Children of Auschwitz survivors bring stories to Challenger Center

It was 83 years ago, in 1940, that the Auschwitz concentration camp was opened. During the 5 years that the camp was in operation, an estimated 1.3 million people were imprisoned at Auschwitz and approximately 1.1 million people were killed. At the time of liberation, 7,000 prisoners remained in the camp.

As we enter an era where Holocaust survivors are dwindling, it is important that we still bear witness to their stories in any way that we can. One way we can do this is by listening to the testimonies of the second generation, the children of Holocaust survivors.

The children of Holocaust survivors are important custodians of their parents’ stories. They provide powerful and important accounts and insights into the struggles, experiences, and resilience of survivors.

At 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 22, the Holocaust Education Resource Council is hosting a panel of speakers who are the children of Auschwitz survivors at the Challenger Learning Center. This program will feature speakers Alex Kor, Elizabeth George, Rita Blank, and Mark Friedemann, who will give individual presentations and then participate in a short Q&A session at the end.

Alex Kor

Originally from Terre Haute, Indiana, Dr. Alex Kor is the son of two Holocaust survivors (Michael and Eva Mozes Kor). Dr. Kor is a full-time podiatrist for Hendricks Regional Health in Danville, Indiana, and is a Clinical Assistant Professor for Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine. Knowing the importance of being the son of two Holocaust survivors who have both passed away in the last four plus years, Alex feels an obligation to tell their stories.

Since 1985, he has traveled to Auschwitz more than 20 times with his mother, the late Eva Kor. He is a member of the CANDLES Holocaust Museum and Education Center Board of Directors, and assisted in establishing an exhibit (Eva Kor from Auschwitz to Indiana) to honor his mother in downtown Indianapolis at the Indiana Historical Society.

Elizabeth George

Florida native and first generation American, Elizabeth E. George is a retired GED teacher and currently living her passion as a professional photographer. Both her parents (Klara Roman and Alex Markus) are Holocaust survivors from Hungary. Her mom survived the ghettos in Budapest and her father was deported to Auschwitz and took part in the Death March. Her parents met in 1957 on Miami Beach. Her parents’ legacies continue through three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Rita Blank

Rita Blank has been involved in the Holocaust Education Resource Council’s accomplishments and proud moments in the community from the very beginning in 2007, and received HERC’s Honorary Founders’ Award in 2018. She can think of no better way to pay tribute to the sacrifices and strengths of her parents and other Survivors than by teaching the lessons of the Holocaust and telling the story of her parents to the next generations.

Mark Friedemann

Born to Richard and Katherine Friedemann in 1960, Mark and his sister Karen, were brought up in the Catholic church, unaware of their father’s history. Although both children had suspicions and many questions, these would go unanswered until 1996. His father’s unbelievable ordeal was divulged over a short period and their lives were altered significantly. Mark honors his father and extended family, over 50 who perished in WW2, by speaking of his father and the parallels with current events. Mark resides in Tallahassee with his wife Chitnuchar and is the President of The Phoenix Environmental Group, Inc.

The Holocaust Education Resource Council invites you to come learn from the children of Holocaust survivors and to bear witness so that we can do our part to ensure something like the Holocaust never happens again.

Seat are limited. Register today at holocaustresources.org.

Holocaust Education Teacher Workshop

Each year, HERC hosts a one-day teaching workshop in the fall that provides educators with resources and information that they can take directly back to their classrooms and use with their students. This year HERC has partnered with Echoes and Reflections, an organization that has helped reach more than 125,000 teachers and 12 million students since its inception in 2005.

Teachers attending the workshop will also have the opportunity to listen to a presentation by Alex Kor, son of Holocaust survivor Eva Kor.

This year’s workshop will take place on Monday, October 23rd, starting at 9:00am, in the Workforce Development building on the Tallahassee Community College campus. Teachers can register by going to holocaustresources.org. In addition to the annual workshop, HERC also hosts a number of community events and programs. More information about upcoming programs and events can be found on the HERC website.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Children of Auschwitz survivors bring stories to Tallahassee