The Shoah Foundation Story


In 1994 we launched an unprecedented effort to record, preserve, and share the testimonies of Holocaust survivors. Over the past 30 years, we have built a world-class institute anchored in their voices. Learn more about our global impact.

Do you know a Holocaust survivor or witness?


We are currently recording survivors and other witnesses of the Holocaust. If you are a survivor or know someone who is, we would love to hear from you. We are also looking for interviewers.

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Latest News


Commemorating October 7, Two Years Later


Two years ago, on October 7, 2023, the world watched in horror as Hamas carried out a deadly series of terror attacks across southern Israel. We were privileged to record the testimonies of more than 400 survivors of these attacks. Their experiences and the world’s responses to them demonstrated how antisemitism persists through the present day.May these survivors and everyone impacted by such senseless violence know peace in our time. Read More

We Remember Paula Lebovics


USC Shoah Foundation mourns the loss of Holocaust survivor and beloved friend of the Institute Paula Lebovics. She was 92 years old.Lebovics was one of the 12 children standing behind the barbed wire of Auschwitz in a famous photo taken by the Soviet Army after liberation. By this time in history, Lebovics had experienced a ghetto, concentration camp, death camp and the permanent separation of her family – and she was only 12 years old. Read More

We remember Ben Lesser


We remember Ben Lesser, Holocaust survivor and dedicated advocate for Holocaust remembrance.Ben was born in Kraków, Poland, in 1928. Ben and his family were able to avoid the Krakow ghetto by moving to a nearby town, but were eventually forced into the Bochnia ghetto. In 1944, his family was separated and sent to Auschwitz. From there, Ben survived Dörnhau, Buchenwald, and Dachau concentration camps. He and his sister were the only members of his family of seven to survive. Read More

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The USC Shoah Foundation's educational programs bring survivors' voices into classrooms, preserving the memory of the Holocaust and inspiring future generations to strengthen democratic values, confront antisemitism, and work toward building more peaceful, respectful, and inclusive societies.