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In Memory of Harry Rozendaal z”l — A Final Act of Remembrance
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It is with deep sadness that the March of the Living mourns the passing of Harry Rozendaal z"l, a 95-year-old child Holocaust survivor and participant on the 2026 March of the Living, who passed away in Warsaw on April 22, 2026. Harry was born in Rotterdam in 1930. When the Germans invaded the Netherlands in 1940, his father Joop joined the resistance — and was captured, tortured, and executed in December 1942. Just three days after his father's murder, the family was forced to flee and go into hiding. Over the next two years, young Harry was moved between 21 different locations across the Netherlands, separated from his younger brother and sister. His mother, Catherina, was herself a member of the resistance. Harry's last encounter with her came at a safe house in Utrecht in 1943, where she shared with him a letter his father had written from prison, urging her to ensure their children received a Jewish education. Harry carried that charge for the rest of his life. Catherina was later captured, deported to Auschwitz, and murdered. After liberation, Harry learned that both his siblings had survived in hiding. In 1946, members of the Jewish Brigade visited his orphanage, and at 17 he left for British Mandate Palestine, where he joined the Haganah as a Machal volunteer and witnessed the birth of the State of Israel. He later returned to the Netherlands, reunited with his siblings, met his wife Lotty, and in 1958 emigrated to Canada — first to Montreal, then to Toronto. Harry at the 2026 March of the Living with his daughter, Dr. Betty Rozendaal, and son-in-law Sonny Goldstein. His Final Mission For years, Harry had expressed the wish to travel to Poland and say Kaddish for his mother at Auschwitz. COVID and health setbacks delayed his plans, but by 2025 — at 95 years old — he was undeterred. With his daughter, Dr. Betty Rozendaal, and son-in-law Sonny Goldstein by his side, he joined the Toronto March of the Living Adult Delegation. What began as a deeply personal pilgrimage became something far larger. Standing outside the gas chambers at Auschwitz on the delegation's first full day, Harry shared his testimony with hundreds of students, young adults, and adults. He spoke about his childhood, his mother, and his service in Israel's War of Independence — urging his audience to stand proud and never stop fighting for who they are. He not only spoke about his childhood and his mother, but he also spoke about how he went on to fight in the War of Independence, which was incredibly moving, given the climate that we currently live in. Witnee Karp, Director, March of the Living Canada His words moved the entire delegation. One student, Jillian Kivenko, was so inspired that she wrote a poem and turned it into a song, performing it on Shabbat in front of all the survivors and delegations. Harry was beaming. The day after the closing ceremonies, Harry suffered a serious cardiac event and was admitted to a hospital in Warsaw. He passed away on April 22, surrounded by the knowledge that he had fulfilled his lifelong mission — honouring his mother's memory in the very place she was taken from the world. Not only was he able to fulfil his last wish by paying his respects to his mother, he was also able to make a tremendous impact on so many people in his final days. Dori Ekstein, Co-Chair, Adult March of the Living Throughout his life, Harry was a tireless advocate for recognizing the non-Jews who helped Dutch Jews survive the war. He was instrumental in securing Righteous Among the Nations recognition at Yad Vashem for Andres van der Meer, the resistance fighter who once escorted him across a lake to safety in a boat full of German soldiers. Harry is survived by his daughter Betty and son-in-law Sonny Goldstein, his son Ed and wife Genia, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his wife Lotty, his brother Dov, and his sister Liselotte. May his memory be a blessing.Baruch Dayan Emet. Honour Harry's legacy and the mission of Holocaust remembrance. Donate to the March of the Living → Read the full obituary in The Canadian Jewish News.
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In Memory of Daniel Luz z”l — A Survivor Twice Over
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Photo: Courtesy March of the Living It is with deep sadness that the March of the Living mourns the passing of Daniel Luz z"l, a Holocaust survivor and survivor of the October 7 massacre, who passed away on April 25, 2026, at the age of 92. Danny marched with us in 2024 and lit a torch at Birkenau in one of the most powerful moments of that year's ceremony — linking the memory of those who perished in the Holocaust with the memory of those murdered on October 7. A Childhood in Wartime France Daniel was born in France in 1934. When Nazi Germany occupied the country, his family was swept into the machinery of persecution. Daniel, his mother, and his sister were held in one internment camp; his father in another. For four years, the family was separated — Daniel was just ten years old at the time. The family survived by what Daniel called a miracle. But ten of his mother's siblings and two of his cousins were not as fortunate. They were murdered at Auschwitz. Building a Life in Israel In 1949, Daniel immigrated to the young State of Israel. "I began to breathe again," he would later say. He lived first on Kibbutz Nirim in the Negev, and in later years made his home at Kibbutz Be'eri. A man known for his bold spirit and irrepressible optimism, Daniel built a full life on the kibbutz — one that he regarded as the ultimate victory over the forces that had tried to destroy his family and his people. Top: Photo by Tomer Shunam Halevi. Bottom: Photo by Ronen Zvulun October 7 On October 6, 2023, Daniel and his neighbours celebrated the 78th anniversary of Kibbutz Be'eri. The next morning, he awoke to sirens and gunfire. Together with his partner Edna, he locked himself in their safe room as Hamas terrorists stormed the kibbutz. Of Be'eri's roughly 1,200 residents, 101 were murdered that day and 30 were abducted. It was mortal fear — more frightening than anything I remember as a child during that war. Daniel Luz Daniel spoke openly about the enduring trauma of that day. He described himself as a Holocaust survivor twice — once from wartime France, and again from Be'eri. In the months that followed, with the kibbutz destroyed and its residents displaced, Daniel moved to a nursing home at Kibbutz Yad Mordechai. Lighting the Torch In May 2024, Daniel travelled with the March of the Living to Auschwitz-Birkenau, where he lit a torch and delivered testimony that moved all who heard it. Standing at the site where his family members were murdered, he spoke with a steady voice and an unshakable conviction: We, the Holocaust survivors, who built a home and a state — our greatest victory over the Nazis and over antisemitism — light this torch in memory of those who perished in the Holocaust, and in memory of those murdered on October 7. Daniel Luz, Auschwitz-Birkenau, May 2024 Shortly before his passing, Daniel lit a torch once more — this time at the annual Holocaust Remembrance Day ceremony at Kibbutz Yad Mordechai. Speaking to those gathered, he said he had not recovered from the events of October 7, and expressed his hope for peace — not for himself, but for his grandchildren. Daniel Luz lighting a torch at Auschwitz-Birkenau, 2024 March of the Living. May his memory be a blessing.Baruch Dayan Emet. בָּרוּךְ דַּיַּן הָאֱמֶת Honour Daniel's legacy and the mission of Holocaust remembrance. Donate to the March of the Living →
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Booklet Featuring Biographies of Holocaust Survivors Participating in the 2026 March of the Living
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height: 14px; } .flipbook-embed { position: relative; width: 100%; padding-bottom: 66%; /* roughly 3:2 aspect for booklet */ background: #f4f4f2; } .flipbook-embed iframe { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: 0; } .flipbook-placeholder { position: absolute; inset: 0; display: flex; flex-direction: column; align-items: center; justify-content: center; gap: 16px; color: var(--text-light); font-family: 'Raleway', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; } .flipbook-placeholder svg { width: 48px; height: 48px; opacity: 0.35; } /* ─── CTA BANNER ─── */ .cta-banner { background: var(--blue); padding: 56px 24px; text-align: center; } .cta-banner-inner { max-width: 640px; margin: 0 auto; } .cta-banner h2 { font-family: 'Raleway', sans-serif; font-weight: 300; font-size: clamp(22px, 3.5vw, 32px); color: #fff; line-height: 1.35; margin-bottom: 8px; } .cta-banner h2 strong { font-weight: 700; } .cta-banner p { font-family: 'Spectral', serif; font-style: italic; font-size: 16px; color: rgba(255,255,255,0.7); margin-bottom: 28px; line-height: 1.6; } .btn-donate { display: inline-block; font-family: 'Raleway', sans-serif; font-weight: 700; font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: 2px; text-transform: uppercase; text-decoration: none; color: var(--navy); background: var(--yellow); padding: 14px 40px; border-radius: 100px; transition: all 0.25s ease; box-shadow: 0 4px 16px rgba(253,208,0,0.3); } .btn-donate:hover { transform: translateY(-2px); box-shadow: 0 6px 24px rgba(253,208,0,0.45); } /* ─── RESPONSIVE ─── */ @media (max-width: 768px) { .hero { padding: 60px 20px 48px; } .hero-content { padding: 0; } .intro { padding: 56px 20px 40px; } .flipbook-embed { padding-bottom: 75%; } .flipbook-header { flex-direction: column; gap: 12px; align-items: flex-start; } .cta-banner { padding: 48px 20px; } } 2026 March of the Living Biographies of Holocaust Survivors A tribute to the survivors participating in the 2026 March of the Living, preserving their stories for generations to come. A special booklet featuring the personal stories of Holocaust survivors who participated in the 2026 March of the Living. This publication serves both as a tribute and a tool for education, ensuring the survivors' stories endure long after they are gone. It was distributed to the survivors and many of the participants who attended the 2026 March. Interactive Booklet Open Full Screen Help Fund Survivors & Students Your donation supports Holocaust survivors and students participating in the March of the Living, and our ongoing Holocaust education programs. Donate Now
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Fifty Holocaust Survivors from Around the World to Lead the 2026 March of the Living
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Remembering Adele Besserman Z”L (1930 – 2026)
International March of the Living mourns the passing of Holocaust survivor and educator Adele Besserman. Adele first joined the Broward County delegation to the…
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Holocaust Survivor Eve Kuper Speech at The New York Stock Exchange
We are living in interesting times. Times which, for Holocaust survivors like me, are too reminiscent of former “interesting times” – the…
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Sponsor a Holocaust Survivor – While We Still Can
View this email in your browser “Without history there will be no memory, and without memory there will be no future.” Holocaust Survivor Max Eisen z”l (1928-2022) Photo: Eynat Katz They are among the last living witnesses to the Holocaust. Their voices carry history, and moral responsibility. At a time when antisemitism is once again on the rise, and Holocaust denial and distortion are spreading globally, we spoke with March of the Living survivor-educators about why it is so crucial for them to march. SPONSOR A HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR Holocaust Survivor Georgine Nash Photo: Igal Hecht “Stand up to anyone who denies what happened” Georgine Nash was born in Budapest in 1937. She survived the Holocaust through what she calls “a series of miracles,” hiding with her mother and living to see liberation in 1945, while many members of her family were murdered. “My motivation to take part in the March of the Living is to share my experiences, my fears, and my hopes for the future of the Jewish community,” Georgine says. For Georgine, the March of the Living is no longer only about preserving the past, but about responding to the present: “In light of rising antisemitism and the events of October 7, I have felt fear and hopelessness at times. But I continue to speak because it is essential that the horrors of the Holocaust are remembered and passed on. My message to students is simple: keep talking about what you have learned from survivors and stand up to anyone who denies what happened. Never again.” Many survivors hope to march this Yom HaShoah with students at the International March of the Living in Auschwitz. To make this possible, they need your help. SPONSOR A HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR Holocaust Survivor Gabriella Karin Photo: Ziv Koren “I watched them change in front of my eyes” Gabriella Karin, born in Czechoslovakia in 1930, has dedicated herself to educating young people, especially 17–18-year-olds, about the reality of life under Hitler’s regime. “I speak to teenagers about our history, history that I was personally a part of”, Gabriella explains. “When I talk to them, I see something extraordinary happen. They begin to mature. They develop feelings and a deeper connection to Judaism. That transformation affected me as well. Despite my age, I know I must continue to speak and spread the truth about the atrocities committed under Hitler’s regime. We have a responsibility to educate young people about the facts of World War II.” Reflecting on the sharp rise in antisemitism since October 7, Gabriella wants to send a message to the world: "I am frustrated, but not afraid. It doesn’t matter what color our eyes are, what color our hair is, or what color our skin is—we are all the same people. We don’t have to love everybody, but we do have to respect every person in this world. We all have the right to be here.” Gabriella is a firm believer in education: “I come to the March of the Living because education is the most important part. I hope people will realize that we all have the right to be here, and that the world can change.” This may be their last chance Holocaust survivors are a rapidly diminishing generation. For many, each March of the Living could be their last opportunity to walk with students, to testify in the very places where history unfolded, and to pass the responsibility of memory to the next generation. Holocaust Survivor Max Eisen Z”L (1928-2022) Photo: Eynat Katz Max Eisen z”l, was born in 1929, in Moldava, former Czechoslovakia. Max had two brothers and a younger sister. In spring 1939, Max and his family were deported to Auschwitz-Birkenau. Max worked in slave labor with his father and uncle, but in September 1944, the two were selected out, leaving Max alone. Max survived a death march to Mauthausen, Melk and Ebensee. He was liberated by the US Army on May 6, 1945. Max participated in 18 March of the Living journeys where he retold his story as a young boy in Auschwitz to thousands of teenagers. As he warned just before he passed away in 2022: “We, the survivors, have a very difficult job. We’re up against a huge steamroller. Without history there will be no memory, and without memory there will be no future.” SPONSOR A HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR
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