Holocaust survivor and forgiveness advocate Eva Kor lectured Nov. 9 to a full audience at Main Campus Buiding on the 73rd anniversary of Kristallnacht. Courtesy University Communications
Broken glass and a healing heart inspire campus community.
By Emma Carr
Eva Kor, Holocaust survivor, community leader and admired public speaker, lectured Nov. 9 to an overflowing crowd of admiring students, faculty and staff at Main Campus Building in room 204/207.
Kor, an advocate for forgiveness, led the audience through her difficult but triumphant journey from young Holocaust victim to an educator who frequently lectures on the importance of healing.
Kor’s visit followed appearances with other San Antonio area students earlier in the week, including Health and Careers Highschool and Texas Health Science Center.
Her visit to this campus visit fell on the 73rd anniversary of Kristallnacht or “Night of Broken Glass,” a series of attacks on Jews throughout Nazi Germany.
“Pain gets in the way of enjoying life,” Kor said during the lecture. “Everything changed after I forgave … I have forgiven the Nazis. I have forgiven everyone.”
Assistant history Professor Ed Westermann, the distinguished scholar in residence at the San Antonio Holocaust Memorial Museum, said he collaborated with President Maria Hernandez Ferrier to bring Kor to Texas A&M-San Antonio.
Kor’s lecture was met with a standing ovation, followed by moments of quiet reflection. Seating was standing-room only. Courtesy University Communications
“When I heard that Eva was coming to San Antonio, I arranged for her to visit the campus at the invitation of Dr. Ferrier,” Westermann said.
“The turn out was fantastic and it was great to see our university community embrace Eva and her message.”
“I have been studying the Holocaust for over 20 years,” Westermann said. “I was drawn to the subject because it reveals the worst, but also the best about the human spirit.”
Kor, 77, sat in a chair at the front of the room making it difficulty for some in the audience to see her. Students and faculty filled the available seating. Some took seats in the aisle space on the floor.
The room erupted with applause and a standing obviation as Kor took her place at the front of the room, guided by Ferrier.
“Dynamite in a small package — today it’s times two,” Westermann said in his introductory remarks.
Kor’s story, which has been told in guest appearances across the country, was heard for the first time for many in the audience.
At age 10, Kor and her family, including her identical twin sister Miriam, were brought to Auschwitz. Kor said she recalled a Nazi officer running towards them yelling “Twins!” in German.
The officer asked Kor’s mother if the two sisters were identical twins. Her mother didn’t know which response would allow her daughters to stay safe. She asked the officer whether it was a good or bad thing.“Good” was his response.
Kor said she never saw her mother again.
Kor told the audience the two young girls were sent to be experimented on by S.S. Dr. Josef Mengele in his now infamous experimentation of twins. Dr. Mengele, “The Angel of Death,” conducted cruel genetic experiments on nearly 1500 sets of twins between 1943 and 1944.
Kor said she came close to death from an injection she received from the doctors but promised herself that she would never give up. Dr. Mengele gave her two weeks to live. After her expected death, her sister was to be killed immediately in order to study both twins’ autopsies.
Though Kor survived the Holocaust, she said anger lived in her for years, as it did with many Holocaust survivors. It was not only anger at the Nazis, Kor admitted, but even anger with her parents for not surviving.
“Never give up on yourself or on your dreams,” Kor told the audience, adding that she applies this lesson in everyday life, encouraging others to apply it as well.
“Life does take you into some strange places,” said Kor. She recalled nearly half a century after her stay in Auschwitz how she found herself in the home of another S.S. doctor who practiced along side Dr. Mengele. In stark comparison, she recalled this doctor as incredibly kind and compassionate towards her while she visited him in his home.
The visit marked a turning point in Kor’s life. It was shortly after that she decided to let go of the anger and forgave.
Now, in classrooms across the country, Kor teaches the importance and empowerment of forgiveness.
Angela Menchaca, a psychology and early childhood education senior, was struck by watching listeners in the audience respond to Kor’s lesson.
“To see the anger dissipate, it was one of the most beautiful things I’d ever seen,” Mechaca said.
Kor’s audience appeared quietly transfixed as they listened to her story of despair, triumph and forgiveness.
“It was heartfelt-amazing,” said Effie Baeza, senior interdisciplinary studies and science major.
Though her story had many fighting back tears, her quick wit and humor kept many laughing.
“I don’t like the baggy pants, what if they have to run for their lives?” Kor said jokingly. She admitted to having her own small prejudices, sloppy dressed people being one, but attributes prejudices — such as religious intolerance — to one of the reasons Hitler’s party succeeded.
“I would not volunteer for it again. No.” Kor joked about whether she would change anything about her struggles.
Thought and sincerity came over her face as she continued: “I used my experiences to help others … I would not change anything now.”
The lecture attracted students, but also staff members.
“I came to listen,” said Cynthia Deleon, a degree audit analyst in enrollment management. “I was impressed by her documentary.”
Kor will continue to accept speaking engagements, reaching one student at a time.
This is my last semester at Texas A&M San Antonio and am excited to graduate and put my hard earned degree to use. I am majoring in Communication/Journalism and would enjoy going into TV news/morning shows.
