AN EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMME
Lady Zahava Kohn MBE
Zahava Kohn (Kanarek) was born in Palestine in 1935 and spent her early years in pre-war Amsterdam. These were anxious times for European Jewish families living in the shadow of Nazi Germany. In May 1943, Zahava and her family were deported to Westerbork transit camp in Holland, and in January 1944, they were sent to Bergen-Belsen in Germany. After their release in 1945, they underwent intensive rehabilitation in Switzerland before returning to Amsterdam, hoping to rebuild their disrupted and shattered lives.
In 1958, Zahava moved to London. She married pharmacologist Dr. Ralph Kohn (the late Sir Ralph Kohn) in March 1963, and they made their home in London. She lived there for the rest of her life, raising three daughters and later becoming a grandmother to five grandchildren.
In 2001, following the passing of her mother, Rosy, Zahava discovered a hidden archive of documents and memories, precariously collected and preserved during the war tucked away in a small suitcase at the back of a cupboard. This extraordinary collection became the foundation of her book, Fragments of a Lost Childhood, published in 2009. After uncovering these memories, Zahava, alongside her daughter Hephzibah, began visiting schools across the UK and Germany, sharing her family’s story through the Surviving the Holocaust educational programme.
Zahava passed away in July 2022, leaving a profound and lasting impact. A teacher who attended one of her presentations reflected:
“Thank you both for such an uplifting, extraordinary and inspiring lecture - full of hope, forgiveness, and looking ahead. Living life without regrets - a phenomenal message for all future generations.”
Her story has been featured in numerous news articles, online exhibitions, and interviews over the years. In recognition of her dedication to Holocaust education, Zahava was awarded an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List in October 2020.
Beyond her work in Holocaust education, Zahava was actively involved in charitable causes, supporting the arts, music, and scientific, educational, and humanitarian initiatives.