Ashley Benson Shares Powerful Meeting with Holocaust Survivor Joseph Samuels
Actress honors resilience and courage in moving encounter for Borrowed Spotlight project
Poulami is an associate editor. She did her MA in English from Miranda House, University of Delhi and has qualified UGC-NET. She also holds a PG diploma in Editing and Publishing from Jadavpur University. Her journey as a content writer began in 2017 and since then, Poulami has garnered diverse interests along the way.
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Ashley Benson recently shared a deeply moving experience on Instagram, documenting her meeting with Holocaust survivor Joseph Samuels as part of the Borrowed Spotlight project by photographer Bryce Thompson. The actress, known for her roles in film and television, posted multiple images showing her conversation with the 94-year-old survivor, whose remarkable journey of resilience touched her deeply.
In her heartfelt post, Benson described the encounter as an honor, emphasizing the importance of Samuels’ “story of survival, resilience, and sheer audacity in the face of evil.” The images show Benson and Samuels engaging in in-depth conversation about his extraordinary life experiences, and also posing for photographs.
Born in Baghdad in 1930, Joseph Samuels was just ten years old when he survived the Farhud massacre—a violent pogrom against the city’s Jewish community in 1941. This brutal attack, fueled by Nazi propaganda and growing antisemitism, involved looting, attacks, and murder of Jewish residents.
“I still remember the intermittent screams of women during the night,” Samuels told Benson, according to her caption. This powerful testimony offers a rare firsthand account of one of history’s darkest chapters.
A Journey Of Survival And Success
Following the Farhud, young Joseph was smuggled into Israel via Iran, where he eventually joined the navy. His remarkable journey continued as he later made his way to Montreal, Canada, where he built a successful business career.
What stands out in Samuels’ story, as Benson noted, is his refusal to be defined by the tragedies he experienced. “That’s what helped me to push through, to face the difficulties and failures of life, and to get to where I am,” Samuels shared with the actress.
The Borrowed Spotlight project, which appears to document the stories of remarkable individuals like Samuels, provides a platform for sharing these crucial historical testimonies with new generations.
The Importance Of Preserving Holocaust Testimony
Benson’s encounter with Joseph Samuels highlights the critical importance of preserving firsthand accounts of the Holocaust and related atrocities. As survivors age, these opportunities to hear directly from those who experienced such historical events become increasingly rare and valuable.
The Farhud that Samuels survived represents a lesser-known chapter of Holocaust history—the persecution of Jewish communities in Arab countries during World War II. By sharing his story, both Samuels and Benson contribute to a more complete understanding of the global impact of antisemitism and Nazi influence during this period.
In her post, Benson concluded with a call to action for her followers: “May we all take a moment to learn from Joseph—a true hero.” This sentiment underscores the value of not just remembering historical atrocities, but actively learning from the resilience and wisdom of those who survived them.
As the world continues to grapple with contemporary forms of hatred and persecution, stories like that of Joseph Samuels serve as powerful reminders of both the darkest and most inspiring aspects of human nature—the capacity for cruelty, but also the remarkable ability to survive, rebuild, and find meaning after unimaginable trauma.
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