10 lessons from The Happiest Man on Earth - by Eddie Jaku

Aug 21, 2023

Eddie Jaku, pictured above shortly after his 100th birthday. The self-proclaimed "happiest man on Earth" shared his story with the world in a popular TED Talk, a best-selling memoir and as a volunteer at the Sydney Jewish Museum, which he helped create.

After the Holocaust he remained unhappy — until his son was born

Jaku was born Abraham Jakubowicz in Leipzig, Germany, in 1920, to a family that considered themselves "German first, Jewish second." He was kicked out of school as a teenager because he was Jewish, and completed his high school education in another city under an alias.

Beginning in 1938, Jaku and his family were sent to several concentration camps including Buchenwald, Gurs and eventually Auschwitz, which he later described as "hell on Earth."

Because Jaku had studied engineering, he was spared the gas chamber and instead worked as a slave laborer. His parents and other family members did not survive the war.

 Jaku himself was sent on a "death march" during the evacuation of Auschwitz in 1945, but managed to break free. He hid out in a forest alone for months, he said, subsisting off slugs and snails, until he was rescued by the American Army.

Later that year he returned to Belgium, where he met and married his wife of 75 years, Flore. They moved to Australia in 1950. Jaku worked in a Sydney garage and Flore was a dressmaker before the couple went into real estate together.

Still, as Jaku recalled in his 2019 TED Talk, he was "not a happy man" immediately after the war — but his outlook changed when the couple's first son was born.

"At that time, my heart was healed and my happiness returned in abundance," he explained. "I made the promise that from that day until the end of my life, I promised to be happy, smile, be polite, helpful, and kind. I also promised to never put my foot on German soil again. Today, I stand in front of you, a man who has kept all those promises."

Jaku said his greatest happiness came from his family. He is survived by Flore, his two sons, four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

He refused to let loss or hate consume him

Jaku vowed to teach and share happiness with everyone he met, as he explained in his TED Talk — appropriately titled "A Holocaust survivor's blueprint for happiness."

"When I remember that I should have died a miserable death, but instead I'm alive, so I aim to help people who are down," he said. "I was at the bottom of the pit. So if I can make one miserable person smile, I'm happy."

In his speech, he offered some simple but sage pieces of advice for slowing down and savoring each day: invite a loved one for a meal, go for a walk, lean on friends in both good times and bad.

Jaku also urged listeners to do their best to make the world a better place for others, and to ensure that the terrible tragedy of the Holocaust will never happen again or ever be forgotten.

Despite his experiences, he refused to let loss or hate consume him.

"I do not hate anyone," Jaku said. "Hate is a disease which may destroy your enemy but will also destroy you in the process."

Choosing kindness and tolerance was also the premise of Jaku's memoir, The Happiest Man on Earth, which he published last year at age 100. 

 10 Lessons from The Happiest Man on Earth

  1. Be grateful for what you have. Eddie Jaku was a Holocaust survivor who lost everything, but he never gave up hope. He learned to be grateful for the small things in life, and he found happiness even in the darkest of times.
  2. Smile. A smile can make a world of difference. It can brighten someone's day and make you feel better about yourself.
  3. Forgive. Holding on to anger and resentment will only hurt you in the long run. Forgive those who have wronged you and move on with your life.
  4. Help others. Helping others is a great way to make yourself happy. It gives you a sense of purpose and makes you feel good about yourself.
  5. Live in the present moment. Don't dwell on the past or worry about the future. Focus on the present moment and enjoy it to the fullest.
  6. Be kind to yourself. Treat yourself with the same kindness and compassion that you would treat others.
  7. Be positive. A positive attitude can go a long way. It can help you overcome challenges and achieve your goals.
  8. Be grateful for the people in your life. Cherish the people who love and support you. They are the ones who make life worth living.
  9. Never give up hope. No matter what life throws your way, never give up hope. Keep fighting for what you believe in and never give up on your dreams.
  10. Live your life to the fullest. Don't waste a single day. Make the most of every moment and live your life to the fullest.
 

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