\n

Her mother and grandmother survived in Budapest, Hungary, by hiding in a cellar for over a year under constant fear and deprivation, and her grandfather was murdered in the Shoah.<\/p>\n

Preserving testimonies of survivors is critical, as the population of those who experienced and witnessed the Holocaust ages, she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are stories. It\u2019s so important that we continue them, because for the next generation, they might not be able to hear directly from the survivors,\u201d she told JNS at a Holocaust Survivor Day event on Thursday that drew more than 40 Holocaust survivors at UJA-Federation of New York\u2019s Manhattan headquarters.<\/p>\n

\u201cUJA is funding organizations that preserve those stories,\u201d she told JNS.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"Menin\"<\/p>\n

Julie Menin (not pictured), speaker of the New York City Council, attends a UJA-Federation of New York event for Holocaust Survivor Day, June 4, 2026. Credit: John McCarten\/NYC Council.<\/p>\n

Every conversation with a survivor leaves a lasting impression, according to Menin, who told attendees about the work she and fellow council members have been doing to fight growing Jew-hatred in the city.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey went through the worst of humanity, the most evil power that can exist,\u201d she told JNS, of survivors. \u201cWe need to retell those stories because we can honestly never forget.\u201d<\/p>\n

The event, which Selfhelp Community Services co-hosted as part of \u201cCoffee House\u201d program that brings Holocaust survivors together, also drew City Council member Virginia Maloney.<\/p>\n

Eric Goldstein, CEO of the UJA, told attendees that Holocaust Survivor Day is meant to remember tragedy and honor resilience.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"Menin<\/p>\n

Julie Menin, speaker of the New York City Council, and Eric Goldstein, CEO of the UJA-Federation of New York, at a UJA event for Holocaust Survivor Day, June 4, 2026. Credit: John McCarten\/NYC Council.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo community is more important to celebrate and honor than Holocaust survivors,\u201d he said. \u201cThe story of these survivors, who came from such horrible backgrounds to lead extraordinary lives and raise families, makes them the ultimate inspiration and the ultimate example of resilience.\u201d<\/p>\n

The gathering carries special meaning amid rising Jew-hatred, he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cLet\u2019s also focus on the extraordinary resilience of the survivor community and all the ways they\u2019ve contributed to our Jewish community and well beyond,\u201d Goldstein told attendees. \u201cTheir example, their resilience and their spirit are uplifting and comforting for us.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"Renee<\/p>\n

Renee Grosman, a Holocaust survivor born in Warsaw, Poland, attends a UJA-Federation of New York holds an event for Holocaust Survivor Day, June 4, 2026. Photo by Rebecca Szlechter.<\/p>\n

Renee Grosman, a Holocaust survivor born in Warsaw, Poland, said that the gathering holds special meaning, because it allows her to spend time with fellow survivors.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt means to be with all my people,\u201d she told JNS.<\/p>\n

Grosman, who has been involved with survivor organizations for decades, said that she knows many of the people who attend the gatherings and values the sense of community they provide.<\/p>\n

Reflecting on the phrase \u201cNever Again,\u201d Grosman said that she hopes the Jewish people never experiences such a tragedy again.<\/p>\n

\u201cI try as much as possible to live a life that is productive,\u201d she told JNS.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"Menin\"<\/p>\n

Julie Menin (not pictured), speaker of the New York City Council, attends a UJA-Federation of New York event for Holocaust Survivor Day, June 4, 2026. Credit: John McCarten\/NYC Council.<\/p>\n

Selfhelp Community Services currently provides support to more than 5,000 Holocaust survivors, most of whom live in New York, according to Stuart Kaplan, the Organization\u2019s CEO.<\/p>\n

\u201cRecognizing the past and those who were lost, as well as those who survived, is recognition for the future as well,\u201d he told JNS.<\/p>\n

Kaplan noted that many survivors continue to face significant challenges, with nearly half living at or near poverty.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe first thing people need is somebody they can talk to,\u201d Kaplan told JNS. \u201cThey also have care coordination needs, food needs and support that helps them continue to live independently in their own homes.\u201d<\/p>\n

Holocaust remembrance remains especially relevant today as antisemitism resurfaces in public discourse, according to Kaplan.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

1 of 4<\/p>\n

\n The UJA-Federation of New York holds an event for Holocaust Survivor Day, June 4, 2026. Photo by Rebecca Szlechter.\n <\/p>\n

2 of 4<\/p>\n

\n Julie Menin (not pictured), speaker of the New York City Council, attends a UJA-Federation of New York event for Holocaust Survivor Day, June 4, 2026. Credit: John McCarten\/NYC Council.\n <\/p>\n

3 of 4<\/p>\n

\n Julie Menin (right), speaker of the New York City Council, and Virginia Maloney, a member of the council, attend a UJA-Federation of New York event for Holocaust Survivor Day, June 4, 2026. Credit: John McCarten\/NYC Council.\n <\/p>\n

4 of 4<\/p>\n

\n Virginia Maloney, a member of the New York City Council, attends a UJA-Federation of New York event for Holocaust Survivor Day, June 4, 2026. Credit: John McCarten\/NYC Council.\n <\/p>\n

UJA event for Holocaust survivors<\/p>\n

The UJA-Federation of New York holds an event for Holocaust Survivor Day, June 4, 2026. Photo by Rebecca Szlechter.<\/p>\n

Julie Menin (not pictured), speaker of the New York City Council, attends a UJA-Federation of New York event for Holocaust Survivor Day, June 4, 2026. Credit: John McCarten\/NYC Council.<\/p>\n

Julie Menin (right), speaker of the New York City Council, and Virginia Maloney, a member of the council, attend a UJA-Federation of New York event for Holocaust Survivor Day, June 4, 2026. Credit: John McCarten\/NYC Council.<\/p>\n

Virginia Maloney, a member of the New York City Council, attends a UJA-Federation of New York event for Holocaust Survivor Day, June 4, 2026. Credit: John McCarten\/NYC Council.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll of that began with words,\u201d he said, of what led to the Holocaust. \u201cToday, very unfortunately, words again are coming into our lives, and things like antisemitism are growing at a pace and scope that we never thought would happen again.\u201d<\/p>\n

For Goldstein, the event was both a celebration and a reminder of ongoing responsibility.<\/p>\n

Holocaust Survivor Day is meant to uplift the community while recognizing the continued need, he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI hope people walk away uplifted by the community we are helping to celebrate,\u201d he told JNS, \u201cand that they also remember the need that still exists.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLots of survivors still live near poverty,\u201d he said. \u201cWe have a dual obligation to never forget, but we also have an obligation never to abandon.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"(Jun. 5, 2026 \/ JNS) Julie Menin, the first Jewish speaker of the New York City Council, is…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":256129,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[35],"tags":[75,84,83,9,24,63],"class_list":["post-256128","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-manhattan","tag-manhattan","tag-manhattan-headlines","tag-manhattan-news","tag-new-york","tag-new-york-city","tag-nyc"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/256128","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=256128"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/256128\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/256129"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=256128"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=256128"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=256128"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}