On International Holocaust Remembrance Day, communities honor the memory of the six million Jews murdered in the Holocaust. In South Palm Beach County, that remembrance is paired with action to meet the urgent needs of those who survived.
Today, thousands of Holocaust Survivors across the United States struggle to afford necessities such as food, medical care, and home support. In response, the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County is working in close partnership with Ruth & Norman Rales Jewish Family Services (JFS) and KAVOD’s Survivors of the Holocaust Emergency Fund (SHEF) to ensure Survivors can live their remaining years with dignity and security. KAVOD SHEF also matches the fundraising efforts at JFS, dollar for dollar, doubling the efforts to care for Survivors.
Established in 2019 by Seed the Dream Foundation and KAVOD SHEF addresses critical, unmet emergency needs among Holocaust Survivors. Since its launch, the fund has fulfilled more than 156,000 emergency requests nationwide, including assistance with food, medical and dental care, and home support. Demand continues to rise, particularly as reductions to public benefits have intensified food insecurity among vulnerable seniors.
“KAVOD SHEF was founded on the belief that no Holocaust Survivor should ever have to suffer again,” said Dr. Marcy Gringlas, Co-Founder and President of Seed the Dream Foundation. “Remembrance must be paired with responsibility. These Survivors endured the unimaginable, and it is our obligation to ensure they are cared for with dignity.”
South Palm Beach County is home to one of the largest Holocaust Survivor populations in South Florida. Through the Federation’s partnership with JFS, more than 300 Survivors locally receive assistance each year for essential needs, including food, healthcare, and in-home support.
In addition to this critical emergency assistance, Federation supports Holocaust Survivors through a wide range of programs and initiatives, including social services, community engagement, and Holocaust education, ensuring both their needs and their stories remain at the center of our community.
“Holocaust Survivors are not a historical concept. They are our neighbors,” said Igor Alterman, President and CEO of the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County. “Our responsibility does not end with remembrance ceremonies. It requires sustained action to ensure Survivors are safe, supported, and never forced to relive the insecurity they once endured.”
Danielle Hartman, President & CEO of JFS shared, “JFS is honored to support Holocaust Survivors and is committed to providing essential services and programs that enhance their quality of life. Given the profound hardships they have endured, ensuring their care, comfort, and dignity is both a privilege and the least we can do to recognize their resilience and safeguard their legacy.”
Together, the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County, Rales JFS, KAVOD SHEF, and community partners remain committed to ensuring Holocaust Survivors receive compassionate, comprehensive care today and in the years ahead.
