STORIES OF LIGHT
Stories of Light invites you to engage with the voices of Holocaust Survivors, voices that illuminate resilience, hope, kindness, and the courage to stand up against hate.
As you watch one testimony each night of Chanukkah, we invite you to sit with their stories, stories of endurance, resistance, and the strength to rebuild. Each testimony offers a moment to reflect, learn, and carry forward the values that shaped these extraordinary lives. These lessons are not just history; they are a guide for how we show up today: with empathy, with bravery, and with a commitment to standing against hate in all its forms.
As we listen, we honour the experiences of Holocaust Survivors and strengthen our commitment to building a world defined not by darkness, but by empathy, responsibility, and light.
Thank you to Sarita Gold for providing the moving Holocaust Survivor testimony shared in this campaign. All videos have been Directed by Sarita Gold and Produced by AD Media.
Ana and Gaby Deleon
Holocaust Survivors Ana and Gaby Deleon share their remarkable and deeply personal stories of survival. Gaby was liberated in Italy after surviving under false papers identifying him as a Muslim. Ana was deported to Auschwitz and later liberated by American forces.
Ana and Gaby share their story of survival in this moving testimony and remind us of our responsibility to stand up to hate and antisemitism to ensure Never Again is a reality.
Dr Dasia Black Gutman
Dr Dasia Black, born in Poland in 1938, was a child when the war broke out. At four years of age, her parents were forced to make the ultimate sacrifice and leave Dasia with a Polish Catholic woman in hopes her life would be saved. Dasia never saw her parents again. After the war, she was adopted by her aunt and uncle. In 1951, Dasia emigrated to Australia.
Dasia’s extraordinary story of courage and survival is told with strength and clarity. She is a testament to the human will to endure darkness and fight for light. As you bear witness to Dasia’s strength, let it inspire your own strength.
George Sternfeld
George Sternfeld, born in Warsaw in 1939, survived the Holocaust not in the camps, but in the icy forests of Soviet Siberia. George and his family emigrated to Australia and rebuilt their lives. His extraordinary journey is captured in his memoir, Chocolate to Anzac Biscuits, which traces his survival, identity, and belonging across continents. This testimony captures the lesser-known Holocaust experience of Soviet exile, the strength of family, and the power of storytelling to preserve truth.
George is known for many things: his warm smile, bowtie collection, and love of sweet treats, but what we hold most closely is this message from him: there is one race in this world, and that is the human race. As you watch his testimony and light tonight's Chanukkah candle, let this inspire you to bring light into the world.
Paul Drexler
Paul Drexler was born in Slovakia in 1938 and deported to Auschwitz as a teenager. In 1948, he arrived in Australia with his mother. Since 2000, Paul has dedicated his time to sharing his story at the Sydney Jewish Museum, educating young people about the danger of hate and antisemitism and the importance of perseverance and resilience. In this deeply personal reflection, Paul shares the devastating journey through Nazi persecution, survival, and the meaning of freedom 80 years on.
Let Paul’s story guide you, his words of survival inspire you, and his dedication to bringing light into the world after surviving a time of such darkness uplift you.
Eddie Jaku
Eddie Jaku - The Happiest Man on Earth - reflects on his survival through Nazi Germany, the brutality he witnessed as a Jew, and the values that gave him strength: family, friendship, and forgiveness. A survivor of multiple concentration camps, Eddie chose not to live in hatred, but in gratitude. His memoir, The Happiest Man on Earth, became an international bestseller, inspiring millions with its message that “life can be beautiful if you make it so.”
Eddie’s remarkable outlook on life, his call to kindness, and his unwavering commitment to sharing his story remind us of the power of positivity and light. As young adults, we hold the responsibility to carry his message forward.
Eddie Jaku passed away on 12 October 2021. May his memory be a blessing.
Yvonne Engleman
Discover the powerful story of Yvonne Engelman, a Holocaust Survivor who overcame unimaginable horrors to rebuild her life in Australia. Born in 1927 in Czechoslovakia, Yvonne’s childhood was destroyed by the Nazi regime. Deported to Auschwitz-Birkenau and separated from her parents, she endured starvation, disease, and brutal death marches. After her liberation in 1945, Yvonne arrived in Sydney in 1948 as a penniless Jewish orphan. She went on to marry another Holocaust Survivor, becoming one of the first orphan couples to wed in post-war Australia. We honour Yvonne’s courage and her powerful story of survival, love, and resilience. Yvonne passed away on 23 May 2025. May her memory be a blessing.
Jack Meister OAM
Jack Meister OAM, born in Poland in 1928, was just a child when the Nazis invaded Poland. His family were sent to the Kielce ghetto in 1941, and Jack was sent to forced labour. In 1943, Jack returned to find the Ghetto liquidated and his family gone. He never saw or heard from them again. Jack was transported to Radom work camp and then to Auschwitz.
In this moving testimony, 98-year-old Jack recounts his survival despite the overwhelming tragedy and darkness he faced. His resilience and hope helped him survive and eventually rebuild his life in Australia.
For 30 years, Jack shared his story with thousands at the Sydney Jewish Museum. Jack passed away on 15 November 2025. As you watch his testimony and light tonight's Chanukkah candle, commit to taking his story with you, to bringing light into the world and mitigating darkness in Jack's honour.
Lotte Vidor
As a young girl living under Nazi occupation, Lotte Vidor spent her childhood in hiding. Lotte shares her memories of life in the ghetto, constant fear, and the everyday restrictions Jewish women faced, including being unable to shop for food or walk freely in the streets. Lotte reflects on her family's strength and resilience, how they endured unimaginable hardship and, years later, grew from a small wartime dinner table to a multigenerational family reunion.
“Except for a miracle, I cannot say how it was that I survived” - Lotte Vidor. Let Lottes’ testimony serve as a powerful reminder of survival, courage, and the enduring will to live. As you light tonight's Chanukkah candle, commit to a life of light, miracles and resilience.