ROME – Italian Holocaust survivor Sami Modiano turns 95

Sami Modiano survived Auschwitz. He has always stressed the importance of transmitting memory to the new generations. “Young people must know, When I’m gone, they’ll be here to ensure it never happens again.” On July 18, Modiano turned 95, and his message has never been more relevant. He received congratulations from the highest state authorities, the Jewish community, and others who shared his commitment to bearing witness. “We witnesses should not die. Let no one dare forget. All the work we have done for decades must not be in vain,” said Edith Bruck, a Holocaust survivor and writer.

“The congratulations I extend to Sami are also for myself. Having survived and turned 95 shows that our persecutors were wrong. We are still here,” said Senator for Life Liliana Segre. “There are many differences between Sami and me. He was born on Rhodes Island (then part of Italy), and I was born in Milan. We had different childhoods. But there is a deep sense of brotherhood shaped by our experiences. It could not be any other way.” Both Segre and Modiano were born in 1930, and they were the only survivors of their families after being deported to Auschwitz-Birkenau. Modiano was one of 25 survivors of the Rhodes Jewish community.

The Jewish Community of Rome expressed its affection and gratitude to Modiano. “After returning from the hell of Auschwitz-Birkenau, he made passing the memory to the future generations his reason for life. Although Sami does not like this date, on which he was arrested in Rhodes in 1944 and later deported, we want to counteract his sadness with the joy of the whole Jewish community. Happy birthday, dear Sami.”