Abe Piasek's story of survival
opens the door to the message of the Holocaust
We can learn so much from his
courage, resilience, kindness, and joy
My Friend Abe
A Holocaust survivor with joy and verve
"Having taught for over forty years, I have attended almost as many school assemblies commemorating the Holocaust. This was different — invigorating, provocative, and moving. The way Steve told Abe’s story had a profound effect on me as well as the students."
"Having taught for over forty years, I have attended almost as many school assemblies commemorating the Holocaust. This was different — invigorating, provocative, and moving. The way Steve told Abe’s story had a profound effect on me as well as the students."
"The next morning, students in my classes wanted to keep talking about it. I hope that as many students as possible have the opportunity to hear Steve tell Abe’s story. He makes a difference."
"I kept thinking about Abe last night long after your talk was done, and I talked to my mother and my husband about him. Thank you for your passion in making sure we can become witnesses and upstanders."
"Your recordings of Abe in his own words and your obvious heartfelt connection to him as a man of incredible courage and warmth made his life feel palpably real for us. You managed to bring Abe’s experience — and his humor and joie de vivre — into our hearts."
"You didn’t shy away from the difficult topics — the trauma that Abe carried with him his entire life — but due to Abe’s wisdom, his story is also one of mental fortitude and ultimately, of freedom. I can’t thank you enough."
"I couldn't sense a heart in the crowd that wasn't touched after hearing Abe's story. Thank you for introducing us to a person that will always be in our hearts, and for inspiring all of us to be our best selves and spread kindness. Whenever I'm faced with an obstacle in the future, Abe will be on my mind."
"This assembly was undoubtedly the best I've attended in all four years of my high school career. It was one of those moments we simply will never forget."
Abe was taken from his family in Poland at age 13 and forced into three slave labor camps in Poland and Germany. He also survived a selection at Auschwitz in 1944. When he was liberated in 1945, he weighed just 75 pounds.
A few years later, he rebuilt his life in the United States, married, and raised a family—without speaking about what had happened to him for nearly 50 years.
Shortly before his death in 2020, Abe asked his friend, Steve Goldberg, to “keep telling my story.”
Steve has now shared Abe's story more than 180 times.
Abe Piasek (1928-2020)
Steve shares Abe’s story by using powerful video clips (each under 3 minutes) of him speaking. He shows a dozen clips from interviews he conducted with him in his home and clips from his public appearances.
What’s also powerful about how Steve shares Abe’s story is that he knew him personally, and so he can talk about his story and the things Abe did that he saw.
Steve is also a seasoned teacher (20+ years experience) and he knows how to connect with audiences, especially student audiences.
And he is a lawyer, so that training helps for research.
I’m also younger than most of the people who do this work. That’s how I’ve been able to reach 174 audiences in less than five years.
2. It is shared in a powerful way
He survived the Holocaust.
He then was courageous by
a) coming to the US as an orphan to start a new life in 1947
b) deciding in 1995 to be interviewed about the Holocaust after 50 years of silence
c) deciding to speak in public about his experiences
d) going into the cattle car at the US Holocaust Memorial Museum
He was such a force of nature that even when he was hospitalized for a fall at age 90½, he managed to give one final talk from the Hospital lobby, while in a neck brace and a wheelchair.
1. Abe was resilient and courageous
What Makes Abe’s Story, and the Way Steve Shares it, Unique and Worth Hearing?
Steve Goldberg’s mission is to keep Abe’s legacy alive by telling his story to as many people as possible.
Steve has spent more than two decades teaching high school students about history, so he understands how to connect with young people. He is also a graduate of Georgetown Law School, which helped him become a more effective communicator. Steve was so inspired by Abe’s story that he decided to take a break from teaching to tell Abe’s story.
Steve Goldberg
Videos and gallery
Art inspired by abe
Testimonials
