Holocaust survivor, Lily Ebert, has passed away at the age of 100, leaving behind a legacy that touched millions around the world.
Her family, in mourning, remembered her as a beloved figure whose life stood as a testament to resilience and courage.
In a heartfelt tribute on X, her great-grandson Dov Forman wrote, “We are heartbroken to announce the peaceful passing of our beloved matriarch, Lily Ebert, Mummy, Safta, who died at home surrounded by her loving family.”
Ebert, recognized for her tireless efforts to educate others about the Holocaust, was honoured with an MBE in 2023 for her contributions.
She was a founding member of the Unitded Kingdom’s Holocaust Survivor Centre and became an important voice in Holocaust education, even reaching billions of viewers on TikTok alongside her grandson.
Forman, reflecting on her life, recalled her harrowing experience during World War II. “On 9 July 1944, Safta and her family arrived at Auschwitz-Birkenau,” he shared. “Her mother, younger sister, and brother were murdered in the gas chambers.” Despite this unimaginable loss, Ebert made a personal vow. “She promised herself: if she survived that hell on earth, she would tell her story—not with anger, but with strength, dignity, and the determination to honor those who did not.”
This promise, Forman said, was one she fulfilled beyond expectation. “Never has a promise been so profoundly fulfilled as hers,” he wrote. Ebert’s life became a beacon of hope and a warning against hatred, with her story resonating with hundreds of millions globally. “She taught us the power of tolerance and faith, the importance of speaking out, and the need to stand against prejudice.”
With a family spanning five generations, including a surviving daughter and son, ten grandchildren, thirty-eight great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild, Ebert’s influence extended far beyond her immediate circle.
“She rebuilt her life with faith and love, never asking, ‘why me?’ Instead, she focused on what could be rebuilt from the ashes,” Forman reflected, noting how her positive outlook guided the family even through difficult times. “As we mourn our beloved Mummy, Safta, we also celebrate her extraordinary life. A light that shone so brightly has gone dark. She was our hero, and her absence leaves an unimaginable void in our lives.”
Ebert’s journey from a survivor of Auschwitz to receiving royal recognition at Windsor Castle for her services to Holocaust education was deeply meaningful to her.
“Not so long ago, there were people who wanted to kill me for my religion, and today I received this honour. Words cannot explain how much this means to me,” she said after being made an MBE.
True to her word, she spent her life reminding the world of the atrocities committed against the Jewish people and advocating for kindness and tolerance.
“I promised myself that if I survived, then I would tell the whole world what had happened to us in Auschwitz—that there were people killed for no other reason than their beliefs, because we were believed not to be worthy of life.”
Ebert dedicated her life to being a force for good, urging others to “appreciate our differences and learn from each other, and be kind to everyone.” She remained steadfast in her mission, declaring that “something terrible like that should never, ever happen again. As long as I am alive I will teach the world to be tolerant.”
In a poignant moment this year, Ebert became a great-great-grandmother, celebrating with her family as a symbol of survival and triumph over the horrors of the past.
In April, she joyfully proclaimed, “The Nazis did not win,” as she held her newborn great-great-grandchild, a striking symbol of defiance against the genocidal hatred she once endured.
Forman, sharing this moment on X, posted a photo of Ebert surrounded by her descendants, saying, “This week, my great-grandma, Lily Ebert, a 100-year-old Auschwitz survivor, became a great-great-grandma. I never expected to survive the Holocaust. Now I have five beautiful generations. The Nazis did not win!”
The image captured the essence of Ebert’s remarkable journey—from the brink of death at Auschwitz to building a family that spans five generations of Jewish life.
