Our Cherished Client, Holocaust Survivor Sol Goldberg, Celebrates 100 Remarkable Years
This August, we have the extraordinary privilege of celebrating a milestone that few reach and even fewer reach with such grace, humor, and warmth: the 100th birthday of our beloved client and Holocaust survivor, Mr. Sol Goldberg. Sol reaches this remarkable age surrounded by friends, community, and love; living proof of the power of resilience and the human spirit.
JCCGCI is proud to be one of New York City’s leading providers of comprehensive services for Holocaust survivors, serving thousands of survivors residing throughout Brooklyn. Each year, they turn to us for help with homecare, case management, social programming, counseling, food packages, and other vital supports that allow them to live with dignity and independence. Sol is just one of the many resilient individuals who benefit from these services, and his remarkable story reflects the strength and perseverance of an entire community. We are deeply grateful to the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany (Claims Conference), whose support makes this critical work possible.
Pictured above: Holocaust Survivor Sol Goldberg with his longtime volunteers and students—who have become like family over the years—including JCCGCI’s Connect2 Program Director Elisheva Lock, along with Sarah Kassin, Jannelle Ash, Julie Oved, and her daughter Lisa Oved.
Born in Poland, Sol endured unimaginable hardship during the Holocaust. He suffered in the Nazi-occupied Lodz Ghetto and survived several concentration camps, including the infamous Auschwitz. These experiences could have silenced his light— yet, remarkably, Sol emerged with an unshakable sense of hope, kindness, and a deep appreciation for the simple joys of life.
In 1951, Sol came to America to start anew. By then, he had already found joy in its purest form: marrying his sweetheart, Betty, a fellow survivor, immediately after the war. Together, they began building a family—arriving in America with a child already in tow—and laying the foundation for a life rooted in love, laughter, and perseverance. Sol poured his heart into the food industry, where his vibrant personality became his calling card. For him, work wasn’t just a job; it was an opportunity to connect with people. “People and visitors are my best medicine,” he often says, a philosophy he has lived by for a century.
Pictured Above (L-R) : Holocaust Survivor Sol Goldberg as a young man, his son Hy Goldberg, and his wife Betty Goldberg on their train to America.
Since joining the JCCGCI family in 2004, Sol has been more than just a client— he has been a light in our community. Always ready with a warm smile, a witty comment, or a heartfelt story, Sol reminds us daily of the importance of cherishing one another.
As we celebrate his 100th birthday, we do so with immense gratitude. Sol’s life is not only a personal triumph over adversity; it is a living legacy of endurance, faith, and love. He is a reminder that even after the darkest chapters of history, the human spirit can rebuild, thrive, and shine brightly for generations to come.
We are blessed to have Sol in our midst, and we look forward to celebrating many more milestones with him. Here’s to a century of resilience, and to the joy of celebrating you, Sol- today, tomorrow, and always.
Pictured above: Holocaust Survivor Sol Goldberg with JCCGCI Connect2 Program Director Elisheva Lock, alongside Sabina Green—one of the Holocaust survivors served by JCCGCI and a longtime friend of Sol’s.
We would like to thank our services for Holocaust survivors funders, the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany (Claims Conference), NYC Department for the Aging (DFTA), The Elie Wiesel Holocaust Survivors Initiative of NYC Council, Anonymous, Botwinick-Wolfensohn Foundation, Charles & Mildred Schnurmacher Foundation, The Empathy Fund, Fastenberg Philanthropic Fund, Gemiluth Chessed of Greater New York, the Jean and Louise Dreyfus Foundation, and NY State Office for the Aging.
ABOUT JCCGCI
Jewish Community Council of Greater Coney Island (JCCGCI) is a community-based organization with a citywide scope, providing a wide-spectrum of senior citizen, career, educational, crime-reduction, mental health, community revitalization and related services benefiting all segments of the population. JCCGCI is also a technical assistance provider, offering capacity building services to nonprofits in all five boroughs through its NonProfit HelpDesk division (www.nphd.org). With 40 program sites throughout New York City staffed by almost 400 social service professionals, JCCGCI assists an average of upwards of 2,500 needy individuals and families each day.
JCCGCI’s Holocaust Survivor Support Services is one of the largest in the world, providing critical assistance to over 4,000 Holocaust Survivors annually. Services include Homecare, Transportation, Case Management, Friendly Visiting, Medicaid Appeals, Socialization, and Home Delivered Meals.
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