Honoring Max Glauben: A Legacy of Remembrance and Education

On January 27, 2025—International Holocaust Remembrance Day and the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz—the city of Dallas, TX, unanimously voted to rename a street in honor of Holocaust survivor Max Glauben. The tribute recognizes Max’s lifelong dedication to Holocaust education, remembrance, and his mission to combat hatred through knowledge and awareness.

Max Glauben, the father of Past Supreme Prior Phil Glauben, was a co-founder of the Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum and spent decades sharing his history with students and communities across the country. Born in 1928 in Warsaw, Poland, Max and his family endured the horrors of the Warsaw Ghetto before being deported to the Majdanek concentration camp. He survived multiple Nazi labor and concentration camps, including Budzyn, Mauthausen, and Flossenbürg, before being liberated by U.S. forces in 1945. After immigrating to the United States, he settled in Dallas, where he became a leading advocate for Holocaust remembrance, ensuring that future generations would learn from history and stand against antisemitism.

“It was an immense privilege to represent my father, Max Glauben, whose journey from unimaginable loss to a symbol of hope and education will continue to inspire us all—this street topper will serve as a lasting tribute to his mission of teaching the world that ‘hate is a disease, and education is the cure.'” noted Past Supreme Prior Phil Glauben.

Max’s commitment to education extended beyond his storytelling. In 2018, the USC Shoah Foundation, in partnership with the Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum, featured him in the Dimensions in Testimony interactive exhibit, ensuring that his firsthand testimony would remain accessible for generations to come. He also established a foundation to provide scholarships for students pursuing Holocaust education.

Sarah Golman, Max’s granddaughter and current COO of the Dallas Jewish Community Foundation, attended the street-renaming ceremony. Following the event, she shared on social media: “While he was alive, Max started a foundation to sponsor scholarships for students pursuing Holocaust educational opportunities, and he often spoke about education being the magic ingredient to combat hate around the world. Today, we have honored that legacy by creating the Max Glauben Holocaust Education Fund to support students of all kinds in furthering their own education of the Holocaust, hoping they will gain inspiration from my grandfather’s optimism and be an Upstander. In today’s climate, the Jewish community and the world need more people standing up to hatred and antisemitism.”

Attendees gather to witness the unveiling of the new street sign in front of the Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum

Sigma Alpha Mu is proud to stand in recognition of Max Glauben’s legacy. Executive Director Andy Huston shared, “The only way to ensure that the horrors of the Holocaust are never repeated is to educate the public and future generations of leaders. It is worth noting that Sigma Alpha Mu played a role in saving survivors of the Holocaust through its refugee program that began in 1935. Today, our fraternity continues to educate members and chapters about the Holocaust, antisemitism, and hate. Our international programs have been held at the Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum, and convention delegates have heard Past Supreme Prior Phil Glauben share his father’s story of survival. Sigma Alpha Mu takes this moment to celebrate the life, impact, and memory of Max Glauben.”

Through his resilience, storytelling, and unwavering commitment to education, Max Glauben turned his painful past into a lesson of hope and perseverance. His impact will continue to inspire individuals and communities to stand up against hate, ensuring that the memory of the Holocaust remains a powerful reminder to build a better future.

Sigma Alpha Mu’s Mission is to foster the development of collegiate men and our alumni by instilling strong fraternal values, offering social and service opportunities, encouraging academic excellence and teaching leadership skills. Our vision is to transform Sigma Alpha Mu into the first choice of collegians seeking a forward-thinking, inclusive fraternity which enhances the university experience and prepares the fraternity member for a fulfilling life. Sigma Alpha Mu was founded in 1909 at the College of the City of New York as a fraternity of Jewish men and has been open to all men of good moral character since 1953. We will continue to attract members of all beliefs who appreciate our great heritage as a fraternity of Jewish men. Learn more at sam.org.