NEW YORK (VINnews) – Holocaust survivor David Einhorn, the sole survivor of his immediate family after enduring the Auschwitz concentration camp during World War II, was honored Monday evening at a celebration marking his 100th birthday, bringing together Holocaust survivors, elected officials, rabbis, community leaders, family members and friends at Saville Manor in Brooklyn’s Borough Park neighborhood.

The celebration on 11th Avenue recognized Einhorn’s century of resilience, faith and perseverance and highlighted his journey from surviving the Holocaust to rebuilding a thriving family and community life.

The event was co-sponsored by Makor Care and Services Network, Nachas Health, the Jewish Community Council of Greater Coney Island (JCCGCI), the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany (Claims Conference) and the Holocaust Education Initiative (HEI).

One of the evening’s central moments was the completion and dedication of a new Sefer Torah. Rabbi Shmuel Traube of Bais HaSTaM in Brooklyn completed the writing of the Torah, which was dedicated by Einhorn in honor of his 100th birthday. Einhorn dedicated the Torah in memory of his late wife, in honor of his beloved daughters, and in memory of his parents and siblings who were murdered during the Holocaust. The ceremony concluded with the writing of the Torah’s final letters followed by a traditional siyum celebrating the completion of the scroll.

Born in 1926 in Sighet, Romania, Einhorn was deported with his family to Auschwitz during the Holocaust. He was the only survivor among his parents, three sisters and two brothers. As Allied forces advanced toward the camp, Einhorn remained behind rather than join a Nazi death march, risking his life to obtain and distribute food to fellow prisoners.

Following the war, Einhorn rebuilt his life first in Israel and later in New York City, where he became a respected businessman and active member of the Jewish community. Organizers said his greatest legacy is the family he built after surviving the Holocaust. He was surrounded at Monday’s celebration by his daughters, relatives, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, whom speakers described as a living testament to resilience, hope and Jewish continuity.

Among those attending were Holocaust survivors, members of the Makor community, community leaders, representatives of the sponsoring organizations and numerous elected officials.

Those presenting proclamations and citations honoring Einhorn included U.S. Rep. Yvette Clarke, New York State Sens. 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.

Former New York City Council Member Chaim Deutsch served as master of ceremonies. Rabbi Dovid Goldwasser delivered inspirational remarks, and internationally acclaimed Jewish singer Shulem Lemmer performed throughout the evening.

Several organizational leaders reflected on Einhorn’s life and the importance of preserving the stories of Holocaust survivors as their numbers continue to decline.

Tzally Seewald, chief executive officer of Makor Care and Services Network, said friendships between Holocaust survivors and individuals with special needs served by Makor have become a meaningful part of the organization’s mission, creating lasting relationships built on shared experiences, compassion and respect.

Rachelle Deutsch-Sauer, Makor’s director of communications and development and founding director of the Holocaust Education Initiative, said Holocaust education extends beyond classrooms by creating opportunities for survivors, volunteers and people of all generations to interact and learn from one another.

Rizy Horowitz, director of survivor services at Nachas Health, described Einhorn as one of many Holocaust survivors served by the organization through meal programs, Shabbos assistance and other support services. Horowitz noted that Nachas Health previously arranged for Einhorn to attend a White House Chanukah celebration, where he met then-President Donald Trump, calling it a privilege to celebrate his milestone birthday.

Rabbi Moshe Wiener, executive director of the Jewish Community Council of Greater Coney Island, said Einhorn’s life demonstrates that while the tragedies of the Holocaust cannot be changed, future generations can respond by building lives rooted in compassion, faith and perseverance.

Zehava Birman Wallace, director of JCCGCI’s Holocaust Survivor Case Management, Socialization and Home Delivered Meals Program, said every Holocaust survivor carries a living history that cannot be replaced and stressed the importance of ensuring survivors receive the dignity, care and recognition they deserve.

Yehudah Zellermaier, managing director of Holocaust Survivor Support Services at JCCGCI, said the centennial celebration honored not only Einhorn’s remarkable milestone but also the courage and resilience of Holocaust survivors whose experiences continue to shape future generations.

Organizers said the evening served as both a celebration of Einhorn’s 100th birthday and a reaffirmation of the community’s commitment to preserving the memory of the Holocaust and ensuring that survivors’ stories continue to educate and inspire.

“May we continue to preserve the memories of those we lost, celebrate the lives and legacies of our survivors, and pass their stories on to future generations,” the sponsors said in a joint statement.

The celebration concluded with participants describing Einhorn’s life as a powerful reminder that even after unimaginable loss, faith, family and perseverance can endure, and that the legacy of Holocaust survivors lives on through the generations they helped build.