2025 March of the Living: Survivor Spotlight
“Seeing Is Believing” – A Call to Action for the 2025 March of the Living
By Susanne M Reyto, Holocaust Survivor
I was born in Budapest, just six days before the Nazis invaded Hungary in March 1944. My father, a successful businessman, was imprisoned early on, and my mother and I were left to survive. I have no memories of a peaceful Hungary, only the shadow of war.
My father, miraculously, managed to find food for us. My mother and I were saved by Carl Lutz, who issued us protective papers, designating us as Swiss citizens. We lived in a protected house, constantly fearing discovery. I remember the tears, the constant hunger, and the terror of Eichmann’s arrival in Hungary.
Liberation came with the Russians. We returned to our apartment and were reunited with my father. But the war had taken its toll. My grandmother and two of my mother’s sisters were liberated from Ravensbruck and Bergen Belsen, but my father’s sister and her six-year-old child were gassed in Birkenau.
After the war, we tried to rebuild, but socialism and then communism took everything.
This year, I will be participating in my first March of the Living. I’ve been to Auschwitz before, but this march holds a special significance. “The young generation needs to see this,” I say, my voice trembling. “Seeing is believing. They need to see the enormity of this horror. The size of Birkenau is mind-blowing.” I want my granddaughter to witness this history. My daughter and I are coming together, to “step into history and learn about people’s suffering and their resilience and how they cling on to hope. Nobody realizes how hard it was to survive.”
I am excited, though “excited” isn’t the right word, to participate in this journey.
The rise of Holocaust denial and antisemitism, especially after October 7th, deeply worries me. “It cannot be forgotten,” I insist. “We have to ensure that.” We must ask, “How do you eliminate such hate that is taught from childhood?” I believe the answer lies in education.
October 7th proved that the world has not learned the lessons of the Holocaust. My message to future generations is clear: “Learn everything about the past, because history is the foundation for the future.”
As an award-winning author, speaker, and child survivor, I have dedicated my life to ensuring that the lessons of history are not forgotten. My books, “Destination Freedom: Escape from Tyranny” and “Pursuit of Freedom: A True Story of the Enduring Power of Hope and Dreams,” aim to educate readers of all ages about the enduring power of hope and the dangers of tyranny.
My commitment extends beyond writing. As the Chairman of Violins of Hope Los Angeles County, I worked tirelessly to use the power of music to educate the public, particularly students, about history, culture, and the Holocaust. I am also an active member of numerous organizations, including the Los Angeles Museum of the Holocaust, where I frequently speak.
My childhood experiences, including my escape from Communist Hungary in the late 1950s, have instilled in me an unwavering spirit of optimism and perseverance. I have traveled the world, lived in Australia and Guam, and built a life dedicated to education and philanthropy.
At the 2025 March of the Living, we will walk together, remember together, and ensure that the horrors of the past are never forgotten. We will educate, inspire, and build a future free from hate.
