The King and the Chief Rabbi have led tributes to an inspirational Holocaust survivor who passed away at her home in north west London, surrounded by her family.
Lily Ebert MBE, 100, educated millions with her story of survival and resilience in the face of the Nazis during the Shoah.
The King said it was “with the greatest sadness” that he heard of Ebert’s death.
In a statement, the King said: "As a survivor of the unmentionable horrors of the Holocaust, I am so proud that she later found a home in Britain where she continued to tell the world of the horrendous atrocities she had witnessed, as a permanent reminder for our generation – and, indeed, for future generations – of the depths of depravity and evil to which humankind can fall, when reason, compassion and truth are abandoned.
"Alongside other Holocaust survivors she became an integral part of the fabric of our nation; her extraordinary resilience and courage an example to us all, which will never be forgotten.”
Prime Minister Keir Starmer issued a statement on X/Twitter, saying: “On behalf of the whole country, I want to send my deepest condolences on the passing of the extraordinary Lily Ebert. Lily represented everything that was best about humanity. I think of her message of tolerance and hope; her courage to share her story and relive the horrors of her experience so that we might learn; her creativity and restless determination to be heard, which even led to her becoming a global star on TikTok. She was without doubt, one of this country’s greatest centenarians.
“In Auschwitz, Lily made her now famous promise, that if she survived, she would tell the world what happened. She kept that promise in the most remarkable way. With her passing today, we must now keep our promise to her. Together we will ensure that Lily’s message echoes eternally across the generations – and that the Holocaust is never forgotten and never again repeated. May her memory be a blessing.”
Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis said Ebert was “a beacon of resilience, courage, and unwavering faith in difficult times.”
"She emerged from the unspeakable horrors of Auschwitz, not with bitterness or cynicism, but with a promise: to bear witness, to educate, and to inspire. Her undeniable fulfillment of that promise stands as Lily’s legacy and our thoughts are with her dear family.
“In a world that needs to learn the lessons of the Shoah more than ever, may the memory of Lily’s extraordinary life forever be a blessing,” the Chief Rabbi wrote.
Born in Bonyhád, Hungary in December 1923, Ebert survived Auschwitz and went on to share her story around the world. Last year, she was awarded an MBE by King Charles for her services to Holocaust education.
Announcing her death on Wednesday morning, Ebert’s family said: “Over the years, Lily’s story has touched hundreds of millions worldwide. Her life-affirming intergenerational memoir, Lily’s Promise, co-authored with her great-grandson Dov Forman, is a reminder of the resilience of the human spirit and the dangers of unchecked hatred.
“Lily taught the power of tolerance and faith, the importance of speaking out, and the need to stand against prejudice.”
Ebert was 20 in 1944 when she was deported with her mother, younger brother and three sisters to Auschwitz-Birkenau. Only Lily and two of her sisters survived and were liberated by Allied Forces in 1945. Her mother, younger sister, and brother were murdered in the gas chambers.
Lily and her two sisters
“In the face of unimaginable loss, Lily made a promise to herself: if she survived that hell on earth, she would tell her story—not with anger, but with strength, dignity, and the determination to honour those who did not. Never has a promise been so profoundly fulfilled as hers,” her family said on Wednesday.
“She rebuilt her life with faith and love, never asking, ‘why me?’ Instead, she focused on what could be rebuilt from the ashes, and her positivity continues to guide us through these difficult times.
“As we mourn our beloved Mummy, Safta, we also celebrate her extraordinary life. A light that shone so brightly has gone dark. She was our hero, and her absence leaves an unimaginable void in our lives,” the family said.
Marking her one-hundredth birthday, the King wrote to Ebert last December: “Your extraordinary strength of spirit, resilience and courage is admired more than I can possibly say.”
Along with her great-grandson Dov Forman, she helps to educate and inform young people about the Holocaust through books and social media content, particularly on TikTok where she garnered more than 2 million followers.
Giving a Hesped (eulogy) in Golders Green, north-west London, before the funeral in Jerusalem, Dov said: “Everyone one of us felt close to you. We are here to say goodbye and apologise for the times we let you down.”
Dov recalled that Lily, with “strength and dignity” and her tireless efforts, ensured that the world would never forget the atrocities of the past.
He referred to his great-grandmother as the “Queen of our family”, describing her as a source of light and laughter. “Safta, to millions, you were a hero, a legend, and an inspiration. In a world so dark, you were always that light, and today that light has gone dark.”
Ebert is survived by a daughter and son, ten grandchildren, 38 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandson.
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Speaking after her death, Karen Pollock CBE, chief executive of the Holocaust Educational Trust, said “Lily Ebert was the epitome of strength and determination.
"Lily lived to be 100 years old – she was invincible and we thought she would live forever. A proud mother, grandmother, great grandmother and great great grandmother, her large loving family was her revenge against the Nazis. She will be remembered for her incredible story, her unparalleled tenacity and her zest for life.
“She belongs in the list of Jewish heroines alongside the likes of Rachel, Miriam and Esther,” Pollock said.
Michael Newman, chief executive of the Association of Jewish Refugees, said “The AJR is deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Lily Ebert MBE.
"Lily was a trailblazing advocate for Holocaust education – her special connection with her great-grandson Dov helped to bridge the generation gap and reach millions of people through social media. As we approach the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz this Holocaust Memorial Day – Lily’s zest for life will burn brightly in our thoughts.”
The family have announced that the funeral will be held on Wednesday, in keeping with Jewish tradition.
