Meet Ben Lesser
Ben. A man who lived a life with meaning. A life with purpose. A life that mattered.
Ben was a Holocaust Survivor, Author, Lecturer, and visionary founder of The ZACHOR Holocaust Remembrance Foundation. He was known around the world for his courageous testimony, tireless advocacy and unwavering commitment to education and remembrance.
Born in Krakow, Poland in 1928 to Shari Segal and Lazar Leser. Ben was the second youngest of five children, Moshe Leser, Lola Lieber-Schwartz, Goldie Leser and baby brother Naftali Leser.
At age ten his life as a boy was forever changed. During those 5 years of living hell on earth, Ben was fortunate to survive several Ghetto’s, four concentration camps, including Auschwitz, Birkenau, a seven-week death march, and two death trains, one of which was the notorious ill-fated death train from Buchenwald to Dachau where of the 6,000 inmates that walked on, only 18 walked off to be liberated 3 days later. As of September 23, 2025, Ben was the last living survivor from that train.
Of Ben’s nuclear family of seven, only two survived the Holocaust – Lola and Ben. The rest of his immediate family as well as his extended family who numbered in the hundreds were all slaughtered by the Nazi’s in their willing collaborators.
In 1947, Ben immigrated to America making his way to Los Angeles, where he married is beloved wife, Jean Singer in 1950. They were married for 72 years before her passing in 2022. Ben & Jean have been blessed with 2 daughters, 4 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
After working 25 years for UPS, Ben became a successful Realtor and opened his own offices in Los Angeles. After retiring to Las Vegas, Ben has devoted his time to speaking about the Holocaust and later co-founded The ZACHOR Holocaust Remembrance Foundation with daughter Gail Lesser-Gerber in 2009.
Ben Lesser, passed away peacefully at nearly 97 years old September 23, 2025.
His life was a living testament to resilience and hope. His story of survival and his message to choose love continues to inspire thousands. Through his story, the world was reminded that even after unthinkable suffering, dignity, compassion can prevail. His devotion to build light through his foundation is a legacy that will never fade.
May his memory be a blessing, etched in eternity.
“ZACHOR”
