2008 Woodie Awards
Holocaust Survivor to Speak at Monarch Hall
Maggie Ownbey
Issue date: 5/4/05 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
Si Frumkin was born on November 5, 1930, but he has another day he celebrates. It's the day when he was 14 years old and the U.S. Army liberated him from Aaufering, the sub-camp of Dachau, the Nazi concentration camp where he was a prisoner.
"I always celebrate April 27, 1945 as my second birthday," said Frumkin. "The most beautiful sight I've ever seen-those tanks with white American stars-you then knew you were saved from death."
The Lithuanian-born Frumkin, 74, will tell his story of being a normal kid in abnormal times on Thursday at 11:30 a.m. in Monarch Hall. It's part of Holocaust Remembrance Day - in Hebrew, Yom Hashoah, or "Day of the Holocaust" - for remembering one of history's great human tragedies.
"The population of survivors is aging," said Rick Lupert, assistant director of Hillel at Pierce and Valley colleges, sponsors of the program. "One day there will be no more witnesses who were there."
The outspoken Frumkin will tell of his experiences as a holocaust survivor and will more than likely start off by getting a few things "off his chest" according to Lupert.
"Not so much [is different] that happened 65 years ago," Frumkin said about the situation in the Sudan and ten-years-ago in Rwanda. "It's what's happening now, the United Nations is [just] sitting around talking."
Frumkin, founder and director of the Southern California Council for Soviet Jews, took part in a settlement in 1998 from Swiss Banks that profited by keeping accounts open and accepting gold taken from Jews during the holocaust, according to CNN.com.
"The Swiss banks gave a blanket amount between survivors, it's still an on going process," said Frumkin.
Today he lectures and leads tours at the Museum of Tolerance.
For more information contact: Hillel at Pierce and Valley Colleges at (818) 887-5901
Holocaust Remembrance Day, Thursday May 5, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Monarch Hall.
"I always celebrate April 27, 1945 as my second birthday," said Frumkin. "The most beautiful sight I've ever seen-those tanks with white American stars-you then knew you were saved from death."
The Lithuanian-born Frumkin, 74, will tell his story of being a normal kid in abnormal times on Thursday at 11:30 a.m. in Monarch Hall. It's part of Holocaust Remembrance Day - in Hebrew, Yom Hashoah, or "Day of the Holocaust" - for remembering one of history's great human tragedies.
"The population of survivors is aging," said Rick Lupert, assistant director of Hillel at Pierce and Valley colleges, sponsors of the program. "One day there will be no more witnesses who were there."
The outspoken Frumkin will tell of his experiences as a holocaust survivor and will more than likely start off by getting a few things "off his chest" according to Lupert.
"Not so much [is different] that happened 65 years ago," Frumkin said about the situation in the Sudan and ten-years-ago in Rwanda. "It's what's happening now, the United Nations is [just] sitting around talking."
Frumkin, founder and director of the Southern California Council for Soviet Jews, took part in a settlement in 1998 from Swiss Banks that profited by keeping accounts open and accepting gold taken from Jews during the holocaust, according to CNN.com.
"The Swiss banks gave a blanket amount between survivors, it's still an on going process," said Frumkin.
Today he lectures and leads tours at the Museum of Tolerance.
For more information contact: Hillel at Pierce and Valley Colleges at (818) 887-5901
Holocaust Remembrance Day, Thursday May 5, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Monarch Hall.
