Project Ahava: A Race to Secure Dignity for a Holocaust Survivor

CHICAGO, IL – March 24, 2026 – For decades, Sami Steigmann has dedicated his life to educating others about the horrors he survived as a child. Now, at 86, the Holocaust survivor finds himself in a quiet battle for a secure and dignified future, a struggle that has prompted a new initiative to ensure his final chapter is one of peace, not precarity.

The Chicago Jewish Alliance, a community-led nonprofit, has launched Project Ahava—Hebrew for "love"—a focused fundraising campaign to secure five years of safe housing for Steigmann. The initiative aims to raise $132,000 by U.S. Holocaust Remembrance Day on April 14, providing a tangible response to the mantra of "Never Forget" by translating memory into direct action.

The Survivor and His Mission

Born in 1939 in what is now Ukraine, Sami Steigmann's life began in the shadow of unimaginable brutality. Before he was old enough to form memories, he and his parents were interned in a Nazi labor camp. There, as a toddler, he was subjected to medical experimentation, the lifelong physical consequences of which he still endures. He miraculously survived starvation thanks to a German woman who secretly provided him with milk, a story he often recounts to illustrate that moral courage can be found in the darkest of places.

After the war, Steigmann's family moved to Israel, where he served in the Israeli Air Force before immigrating to the United States in 1968. He has since become a prolific motivational speaker and educator, sharing his harrowing story not to elicit pity, but to inspire responsibility. He has spoken before the United Nations, the U.S. Congress, and countless schools and community groups, using his past to teach about the dangers of hatred and the importance of being an upstander, not a bystander. His work has earned him accolades, including the Harmony Power Award from the Museum of Tolerance, for his unwavering commitment to compassion and education.

A Quiet Crisis in a Harlem Apartment

Despite his public life of advocacy, Steigmann faces a private struggle. The 86-year-old lives alone in a Harlem apartment that no longer meets the needs of his advancing age. The appropriate solution—an independent living facility that can offer safety, accessibility, and community—comes with a steep New York price tag of approximately $6,000 per month.

While Steigmann receives Social Security, reparations, and assistance from The Blue Card, a national nonprofit dedicated to aiding Holocaust survivors, a significant financial gap remains. The combined sources of his fixed income fall short by $2,200 each month, creating a constant state of uncertainty. This shortfall is the precise target of Project Ahava. The goal of $132,000 is calculated to bridge this monthly gap for five years, providing Steigmann with long-term stability.

"Sami Steigmann does not speak to beg for pity; he speaks to inspire and teach responsibility," said Susan Haggard, President of the Chicago Jewish Alliance, in a statement. "He survived the worst chapter in human history. Project Ahava is our way of ensuring the final chapter of his life is written with dignity, certainty, and the care he deserves."

Turning Memory into Responsibility

The Chicago Jewish Alliance has structured Project Ahava to maximize trust and impact. The organization guarantees that 100 percent of the funds raised will go directly to Steigmann's housing costs, with no administrative or platform fees deducted. The funds are restricted, meaning they are legally designated for this single purpose.

This initiative by the Chicago-based group to support a survivor in New York highlights a modern, interconnected approach to community responsibility. The Alliance, founded in 2024 to combat rising antisemitism, has built its mission on taking direct, tangible action to support the Jewish community in moments of critical need.

"Project Ahava was created to turn memory into responsibility while we still have the chance to honor survivors like Sami," Haggard added. The timing of the fundraiser, culminating on Holocaust Remembrance Day, is intended to serve as a powerful reminder that remembrance must be paired with action.

A Reflection of a Widespread Challenge

Sami Steigmann's situation, while deeply personal, is a reflection of a broader, systemic issue. Of the estimated 13,000 Holocaust survivors living in the New York area, a staggering 53% live at or near the poverty line. Across the United States, many of the last survivors face a confluence of challenges: dwindling numbers, increasing medical needs, and the psychological weight of aging compounded by early-life trauma.

Experts note that the normal challenges of aging—declining health, loneliness, and the need for institutional care—can be particularly re-traumatizing for survivors. The loss of independence can trigger memories of powerlessness, and the environment of a care facility can echo the institutionalization they endured in their youth.

A network of dedicated organizations, including Selfhelp Community Services, UJA-Federation of New York, and Met Council, work tirelessly to provide a safety net. They offer everything from case management and home care to emergency cash assistance and social programs. Yet, as the survivor population ages and their needs become more complex, gaps in the system persist.

Project Ahava represents a specific, targeted effort to fill one such gap for one individual who has given so much to society. It serves as a microcosm of the larger challenge: to ensure that those who survived the ultimate testament to humanity's capacity for evil are able to live out their final years with the security, comfort, and love they have long been denied. Donations can be made directly to the fund at the Project Ahava website, Safe Independent Living for Sami page hosted by the Chicago Jewish Alliance.