📸 Cover photo: Mordy Photos 

David Einhorn was not only a survivor of the Holocaust, he was also a beloved community leader who learned how to transform his suffering into a message of hope. He spent many years working with students and young adults, recounting his experiences and emphasizing the importance of Holocaust education, especially among the youth. He was a remarkable man who, even in the most trying of times, never abandoned his faith nor his virtuous nature. We are incredibly grateful to have welcomed and served David Einhorn as part of the JCCGCI family. 

David was born in Romania in 1926 to a family of eight, with three sisters, two brothers, and two parents who were all deported to Auschwitz during the Holocaust. Despite them being tragically killed by the Nazis, David’s perseverance and commitment to altruism was made clear when he put his life at risk in order to look after and provide food for his fellow prisoners. As the sole survivor in his family, following the war, David fled to Israel where he would begin to reestablish his life. When the dust had settled and some semblance of stability had returned, he moved to New York City, where he would plant his roots and become a vital lifeforce of the local Jewish community.

David took great pride in his wonderful family, and merely days prior to his passing, he was surrounded by generations of love, as dozens of family members gathered to celebrate his 100th birthday. JCCGCI was fortunate to be able to, in coordination with our partners, host a once-in-a–lifetime celebration to honor David’s life, his unwavering resilience, and his determination to uplift the people around him. It was not only David’s family that wanted to cherish this milestone with him, however, as community members from all walks of life came to show their support, including Holocaust survivors, community organizers, elected officials, and those moved by his legacy. 

Immediately upon his entrance David was met with a round of cheering and applause, with many rising to their feet and crowding around him hoping to be among the first to congratulate him. Throughout the night he was showered with admiration as family and friends rose to speak, offering insight into the man who had become a beacon of hope. All of their stories returned to the same truth, that David’s willingness to share his testimony and use it to transform a life of loss into one of generosity and creation was a testament to a level of strength that few could compare to. 

The night also brought moments of formal recognition, as several elected officials took the opportunity to present David with citations and awards honoring his century of life and his decades of service to the Jewish community. He received recognition from U.S. Representative Yvette Clarke, New York State Senators Simcha Felder and Bill Weber, New York City Council Member Mercedes Narcisse, and New York state Assembly members Michael Novakhov, Simcha Eichenstein and Kalman Yeger, as well as enjoying a personal performance from vocalist Shulem Lemmer. 

The evening concluded with a powerful ceremony when the final letters of a Sefer Torah were written in David’s honor, and in memory of the parents and siblings he lost in the Holocaust. At the time, this felt simply like a meaningful way to honor David and his undeniable impact. Looking back though, this moment was truly symbolic of David’s life, and served as one final act of resistance. The Nazis had put him through pain and loss of the highest caliber, but through all of his suffering he had never abandoned his faith or his values. Even decades later he spent his life educating the youth on the importance of Holocaust remembrance to ensure the world never looked away, and now, his message and his legacy have been permanently embedded into the scripture he holds so close to his heart. 

“David Einhorn captured the hearts of so many of us here at JCCGCI and beyond,” says Sarah Lieberman, Assistant Director of Connect2 Friendly Visiting. “Knowing David was knowing greatness. He was a connection to the strength and resilience of a generation that continues to inspire us.” 

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our partners who helped make this celebration possible: Makor Care and Services Network, Nachas Health, The Claims Conference, and HEI Holocaust Education Initiative. They helped bring this milestone celebration to life in a way nobody in attendance will forget.

The celebration was a night to remember, but it carries a different meaning following David’s passing. What once was a commemoration of an incredible life now feels like a gift, a final chance to show him the love that he has instilled into all of those who were lucky enough to know him.

“How fortunate we were to tell him, while he could still hear it, how deeply he was loved, admired, and appreciated,” said Zehava Birman Wallace, LCSW, Director of Club 2600 Socialization for Holocaust Survivors, Holocaust Survivor Case Management, and Sunday Older Adult Center Program. “David leaves behind a legacy that cannot be measured not only in the story he carried, but in the countless lives he changed simply by sharing it.” He will be missed dearly at Club 2600, where every month our survivors and staff were graced by his warmth.

David Einhorn’s life was a testament to the resilience of the human spirit. He carried the heaviest of burdens, yet he transformed it into fuel for compassion, education, and community-building. He rebuilt a life and a family from unimaginable loss, and he spent his remaining years ensuring that the world would never forget what happened to those he lost. He lives on in every student he spoke with, every survivor he stood beside, every family member who carries his name, and every soul he has touched. Though David is no longer with us, the light he brought into this world continues to shine through a community grateful to have called him one of our own, and his story is one that will never be forgotten.

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👉 Want to learn more about our Holocaust Survivor Services? Visit https://www.jccgci.org/programs/older-adult-services/services-for-holocaust-survivors