“When I come back here, I don’t come back as a victim. I come back as a victorious survivor.” —Eva, on Auschwitz
Eva started telling her story to school groups in 1978, and in the 1980s she became a vocal, national advocate for Holocaust survivors. Nearly singlehandedly, she introduced the Mengele Twins to the world and launched the worldwide manhunt for Mengele, at the time considered the biggest manhunt in history.
She returned to Auschwitz every year to lead groups, teach, and spread her message of peace and forgiveness.
Walking groups out of Auschwitz, Eva would declare, "We are free! We are free!" ... See MoreSee Less
Photo
This photo, from 2011, shows Eva Kor and Helen Rappaport on their visit to the Chicagoland Jewish High School. Both Eva and Helen were subjected to twin experimentation by Dr. Josef Mengele in Auschwitz. Eva commented, “The tattoos are fading, but the memories never will.”
Eva transformed millions of lives around the world with her school visits, lectures, and Auschwitz trips. In another excerpt from Eva’s final speech, intended to be given at the ceremonies marking the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, she calls us all to a common purpose for a future of healing and peace, while also addressing other survivors:
“There is nothing I can do to change my past, but I can change my future and hopefully that of others. Saying 'NEVER AGAIN' is not enough. We must act with definite purpose and a common goal for the sake of ourselves and others. It is up to us to actively teach today's world, especially our youth, why respect and common decency for everyone, regardless of race, religion, or any other difference, is so important. And, until we use that education to begin to heal our own wounds on the most basic level and allow ourselves, the former prisoners, to be free of the pain of our tragic pasts, we will never be truly free. It is my opinion that by being free of the pain, survivors ensure their eternal peace and fortify their abilities to reach out and educate others with their memories.” ... See MoreSee Less
Photo
This week, in celebration of the upcoming 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, we are posting remembrances of Eva Kor—an internationally known Holocaust survivor, human rights and forgiveness advocate, author of "Surviving the Angel of Death: The Story of a Mengele Twin in Auschwitz," and subject of the "Eva: A-7063" documentary.
Eva Mozes Kor was 10 years old when she arrived in Auschwitz. While her parents and two older sisters were taken to the gas chambers, she and her twin, Miriam, were subjected to sadistic medical experiments by the Angel of Death, Dr. Josef Mengele. Eva not only survived, but she transcended this experience, dedicating her life to healing the world.
In Eva Kor’s final speech, intended to be given at the ceremonies marking the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, she makes clear how forgiveness is a personal choice that can profoundly change each one of us, for our own sake, but also for the benefit of the world:
“My power from within is forgiveness as a way to heal and empower myself. I suggest that we all have the power to forgive those who have wronged us, not for the benefit of them, but because all of us finally deserve to live free in a way that allows us to share our memories without reliving the unbearable and agonizing pain of our pasts with every spoken word or shared memory. By doing so, we challenge any perpetrator, possible perpetrator, or denier of today or the future by empowering ourselves and others with the undeniable and unforgettable truth of what happened here, each and every day. Our memories will provide the necessary fuel to light the way to hope, healing, understanding, goodwill, and peace for humanity. Like our vivid memories, the horrible crimes against us and millions of others can never be washed away or forgotten, but how we deal with these memories is our choice. Let there be a new beginning which includes hope for mankind, and let it begin with us.” ... See MoreSee Less
Photo
Hildi Kang, award-winning author of Chengli and the Silk Road Caravan, passed away last year. Tanglewood was so lucky to work with Hildi and share her captivating book with the world. This wonderful video was made by her son Steven and shown at her memorial service.
youtu.be/kqc702qpxbs ... See MoreSee Less
Video
