Holocaust Survivor Aharon Barak: ‘Israel is the Safest Place for Jews’

“I Was a Child in the Holocaust” is a special project set to air on Holocaust Remembrance Day on Nickelodeon Israel, in collaboration with the World Zionist Organization. The broadcast aims to connect children and teenagers to Holocaust stories through intimate, age-appropriate conversations with those who endured the horrors at a similar age – conversations that highlight not only memory but remarkable courage and strength. Participants include former President of the Supreme Court of Israel, Prof. Aharon Barak, Yehudit Yerushalmi-Terris, Gideon Lev, and Dr. Raheli Baratz-Rix, Head of the Department for Combating Antisemitism at the World Zionist Organization and a third-generation Holocaust survivor, who plays a pivotal role in educating and connecting Jewish communities worldwide.

As part of the project, actress Kim Or Azulay met with Prof. Barak for an emotional conversation. The judge, born in Lithuania, recounted his life as a child in the Kovno Ghetto: “Life there was like that of prisoners sentenced to death, but the execution date hadn’t been set yet. At any moment, a German soldier could encounter a Jew on the street and execute them.” Despite the ghetto’s hardships, he emphasized the unbreakable human spirit, extraordinary resilience, and mutual responsibility.

Kim shared with Barak the fears of her generation amidst Israel’s current situation. He responded from both a historical and personal point of view: “There’s no absolute safety anywhere, but Israel is the safest place for Jews. This understanding arose from the Holocaust experience and the necessity for a national home. “Antisemitism is ever-present and always felt. Anyone who values the past must know about the Holocaust to prevent similar future experiences.”

One of the most touching moments in their conversation was Barak’s rescue story. His mother hid him during the children’s Aktion and later, they had to hide in a Lithuanian farmer’s house. Since he couldn’t go outside for fear of being caught by the Germans, his mother taught him to engage his mind in various subjects. “People always asked me, President Barak, Judge Barak, Professor Barak, who are you? I always said – I’m Leah’s son. She greatly influenced me. The Jewish fate taught us never to be pessimistic and always to hope for something better.” Not only to remember — but to persist, to rebuild, and to hope. That is the spirit at the heart of this project, and of the stories it seeks to pass on to the next generation.

Kim remarked, “Holocaust Remembrance Day has always been significant for me as the great-granddaughter of a Holocaust survivor – my late great-grandmother Sonia. Having the opportunity to hear more and more survivors’ stories is a privilege. Especially when it involves Aharon Barak. It was fascinating to hear how his opinions and actions over the years were mainly influenced by his childhood during the Holocaust. He’s a wonderful person and hosted us amazingly. It’s important for the younger generation to understand the importance of remembering and passing on these stories. In the future, the responsibility will be entirely ours, to continue telling and ensuring everyone hears about what happened. This is our legacy.”