On March 19, 2025, the organization If You Heard What I Heard hosted a “Night of Resilience” fundraiser at New York City Winery. Third-generation Holocaust survivors founded the organization, which centers on ensuring that the world never forgets what happened during the Holocaust.
Reggae rapper Matisyahu headlined the event, but the performances were secondary to the event’s message: never forgetting the Holocaust. The nonprofit took measures like hiring security to make sure the event went off without a hitch.
Giving Survivors a Voice
To kick off the event, If You Heard What I Heard founder and executive Carolyn Siegal said, “No one will stop us from holding our concert.” Matisyahu headlined another If You Heard What I Heard fundraising event the previous year, which raised $200,000 for the cause.
If You Heard What I Heard shines a light on first-hand Holocaust survivor stories that grandparents shared with their grandchildren—the last generation to hear these stories directly from the survivors themselves. The event included a video chronicling the stories of 62 survivors and descendants who had previously provided the organization with interviews.
If You Heard What I Heard’s mission isn’t even close to finished, as the list of families waiting to share their own stories clocks in at about 450. Fundraising events such as this help If You Heard What I Heard reach that goal. Siegel said, “We really need to tell these stories.”
From Matthew Miller to Matisyahu
Matisyahu (previously Matthew Miller) grew up in New York—particularly in the northern suburb of White Plains. After visiting Israel at 16, Miller pursued his music goals after dropping out of high school. Miller then started developing his rap style, showcasing reggae in his music.
As Miller pursued his career, he began studying in Brooklyn as part of the Orthodox community, which inspired him to infuse his Jewish spirituality into his music. Around that time, Miller shifted to the name Matisyahu before releasing his first album, Shake Off the Dust…Arise, which debuted in 2004.
Alongside his quartet, Matisyahu’s performance at New York City Winery included eight songs. The set list included “Sunshine,” “Lord Raise Me Up,” and “Surrender.” Matisyahu’s style ranges from rapping, singing, and beatboxing, which he alternates between when he performs. Some of his inspirations include Bob Marley and Phish.
Highlighting a Survivor’s Story
As the set came to a close, Matisyahu gave Holocaust survivor David Zajac a platform to speak. Zajac’s father got ripped away from the toddler and his family in 1942 when his father was forced into Auschwitz. Zajac’s mother managed to flee with him and his brother, taking refuge in a farm in Southern France before their 1945 rescue.
Matisyahu said, “We have to stick together. We have to honor those who survived. From seeing the survivors we know that at any point things can flip on us, so we need to have a place to be.” He added, “So thank you to our survivors. Thank you to all of you out there who are proud to be Jewish. It’s an honor and privilege, even through all the darkness, to be able to come together.”
Following the speeches, Matisyahu performed his 2009 hit “One Day” from his album, Light, to add a hopeful note to the end of his set.
