Ask the Experts: A Q&A Series from Goodman JFS
At Goodman Jewish Family Services, we believe knowledge is power. In this Ask the Experts Q&A series, Goodman JFS President & CEO Randy Colman sits down with our professional leaders for timely conversations on the issues that matter most to our community.
Whether you’re seeking insights, support or a deeper understanding of the services we provide, this series is designed to offer practical guidance and expert perspectives on mental health, family wellbeing and caring for our community. It’s just one more way we aim to serve by supporting those who need help and informing those looking to make a difference.
Q&A with Rami Spiegel, Assistant Director, Holocaust Survivor Assistance Program
As the number of Holocaust survivors continues to decline, many people assume their struggles are part of the past. In reality, thousands of survivors are still living today, navigating the complex realities of aging, long-term trauma and financial insecurity. This Ask the Experts Q&A explores what life looks like for Holocaust survivors now, with a focus on the challenges they face and the importance of understanding their needs, especially here in South Florida.
Q: Are Holocaust survivors still living today, and what does life look like for them now?
A: Yes. Worldwide, approximately 220,800 Holocaust survivors are still living. About 31,000 reside in the United States, including an estimated 1,500 in Broward County, Florida, one of the largest concentrations of survivors in the country. Of those, more than 600 are served locally through Goodman Jewish Family Services of Broward County.
Most survivors today are in their late 80s, 90s and beyond. While each individual’s experience is unique, many face the realities of aging, including complex health needs, rising costs of care and social isolation. These challenges are often compounded by the long-term effects of trauma and limited financial resources.
With support from the Claims Conference, survivors are able to age with dignity in their own homes, receiving coordinated care that may include case management, home care, housekeeping and financial assistance when needed.
Q: What is a common misconception people have about Holocaust survivors?
A: A common misconception is that Holocaust survivors no longer need financial assistance. In reality, many survivors in Broward County live below the poverty line and rely on public benefits to meet their basic needs.
The passage of time has not erased the economic consequences of displacement, loss of family support systems and interrupted careers. For many survivors, financial vulnerability remains a daily reality.
Q: Why do so many Holocaust survivors experience financial insecurity and struggle with basic needs later in life?
A: Many Holocaust survivors living in Broward County emigrated from the former Soviet Union later in life and did not have long work histories in the United States. As a result, they had fewer opportunities to build savings, pensions or retirement security.
These challenges were compounded by the years it took many survivors to rebuild their lives after the war and displacement. Today, this last generation of Holocaust survivors represents one of the most vulnerable older-adult populations in the world. Despite decades of restitution efforts, a significant number continue to live with unmet health, housing and caregiving needs.
Q: How does Holocaust trauma continue to affect survivors as they age, both emotionally and physically?
A: Holocaust trauma continues to affect survivors in deeply interconnected ways as they grow older.
- Emotionally, trauma symptoms may intensify with age, resurfacing as PTSD, anxiety, sleep disturbances or emotional withdrawal.
- Physically, early-life starvation and brutality can lead to long-term physiological changes, altered stress responses and chronic health conditions.
- Cognitively, lifelong trauma can interact with age-related decline, sometimes worsening mental and functional health.
- Socially and psychologically, the aging process itself can reactivate traumatic memories along with deep feelings of loss, vulnerability and fear.
Q: As we observe Holocaust Remembrance Day on January 27, what do you wish more people understood about survivors today?
A: Resilience does not always look heroic later in life. For many Holocaust survivors, resilience today means maintaining routines, preserving independence, staying socially connected and continuing cherished traditions despite physical or emotional limitations.
Their strength often appears in quiet, ordinary moments that are easy to overlook, but no less powerful. Recognizing those moments is one of the most meaningful ways we can honor survivors today.