Vera Schaufeld, a revered Holocaust survivor and educator, has died at the age of 95, prompting tributes from across the Jewish community and beyond. Her remarkable life, marked by tragedy, resilience, and a steadfast commitment to Holocaust remembrance, has left an indelible mark on generations who heard her story.
Born in Prague in 1930, Vera’s childhood was abruptly upended by the Nazi invasion of Czechoslovakia. At just nine years old, in 1939, she was told she would have to leave her home and family behind. She became one of the hundreds of Jewish children rescued by Sir Nicholas Winton’s Kindertransport—an initiative created in the wake of Kristallnacht, the infamous night of coordinated Nazi violence against Jewish communities in November 1938. Vera’s parents, unable to escape, remained in what is now the Czech Republic and were later murdered in a concentration camp.
According to the Association of Jewish Refugees (AJR), Vera’s “strength and courage shone through, as she bravely waved farewell to her parents, never to see them again.” Michael Newman, chief executive of the AJR, emphasized, “Despite being only nine years old, Vera’s strength and courage shone through.”
After arriving in England, Vera was raised by a foster family and, following the war, trained as a teacher. Her journey took her to Israel, where she met her husband, Avram. The couple eventually returned to England, where Vera continued to teach, sharing her testimony in schools and colleges. She became an ambassador for Holocaust remembrance and education, dedicating herself to ensuring that future generations would not forget the horrors of the past.
Her dedication did not go unnoticed. In 2019, Vera was awarded an MBE at Buckingham Palace for her services to Holocaust remembrance and education. That same year, she received an honorary doctorate from the University of Roehampton, honors that the AJR said reflected “just how much her work mattered.”
Within the AJR, Vera was a pillar of the Refugee Voices archive, generously sharing her experiences as a Winton child and participating in countless educational events, lectures, and engagements. “Through her eloquence and heartfelt storytelling, she brought the human dimension of the Kindertransport to life,” Newman said. “Thank you, Vera, for your unwavering commitment, your strength, and your generosity. Your voice, your memory, and your spirit will continue to inspire all of us in the AJR—and beyond—for generations to come.”
The Holocaust Educational Trust echoed these sentiments, stating it was “deeply saddened” by her passing. The Trust described Vera as “an extraordinary woman” who “turned her experience of profound loss into a lifelong commitment to education, understanding and hope.” They added, “She spoke with honesty and warmth to countless young people, encouraging them to confront intolerance, racism and antisemitism. We will honour her by continuing her mission and ensuring that her story, and the lessons she shared, endure for generations to come.”
Vera’s story is not just one of personal survival but of the power of testimony. Her willingness to revisit painful memories in the service of education made her an “extraordinary ambassador” for remembrance, as the AJR described. She inspired “countless people” and played a vital role in keeping the memory of the Holocaust alive.
Her passing comes at a time when Holocaust education is as crucial as ever. On November 9, 2025, the March of the Living Southern Region hosted its Kristallnacht Commemorative Program, “Marching Forward: Honoring the Past, Empowering the Future,” at Zinman Hall on the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County campus. The event underscored the ongoing importance of remembrance and the need to combat rising antisemitism.
The program honored Rabbi Dr. Leon Weisberg for his lifetime of leadership in Holocaust and Jewish education. Guest speakers included Julia Jassey, Co-Founder and CEO of Jewish on Campus, and Natalie Sanandaji, a survivor of the October 7 Nova Music Festival massacre. Survivors, teens, parents, educators, and community leaders participated in a solemn six-candle lighting in memory of the Six Million, recited the Mourner’s Kaddish and Hatikvah, and watched a film highlighting the transformational impact of the March of the Living on local teens.
Igor Alterman, President and CEO of the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County, reflected on the event’s significance: “Our Federation is invested in the future of March of the Living. Through commemoration we honor those who came before us. Through immersive and accessible education we strengthen Jewish identity today and help secure a strong Jewish future. Together we are stakeholders in bringing essential Holocaust education to the next generation.”
Stephanie Nichol, Director of March of the Living at the Federation, added, “Looking around this intergenerational gathering, my heart is full. The thirty-eighth year of the March reminds us how much there is still to remember and to teach. As antisemitism rises, Holocaust education and Jewish identity are more vital than ever. Your support keeps survivor testimony alive by placing it directly into the hands and hearts of our teens.”
Rabbi Dr. Weisberg, the event’s honoree, offered a poignant reminder: “Memory is a verb. It is not only what we know; it is what we do with what we know. Numbers have names, and the best answer to Jew-hatred is living a joyful Jewish life. If you see a tear in the fabric of our community, be the thread.”
Jassey and Sanandaji addressed the urgent need to equip young people to respond to contemporary antisemitism, both on campus and online. “Real change comes from the conversations that aren’t public—the hard, uncomfortable ones,” Jassey said. “If we don’t have those conversations with our friends, our children, and our grandchildren, the next generation of leaders will grow up never hearing our stories.” Sanandaji, reflecting on her own survival, added, “Every time we share our stories, we give others the courage to speak, too. I survived the Nova Music Festival attack because others fought for me—now I speak so that no one ever has to feel alone in their Jewish identity again.”
As communities gather to commemorate Kristallnacht and honor figures like Vera Schaufeld and Rabbi Weisberg, the message is clear: remembrance is not passive. It is an active, ongoing commitment—one that demands courage, honesty, and a willingness to confront the darkness of history so that its lessons light the way forward. Vera’s legacy, and the efforts of those who continue her work, remain vital threads in the fabric of Jewish life and memory.
