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Holocaust Survivor to Speak at Wheeling Jesuit

CHANDLER

Holocaust survivor Howard Chandler will share stories of survival and courage during a public talk in Wheeling Jesuit University’s Troy Theater at 7:30 p.m. Monday.

The 89-year-old will share how he survived the slave labor camp and concentration camps in Nazi-occupied Poland during World War II.

The talk is free and open to the public. Classrooms Without Borders is bringing the Holocaust survivor to Wheeling Jesuit’s campus. In addition to his public lecture at Wheeling Jesuit, Chandler will talk to students at several high schools in the tri-county area.

“It is important for both students, as well as members of the greater Wheeling community, to listen to Howard’s story, because his experiences during the Second World War era demonstrate how intolerance and prejudice can quickly transform into persecution and violence,” said Jeff Rutherford, professor of history at Wheeling Jesuit.

Chandler was 11 when his ordeal with anti-Semitism began. In 1942, at just 14, he saw his mother, sister and younger brother for the last time. On that day, the Jewish people were forced by soldiers to gather in the town square and the women and children were marched to a train bound for Treblinka. Upon arrival, they were murdered in the gas chamber.

During his presentation, Chandler will talk about how he, his older brother and father were sent to a slave labor camp at Starachowice and shortly thereafter, sent to Auschwitz II-Birkenau. He will share his amazing story of survival.

“This is a rare opportunity for all to witness living history, hear tragic personal stories of the Holocaust and see the remarkable strength of character, humility and humanity of one survivor’s determination to live beyond the horror … and speak for those that no longer have a voice,” said Barb Lewine, program director of Classrooms Without Borders in Wheeling.

Lewine said Chandler accompanies CWB journeys to Poland and shares his personal story with the students and educators while in the places he survived. “The power of hearing him is humbling and inspirational. Howard’s gentle nature belies his horrific past as he emphasizes a future built on tolerance,” she added.

For more information about Chandler’s talk, contact Lewine by email at barb@classroomswithoutborders.org.

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