Today at school, a guest speaker came to share her story with all of our eighth grade students. Although I teach seventh grade this year, I got a chance to sneak over during my planning period and listen to a little bit of what she had to say.
The woman's name was Sara Hauptman. She is 87 years old and a survivor of the Holocaust. Her story was amazing. She lived in Belgium when the Nazis began their extermination of the Jews. At the time, she was a young mother and was forced to give her children to other people while she went into hiding. Then, she joined the Belgian Resistance -- making false identity papers, delivering messages to prisoners, helping allied aviators who were shot down over Belgium. The cover for her underground activities was a job as a lion tamer in a circus.
She told us of the night she was arrested, her time in the holding camps in Belgium, the transport to Auschwitz-Birkenau, and what life was like in the concentration camp. It is certainly one thing to read about all of this, but to hear a real survivor tell about their experiences in person is something totally different. It was moving and intense and unbelievable. She says that she can still smell the stench of burning flesh from the gas chambers. She told us how she witnessed the Nazis murdering babies by throwing them in the air and shooting them. She told us how she watched a seven year old girl plead with one of the guards to let her stay with her mother and work. The man said "sure" and then threw a football for her to go and catch. As he was running to catch it, he shot her. The things she told where unbelievable. I had to leave and go back to class before she told how she had been a victim of Dr. Mengele's experiments.
And I think that I have things to complain about? This woman had literally been to hell and back. Her story was unbelievable. I can't even begin to imagine what life was like for those people. I have always been enthralled by stories from World War II. I bought Sara's book, called The Lioness of Judah and I can't wait to read it. I'll let you all know how it is ...
3 comments:
I can remember that I went to watch an afternoon showing of The Pianist a few years ago. And when I came out, I was in a trance-like condition. I came out of a movie like that, into the hub-bub of my daily ciy life here. It was amazing to have watched his incredible battle and how he survived, and then come out, and everyone was going on with their daily lives. I almost thought it was disrespecful. And then I was struck with how I was in Germany, and tried to imagine how it would have been to walk that same sidewalk about 65-70 years before. The stories of some people's personal triumphs during times of intense adversity are incredibly inspiring...and humbling. I look forward to hearing your review on her book.
I also met a Holocaust survivor last December...my Godmother's husband authored a book about this man and his story was also amazing. It did truly make me appreciate everything I have...
We had a survivor of the Communist takeover of Hungary following WWII speak to our 8th graders recently--her name was Susanne Reyto. What struck me was her incredible positive attitude and belief in the strength of the human spirit. When I spoke to her later, I mentioned that we may never (please God) have to escape from a communist country, but that my students will have to face very real personal challenges in their lives. I hope they will remember her talk and beautiful courage. Her book is called Pursuit of Freedom. I'll have to post a review when I get a chance to read it...in the meantime, I'm knee-deep in term papers! :)
Blessings,
Lara
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