An Unlikely Connection: What an 80s Pop Icon Did to Move a 90-Year-Old Holocaust Survivor

Dorit Oliver-Wolff BEM from Eastbourne was just five years old when war came to her home country of Yugoslavia.

She spent the following years moving from one hiding place to another, and narrowly escaped imprisonment on a number of occasions.

After recovering from her experiences during the Holocaust, she moved to Germany and became a star.

Now Dorit, 90, has written a strong message to Boy George, the famous pop star and fashion icon.  This comes after he expressed his support for the Jewish community. He released an AI-assisted pro-Israel reggae song, “We Will Dance Again,” or “Od Nirkod” in Hebrew, in late July.

“You say genocide, I say war,” the song begins. Later, Boy George sings, “But if you’re ever confused, I stand with the Jews,” adding, “I don’t feel brave; I just need to behave like a human.”

Here is Dorit’s reaction:

Dear Boy George,

“I just have to say thank you from the bottom of my heart for having the guts to stand up for the Jewish people.

We need people like you to stand up for us! I respect you as a person and admire your courage to speak out in our support.

Bystanders are the silent killers and I am proud to say that, as a Holocaust Survivor, I believe very strongly that only through people like you is humanity saved from the worst of itself.

I came to England because I believed that I would be safe, free from anti-semitism, safe at last. I considered this, so far, to be the haven that all of us Holocaust survivors so badly needed.

Yet now, I am not so sure. I am over 90, proudly Jewish, but if we are not safe here, where should we go?

It is shameful that a multicultural country like Britain is joining this campaign of hate against Jews. Yet Jews have contributed so much to their adopted homeland in many fields. 

The false accusations, lying propaganda, should not be allowed. Who will stand up for us, if not people like you?

I am still fighting for human rights. But when it comes to Jewish human rights, our plea falls on deaf ears. 

I agree that you deserve to be called ‘a Mensch’ – and hopefully there are people who will follow your lead, and stand up and be counted.” 

Dorit Oliver-Wolff, BEM

Honorary Freewoman of the Borough of Eastbourne

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