A Holocaust Survivor’s Story: Surviving, Rebuilding, and Never Forgetting

In this very special episode of Parenting With Vanessa Kahlon, Vanessa sits down with someone truly close to her heart—her father, Ben. With the rise in antisemitism around the world, Ben courageously shares his personal story of survival, trauma, and resilience as a young Jewish boy growing up in Tripoli (now Libya), enduring violent riots, family loss, and displacement.

From witnessing horrific attacks as a child to immigrating to Israel and later building a life from scratch through military service, modeling, and acting—Ben’s story is both heartbreaking and inspiring. He speaks about the pain of being denied education, the strength of family, and how he found purpose through perseverance, self-learning, and love for his people.

This episode is not only a glimpse into history but a call to remember, reflect, and recognize the cost of hate—and the power of dignity, faith, and community.

Key Takeaways from This Episode:
🕯️ Trauma Leaves Invisible Scars – Childhood memories of violence and loss stayed with Ben for life—but so did the love that surrounded him.
🪖 Service Built His Identity – Joining the Israeli military as a teen helped Ben channel anger into purpose, protecting others as he had longed to be protected.
📚 Self-Education Can Change a Life – Despite never having access to formal schooling, Ben became a self-taught entrepreneur, actor, and real estate broker.
🌍 Hate Has No Future – Ben reminds us that hate is self-destructive and peace is the only way forward.
🇮🇱 Israel Is Home, Always – For Ben, Israel represents survival, pride, and legacy—and he returned again and again, even after settling in California.

Resources & Next Steps:
📣 Share this story – If this episode moved you, please share it to amplify voices that remind us why history matters.
🕊️ Speak out against hate – Use your voice and platform to stand against antisemitism and violence of any kind.
📧 Have a story to share? – Email Vanessa if you'd like to be part of a future episode on legacy, healing, or cultural identity.
🎧 Subscribe to the show – Click here and don’t miss more episodes that blend real-life parenting with honest, healing conversations.