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Holocaust Survivor Talks Of Life, Lessons Learned

In a hushed voice that demanded attention, Gerda Klein, 82, encouraged Penn Charter students to speak out in support of those whose voices are not heard, and to work to end oppression and hunger. She told students she found it deeply touching "that you wish to know the stories of the past in order to build a future that former generations only dreamed of." She promised students that she would not frighten them with stories about the horrors of the Nazi camps, but would talk instead about the love and sharing that existed in the camps.

Her appearance was part of the school's Distinguished Speaker Series.

Podcast of Gerda Klein's speech to Middle and Upper School students on Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2006. (requires audio player; may take five minutes to download)

 

 

 


Gerda Klein, Holocaust survivor, recounted three years in hiding in Poland and three years in a slave labor camp in the classic, "All But My Life," in print for 47 years and published in 57 editions. Excerpts of her work appear in textbooks teaching Holocaust history and literature. Now she has written "A Boring Evening at Home," a collection of essays reflecting on her remarkable life, including her marriage to U.S. Army Lt. Kurt Klein, who was among her rescuers at war’s end. The Gerda and Kurt Klein Foundation promotes tolerance and understanding and encourages community service.