“When you listen to a witness, you become a witness” — Elie Wiesel
At the heart of the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial Foundation’s mission is a profound respect and responsibility toward the survivors of Auschwitz-Birkenau.
We are the final generation that will hear directly from those who survived. Every interaction, every gesture, every memory is an act of moral preservation, and a promise to never forget.
ABMF is proud to maintain meaningful, ongoing relationships with Auschwitz-Birkenau survivors. These relationships go far beyond symbolic gestures- they are a central part of who we are.
Every Auschwitz-Birkenau survivor in our network receives flowers and birthday wishes on their birthday. We also continue to safeguard the memory of survivors’ lives by sharing their biographies with the youngest audience via social media. Each of our birthday posts garners thousands of comments and birthday wishes addressed to Auschwitz survivors. These gestures are small, but they say something large: You are remembered. You are loved. You matter.
For many, it is a deeply emotional reminder that their stories—and their lives—are cherished.
ABMF is proud to have played a central role in organizing and supporting international gatherings of Auschwitz survivors for:
In 2020, over 120 Auschwitz-Birkenau survivors came with our Foundation to Poland for the last large-scale reunion at the Memorial. ABMF coordinated travel, accommodations, and emotional support—ensuring each survivor and their family members could return to the site with dignity, safety, and the companionship of family.
The commemorations were broadcast globally and included the premiere of our original short film, “They Were Just Like Us,” which was produced by ABMF’s Executive Director, Dr. Maria Zalewska.
On January 27, 2025, ABMF was honored to lead a historic delegation of 18 Auschwitz-Birkenau survivors and their families to the site of their liberation. They came from the United States, Canada, Israel, Germany, France, and Austria—united by memory, resilience, and purpose.
Walking beside them once again on the grounds of Auschwitz was more than a solemn act of remembrance. It was a call to action—a living testimony to truth in an age when Holocaust distortion and denial are on the rise.
As the number of living survivors diminishes, our responsibility grows. The 80th anniversary marks not only a milestone in history, but a continuation of ABMF’s enduring promise:
To remember. To honor. To educate.
Your donation helps ensure every survivor’s birthday is celebrated, every memory preserved, and every voice heard.