Editor’s note: Israel Arbeiter, a prominent Holocaust survivor from Newton, died on Oct. 29, 2021, at age 96. He was the founder and former president of the American Association of Jewish Holocaust Survivors of Greater Boston. This interview was conducted in March 2020.

In early March, JewishBoston sat down with local Holocaust survivor Israel “Izzy” Arbeiter to record both a video and an episode of The Vibe of the Tribe podcast. Released on Izzy’s 95th birthday and the 75th anniversary of his liberation, this video of Izzy sharing his story is complete with archival film footage and photographs chronicling the rise of Nazi Germany and the horrors millions of people endured.

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Izzy discusses how he became a slave to the Nazis at the age of 14, and how after being liberated he—with the help of a U.S. military officer—tried to find his family and the woman who saved his life. We hope Izzy’s story of survival, loss, love, resiliency and strength moves you the way it moved us.

Viewer discretion is advised.

Edited by Tyler M. Andrews, with music performed by Josh Friedman.

Listen to our podcast and Q&A with Izzy here.