Holocaust survivors in Israel face increasing isolation and vulnerability. According to Israel’s Holocaust Survivors Rights Authority, approximately 120,507 Holocaust survivors were living in Israel as of 2025, with an average age of 87. Among them, hundreds continue to live in active war-zone regions, including approximately 869 in the south and 1,118 in northern communities.
Israel Sci-Tech Schools’ Connected Generations (“Mechubarim”) program helps address this growing challenge by creating meaningful relationships between students and survivors. Today, more than 600 students from 25 schools are connected with approximately 370 Holocaust survivors across Israel.
Over the past 15 years, the program has provided companionship, emotional support, and intergenerational connection to one of Israel’s most at-risk elderly populations — while giving students the opportunity to preserve personal histories and build relationships that leave a lasting impact on both generations.
”I am writing my history – I now have 10 pages. And I can read newspapers, play games; I search for my family on the computer. Eldar has helped me a lot.” -Dov Zorni, age 89, Holocaust survivor and ‘connected’.
His young partner, student Eldar Sasson says “I have been working with Dov Zorni for 3 months, visiting him for a few hours, a few days a week. I planned to do something else but I am good at computers and I love helping people. I know him well. I discovered that older people are really nice. He is writing his story on computer and I help him check it and I learn about his life.”
For more information, please send an e-mail to dnadler@israel-scitech-schools.org.
