Meet Leon: Holocaust Survivor

On January 25th at 6:30 PM, the Tuscarawas County Public Library System will host a virtual program in partnership with the William J. Lowenberg Speakers Bureau from the Jewish Family and Children’s Services Holocaust Center. Attendees will hear from Leon R., a Holocaust survivor who will share his story of survival virtually via Zoom.

Leon was just ten years old in 1941 when the Nazis invaded his hometown of Czernowitz, Romania (now Ukraine). He and his family were deported to a ghetto, surviving enormous hardships that included illness and starvation.

After liberation, he and his family walked over 200 miles to return to Czernowitz. They ended up in four different Displaced Persons Camps in Germany before they were able to immigrate to the United States as refugees in 1951.

“This is such an important program,” said Adult and Teen Services Manager Robyn Guedel. “As the years pass, the chance to hear from a survivor of the Holocaust is fading quickly. Hearing someone tell their story is such a powerful way to learn about history – especially this very terrible period in history.”

Guedel noted that this timely program aligns with International Holocaust Remembrance Day on January 27th.

The UN General Assembly designated January 27th, the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, as International Holocaust Remembrance Day. On this annual day of commemoration, the UN urges every member to honor the victims of the Nazi era and to develop education programs to help prevent future genocides.

Registration is required for this program and participants may submit questions at the time of registration. The program is being offered through the library’s secure Zoom account. Attendees will be able to hear and see the presenter or those without video capability can use a call-in feature that will allow them to hear the presenter speak. Individuals interested in attending this free virtual program can register online or by calling 330-364-4474. Those interested in learning more about the Holocaust and the JFCS Holocaust Center can visit https://holocaustcenter.jfcs.org.