From Auschwitz to hope, a rare firsthand account arrives as survivors’ voices grow fewer
As the number of living Holocaust survivors continues to rapidly diminish and incidents of antisemitism rise worldwide, the Chabad Jewish Community Center is hosting a powerful and timely community event featuring Holocaust survivor Eva Schneider later this month in Folsom.
Schneider will share her firsthand testimony during an event titledFrom Auschwitz to Hope: When Faith Defied the Darkness, scheduled for Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026, at 3 p.m. at the Folsom Community Center.
Born in 1933 in Nitra, Slovakia, Schneider was just 11 years old when she and her mother were deported to Auschwitz. During the Holocaust, she survived repeated selections, forced labor, starvation, a brutal death march, and multiple concentration camps, narrowly escaping the gas chambers before being liberated by American forces on May 5, 1945. More than 30 members of her family were murdered during the Holocaust.
Today, organizers say Schneider’s story carries renewed urgency as the living link to firsthand Holocaust testimony grows increasingly rare.
“This is not just a history program, it is an act of responsibility,” said Rabbi Yossi Grossbaum, director of the Chabad Jewish Community Center in Folsom. “When survivors are no longer here to tell their stories, denial and distortion fill the void. Hearing directly from Eva ensures that truth is preserved, memory is protected, and the next generation understands what is at stake.”
Schneider’s message extends beyond survival alone. Her testimony addresses the enduring power of faith, the consequences of silence, and the moral obligation to confront hatred in all its forms. Organizers say hearing directly from a survivor offers an experience that no book or documentary can replicate.
The event is open to the entire community, with students and young adults especially encouraged to attend. Student tickets have been heavily subsidized to support education and remembrance, reflecting the center’s goal of reaching the next generation while firsthand voices remain.
Community members are encouraged to attend, invite others, and take part in preserving Holocaust memory, organizers said, calling the event both a privilege and a shared responsibility to ensure such atrocities are never repeated.
The program,From Auschwitz to Hope: When Faith Defied the Darkness – An Afternoon with Holocaust Survivor Eva Schneider, takes place Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026, at 3 p.m. at the Folsom Community Center, located at 52 Natoma St. in Folsom.
Advance tickets are $20, with tickets available at the door for $25. Students with valid identification may attend for $5. A $180 sponsor package is also available and includes a meet-and-greet with Schneider along with VIP seating for two. Additional information is available by calling 916-608-9811 or emailinginfo@jewishfolsom.org.
The Chabad Jewish Community Center in Folsom serves Folsom, El Dorado Hills and the surrounding region. Established locally in 2007, the center provides a range of educational, cultural and social programming and is part of a global network of thousands of Chabad centers dedicated to promoting education, morality and community engagement.
Schneider continues to share her story as a testament to faith, resilience and the possibility of hope even in the darkest moments. Despite unimaginable loss, she survived through courage, resourcefulness and a faith instilled by her parents. After the war, she was miraculously reunited with both her mother and father and went on to rebuild her life grounded in gratitude and optimism. Today, she speaks to ensure future generations never forget and never lose sight of the human consequences of hatred.
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