Holocaust survivor shares story at traveling exhibit
Holocaust survivors, the children of survivors and members of the community gathered at the Tolerance Center Saturday in Rancho Mirage to hear powerful stories centered on spreading respect and understanding.
The center hosted a traveling exhibit called “Carl Lutz’s Legendary Glass House” which tells the story of the Swiss diplomat who took over an abandoned glass factory in Budapest, Hungary in the 1940’s. The diplomat was able to provide documentation and safekeeping for Jews seeking refuge from death camps, in turn saving the lives of thousands of Jewish people.
Holocaust survivor from Poland and Tolerance Center board member Henry Freidman emphasized the importance of love and tolerance over hate, especially during a time when hate crimes are on the rise.
“History is very important because if you don’t learn from the past, history has a way of repeating itself,” Freidman said. “I believe in love instead of hate.”
He also shared his story of survival.
“Out of 10,000 Jews we were 88 of us that survived. My family was the only family of a husband and wife with two children that survived,” Friendman said.
Friedman and his family hid in a Christian neighbor’s attic for 18 months to avoid getting sent to concentration camps. He said during the time in hiding they could barely move or stand. When he was liberated he was unable to walk until he regained muscle.
The exhibit will be available to the public for the entire month of January.
According to organizers, “The exhibit presents an inspiring story of moral courage, revealing how the Glass House became an international symbol of the indestructibility of humanity during the Holocaust.”
Guest Speaker – Distinguished Dr. George Berci: Holocaust Survivor and Surgical Pioneer who developed the endoscopic & laparoscopic technique Dr. Berci and his wife Barbara (posthumously) were presented with the MENSCH award.
