The Legacy They Leave Behind
From the desk of Lori Shepherd, Executive Director
Holocaust survivors speak often of the legacy that they will leave for those of us that come after. These stories are deeply personal and move far beyond just what is captured in the annals of history. While their legacies are distilled into words such as resilience, honor, family, and memory, the meanings go far deeper.
For all Holocaust survivors, their most immediate legacy is the testimony, the first-hand account, that transforms “The Holocaust" from a massive, abstract historical event into a collection of human stories. By sharing their names, their families' names, and their individual experiences, they restore the dignity that the Nazi regime tried to strip away. This legacy ensures that the six million are remembered as individuals, not just statistics.
Survivors give us a moral mandate. Their story is a constant call to vigilance against dehumanization, prejudice, and indifference. The phrase "Never Again" is a living legacy that challenges subsequent generations to stand up for the marginalized and to recognize the early warning signs of systemic hate.
The survivors in our community have shared profound examples of the strength and resilience that allowed them to rebuild shattered lives. Many came to places like Tucson with nothing—no family, no money, and carrying immense trauma—yet they built businesses, raised families, and contributed to their new communities. This legacy teaches us about the incredible capacity of the human spirit to find meaning and joy even after experiencing the absolute worst of humanity.
For many survivors, the greatest legacy is the generations who come after and ensure cultural survival. Every child, grandchild, and great-grandchild is a living victory over the evils they faced. By passing down Jewish traditions, languages like Yiddish or Ladino, and family recipes, they ensured that the culture the Nazis tried so hard to erase would instead thrive. Their legacy is a bridge between a world that was destroyed and a future that must be carefully protected.
This year’s Yom HaShoah commemoration, “The Legacies We Leave Behind,” will be held on Sunday, April 12, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. in the Paul and Alice Baker Ballroom at the Tucson Jewish Community Center (The J). All are welcome but registration is required.
The event is a collaborative effort presented by Tucson Jewish Museum & Holocaust Center, The Tucson JCC, Jewish Family & Children’s Services (JFCS), and Jewish Philanthropies of Southern Arizona (JPSA).