The great-grandson of a Holocaust survivor who is turning 98 at the end of the month has appealed to the pair’s 1.4 million social media followers to send her a birthday card as a surprise.
Auschwitz survivor Lily Ebert and her great-grandson Dov Forman have built up a vast audience on TikTok for their poignant — but also heartwarming — conversations about her experiences in the Holocaust.
Dov’s appeal on both TikTok and Twitter is set to lead to hundreds of cards from around the world flooding Lily’s letterbox on her birthday, December 29.
Social media users have already replied to Dov’s appeal by sharing pictures of their cards addressed to the survivor, who earlier this year caught Covid-19 and recovered.
Mr. Forman is one Ms. Ebert’s 34 great-grandchildren and has documented her testimony about the Shoah.
He said: “It is so humbling to see so many people, from all over the world, respond to my request to surprise Lily for her birthday!
"I have now already received thousands of kind birthday messages and received hundreds of birthday cards to surprise Lily.
“My great-grandmother has not just survived Auschwitz and the Holocaust; she has built a large and loving family with three children, 10 grandchildren and 34 great grandchildren who all love her very much. Lily’s upcoming 98th birthday, which will now be celebrated together with millions online, is another of life’s affirmations – the Nazis, and the prejudice and hatred that they stood for, didn’t win.”
@lilyebert Reply to @aimeelilyhoff Not human, just numbers 🥺💔#neverforget #auschwitz #holocaust #learnontiktok #holocaustsurvivor #hell #history #viral #jewish
♬ Schindler's List - Movie Theme - Michele Garruti
Those wishing to send a card before December 29th can post them to Dov's PO Box. The address is:
Dov Forman & Lily Ebert
17 Portland Place
London W1B 1PU
