2025 Event

Tova Friedman is one of the youngest Holocaust survivors, a title she carries with both honor and sorrow. Born in Tomaszow Mazowiecki, Poland, Tova was one of only five children from her hometown to survive the atrocities of the Nazi regime, during which more than 1.5 million Jewish children were murdered. Throughout her harrowing journey, she witnessed unimaginable horrors and narrowly escaped death on numerous occasions. She is among a select few who survived the gas chambers and lived to share her story. 

At the age of 83, Tova finally wrote her memoir, The Daughter of Auschwitz, which became a NY Times Best Seller and, to date, has been translated to over 15 languages. 

In this powerful book, she recounts the devastating events of the Holocaust, preserving the memory of the past at a time when the truth is at risk of being forgotten. Collaborating with award-winning journalist and former war correspondent Malcolm Brabant, Tova's memoir brings to light the stark realities of one of the worst atrocities in human history. Brabant’s meticulous research helped Tova recall her experiences in vivid detail, resulting in an unforgettable account of survival and loss.

Tova is dedicated to educating younger generations about the Holocaust, and alongside her grandson Aron Goodman, she co-founded TovaTok, a social media platform aimed at sharing Holocaust education and spreading her story to a global audience. With over half a million followers and more than 100 million views, TovaTok has become a vital resource for raising awareness of the Holocaust's horrors and its lasting impact.

This summer, Tova will release a new book, The Girl Who Lived to Tell Her Story, targeted at young adults. The book features a 12-year-old Tova sharing her life story with a childhood friend, bringing her experiences to a new generation of readers.

Tova emigrated to the United States with her parents when she was 11 years old, settling in Brooklyn, where she later met and married Maier Friedman, with whom she shared a 60-year marriage. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Brooklyn College and a Master of Arts in Black Literature from City College of New York. After living in Israel for more than a decade, where she taught at Hebrew University in Jerusalem, Tova returned to the U.S., earned a Master of Arts in Social Work from Rutgers University, and became the director of Jewish Family Service of Somerset and Warren Counties for over 20 years. She continues to work as a therapist, serving her community with compassion and dedication.

Tova has four children and eight grandchildren, and she remains active in speaking engagements, sharing her story at schools, colleges, public forums, and places of worship across the country, ensuring that the lessons of the Holocaust continue to reach new generations.

Tova Friedman was recently featured in USA Today to remind people that "we cannot forget".