Perspective
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| Aranka Siegal |
There are few moments in
my life where I have been rendered speechless. Tonight such a moment
occurred and I know that in that one moment I will never be the same. I
was challenged, encouraged, and inspired by one woman's story and with a
few words she made me part of her journey. Dr. Miriam Klein Kassenoff
is a remarkable woman, a holocaust survivor, an educator and a mentor. I
have been honored to call her a friend since I moved to Miami and
tonight I finally got to hear her story of survival...her story of
perseverance. She introduced me to the group she was speaking in front
of at the start of her lecture which I found very endearing. She was
thanking me for supporting her and her UM Holocaust Institute and really
I just wanted to hug and thank her for letting share in these amazing
experiences.
After hearing of the difficult and almost disastrous journey of her family leaving Czech. when the Nazis occupied her home country and witnessing her emotional statement that she is the last alive of the 4 members that fled Europe during the Holocaust I couldn't help but cry for her. She stated towards the end of her lecture that she is often asked why she continues to speak and her answer was simple...she has a story to tell. She will continue to tell her story until she is no longer able. She looked at me and stated to the group that after she is gone then "it is the responsibility of people like Jennifer Whipple to continue to tell my story." In that one statement alone, I am inspired...I am speechless. It is an honor to know her and to know her story. It is a gift I will carry with me for the rest of my life and will gladly share with anyone who is willing to listen to her story.
The woman pictured above is Aranka Siegal. A remarkable woman, a Holocaust Survivor, a storyteller and an inspiration. For Holocaust Remembrance week, Aranka came to the store to speak to students about her story of survival. She left us all speechless. In such a short period of time, we were reminded of the cruelty of humankind. The Holocaust isn't something that should ever be forgotten and sometimes it may seem like people don't care but to make a difference it just takes one to listen. It is a reminder of how indifference, prejudice, and hatred will destroy lives, destroy families and memories. I will continue to tell these women's stories for I am now a part of their story and will never forget how they have opened my eyes.
After hearing of the difficult and almost disastrous journey of her family leaving Czech. when the Nazis occupied her home country and witnessing her emotional statement that she is the last alive of the 4 members that fled Europe during the Holocaust I couldn't help but cry for her. She stated towards the end of her lecture that she is often asked why she continues to speak and her answer was simple...she has a story to tell. She will continue to tell her story until she is no longer able. She looked at me and stated to the group that after she is gone then "it is the responsibility of people like Jennifer Whipple to continue to tell my story." In that one statement alone, I am inspired...I am speechless. It is an honor to know her and to know her story. It is a gift I will carry with me for the rest of my life and will gladly share with anyone who is willing to listen to her story.
The woman pictured above is Aranka Siegal. A remarkable woman, a Holocaust Survivor, a storyteller and an inspiration. For Holocaust Remembrance week, Aranka came to the store to speak to students about her story of survival. She left us all speechless. In such a short period of time, we were reminded of the cruelty of humankind. The Holocaust isn't something that should ever be forgotten and sometimes it may seem like people don't care but to make a difference it just takes one to listen. It is a reminder of how indifference, prejudice, and hatred will destroy lives, destroy families and memories. I will continue to tell these women's stories for I am now a part of their story and will never forget how they have opened my eyes.
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