Judy Weissenberg Cohen, a Holocaust survivor who became a prominent educator and advocate for Holocaust awareness, died on September 6 at the age of 97. Over a career spanning more than three decades, she dedicated herself to teaching about the Holocaust and promoting understanding of its impact, particularly emphasizing women’s experiences during the genocide.
Born on September 17, 1928, in Debrecen, Hungary, Cohen was the youngest of seven children. Her early life was marked by the upheaval of World War II and the Nazi occupation of Hungary. In 1944, she and her family were forced into the Debrecen ghetto before being deported to Auschwitz-Birkenau. Upon arrival, she was separated from her parents and other family members. Surviving the brutal conditions of the camp and a subsequent death march, she was liberated in 1945.
After the war, Cohen reunited with surviving relatives and eventually emigrated to Canada, first to Montreal and then to Toronto, where she established a life with her husband Sidney Cohen and raised two children. Despite initial reluctance to discuss her experiences due to general indifference, she later became an active public speaker, sharing her testimony widely in schools and universities across North America.
Cohen’s commitment to Holocaust education was sparked in 1993 when, nearing retirement, she encountered members of the Heritage Front, a white supremacist, neo-Nazi group, demonstrating in downtown Toronto. Confronting the group’s leader, she was galvanized to combat Holocaust denial and hate speech, dedicating herself to raising awareness about the dangers of hatred and extremism.
In addition to her educational efforts, Cohen focused on amplifying the voices of women affected by the Holocaust, noticing that much literature on the subject had been dominated by male perspectives. She founded a website, Women and the Holocaust – a Cyberspace of Their Own, which provided essays, poetry, and survivor testimonies centered on women’s experiences. The platform aimed to fill a notable gap in Holocaust scholarship and public memory by highlighting gender-specific struggles and resilience.
Throughout her later years, Cohen remained active in public engagement, participating in multiple March of the Living trips to Poland and Israel to guide students interested in Holocaust history. She served as co-chair of the Holocaust Centre Speakers Bureau, fostering survivor testimonies and educating new generations. Her memoir, *A Cry in Unison*, recounting both her personal ordeal and broader reflections on survival and memory, was also made available in audiobook form.
Reflecting shortly before her passing, Cohen expressed a cautious pessimism about the future but underscored the importance of vigilance and political engagement as tools against the resurgence of hatred. She urged audiences to understand the complexities of ideology and politics to effectively counteract extremism.
Her testimony remains archived at the Toronto Holocaust Museum, ensuring that her experiences and lessons will continue to educate and inspire.