The Jewish community and history advocates mourn the loss of Ben Lesser, a Holocaust survivor whose life story serves as a poignant testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the importance of remembrance. Lesser, who passed away in late September at 97, leaves behind a legacy of hope and education through his Zachor Holocaust Remembrance Foundation. Lesser's foundation has been instrumental in fostering Holocaust education, ensuring that the atrocities of the past are neither forgotten nor repeated.
Lesser's journey through horror began at just 11 years old, entering his first of four concentration camps. He endured conditions most would consider unimaginable today. Lesser shared his harrowing experiences, including death marches and train rides so cramped and devoid of necessities that survival seemed unfathomable. Of the 80 people who began one such train journey, only four survived, Lesser and his cousin among them. "Everyone around me is dead," Lesser told ABC15, underscoring the magnitude of the loss experienced during these atrocities.
After the war, Lesser established a new life in Los Angeles, triumphing over tragedy by marrying, starting a family, and running a successful business. But the memory of the past remained deeply embedded in his actions. Lesser founded the Zachor Holocaust Remembrance Foundation, known by its Hebrew command to "remember." The foundation played a key part in Holocaust education, allowing Lesser's personal testament to educate future generations.
With an uptick in antisemitic hate crimes, Lesser's message has proven to be timeless and critical. "Hitler and the Nazis did not start with killing. It all started with hate. The hatred has to stop," Lesser implored, according to ABC15. The foundation's impact extends into the classroom. Last year, Arizona Governor Doug Ducey signed a bill into law, requiring students to learn about the Holocaust and other genocides. This educational initiative aligns with Lesser's vision that teaching lessons of love can change minds and open hearts, even if it's just one person at a times.
The Zachor Foundation continues to honor Lesser's mission, shaping curricula and touching lives across the globe. As the mantle of remembrance passes to the next generation, Lesser's plea for a world where love triumphs over hate remains as pertinent as ever.
