10% of Holocaust survivors in Israel passed away over past year

Ahead of Holocaust Remembrance Day, Israel’s Ministry of Welfare and Social Security revealed that 32% of Holocaust survivors living in Israel - 42,345 individuals - receive support services through the ministry. The data was published Monday and reflects a growing urgency to care for a rapidly aging population.

According to the report, Israel’s Holocaust survivor population dropped by 10% over the past year, with the number of living survivors falling from 132,826 in April 2024 to approximately 119,903 today.

The ministry currently allocates around 77 million shekels annually to fund survivor assistance programs, which include psychological, social, and economic support. This year, special attention has been given to the estimated 2,500 survivors who lived through the October 7th Hamas massacre. Many of them reported being retraumatized by the events, recalling the horrors of World War II.

About 2,000 Holocaust survivors were evacuated from their homes due to the war. While most have since returned, 128 remain displaced—mainly in Israel’s northern region.

Minister of Welfare and Social Security Yaakov Margi addressed the report, stating: “In the past year, we lost about ten percent of Holocaust survivors in Israel, which places a double responsibility on all of us: first, to increase efforts to provide the remaining survivors with a dignified life and comprehensive mental and social support; and second, to act decisively to document their stories, preserve their testimonies, and pass on their legacy to future generations.”