“Make the Story Yours” - Tova Friedman on Our Responsibility to Remember

87-year-old Tova turned to a young girl in the crowd and asked, “When you grow up, will you tell my story to your children?” “Yes,” she answered. At this Hineni: Here I Am evening at Chabad West Village, Tova Friedman, one of the youngest survivors of Auschwitz, shared a story that is almost impossible to comprehend, and even harder to forget. Born in 1938, Tova was forced as a small child into a ghetto and then deported to Auschwitz, where she endured the unimaginable. Her survival came through a series of moments that can only be described as miraculous. Split-second decisions and acts of courage that kept her just beyond the reach of death. But what defines Tova is not only that she survived. It is that she rebuilt. She came to America, raised a family, and dedicated her life to helping others and to ensuring that the story of the Shoah is never forgotten. In her presence, you feel not only the weight of history, but the strength of a neshama that refused to be broken. Hineni, “Here I Am,” is not just about showing up. It is about answering the call to live with purpose, to carry memory, and to bring light where there was once darkness. Tova embodies that response in the most profound way. Thank you to Tova Friedman for sharing her story and trusting us with it, to Neil Goldman for leading the conversation, to Steeven Mallet for capturing the evening, and to the incredible Hineni committee: Allison Schrager, Thomas Easton, Kyle Price, and chair Ethan Shire. Subscribe to our channel to watch future Hineni events streamed live and to see new conversations as they are released. If you would like to attend upcoming Hineni evenings in person or watch them live, visit: https://www.chabadwestvillage.com/hineni Chabad West Village is a growing Jewish community in Manhattan dedicated to meaningful Jewish life, learning, and connection. If these programs resonate with you, please consider becoming a member of our community: https://www.chabadwestvillage.com/mem... Your support helps bring conversations like this to life. — Chabad West Village A place to learn, connect, and grow.