By COLlive reporter
650 students, graduates, and community members gathered at Duke University and University of North Carolina on Wednesday and Thursday last week for an event to raise awareness of the Holocaust and honor the memories of those who perished.
Rabbi Nissen Mangel, one of the youngest child inmates of Nazi Auschwitz and six other concentration camps, was the guest speaker.
The event was coordinated by Rabbi Zalman and Yehudis Bluming, co-directors of Chabad at Duke University and UNC and the Chabad Student Board members, with the assistance of Rabbi Nosson and Chaya Fellig of Chabad at Duke UG.
In an effort to raise awareness of the atrocities that occurred during the Holocaust, and to honor to all those who perished, Chabad hosted this remembrance event in partnership with over 12 student, college and community organizations.
Rabbi Mangel, a survivor of the Holocaust, today a renowned scholar, author, speaker and philosopher was one of the youngest child inmates of Nazi Auschwitz and six other concentration camps.
Only 11 years old when he came to Auschwitz, Mangel evaded the gas chamber and survived an unheard of three encounters with Dr. Josef Mengele, known for choosing who would be killed in the gas chambers and for performing unscientific and deadly experiments on children.
“It was incredibly moving not only to hear Rabbi Nissen Mangel speak, but also to witness the hundreds of students and community members who came to the event,” said event organizer Sam Pompeo. “I am extremely proud to be a part of a community that values remembering the past, and it makes me hopeful for a brighter and more peaceful future,” he said.
“Rabbi Nissen Mangel has an extraordinary story of survival, faith and triumph,” said Rabbi Bluming, director of Chabad at Duke University. “To be able to witness a towering pillar of faith in G-d could melt oceans of cynicism and doubt… To see a heart that despite experiencing so much raw pain, somehow channeled that into creating a life dedicated to sharing love and spiritual wisdom – it was an evening I can never forget,” he said.
Shlucha Yehudis Bluming added that while they were very pleased with the large turnout, “it was the depth of impact that inspires us most,” she said.
“One girl came to me after the event to tell me she would begin to really keep Shabbos. A community member with young children printed Rabbi Mangel’s picture and wrote his impressions on the back – he plans on showing it to his kids when they are standing under the Chuppah. I could go on and on with the stories I’ve been hearing this past week,” she said.
Many students noted that they were deeply moved and inspired by Rabbi Mangel’s words and personally seeing his the inmate number on his arm upon rolling up his sleeves.
“The Holocaust was a pivotal event in humanity’s history. It taught, and teaches us, that we must never forget the past, and that we can never let history repeat itself in such a manner,” said student David Stern. “In today’s news, where we hear of incidents of Jews being singled out and persecuted, we must remember the grave dangers of remaining silent.”
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truly an amazing speech. Rabbi Mangel, your words are tremendously inspiring.
So nice that Rabbi Mangel was brought down to speak.
And to Rabbi’s Zalmy and Nossen, continue the great work!
THANKYOU RABBI MANGEL FOR SHARING YOURSELF WITH THE WORLD. You did it for us, for the Rebbe, and for the abishter
Chabad on campus can maybe arange a TOUR IN CAMPUSES.
Thanks for sharing
I feel like (and have felt like) chabad does not give enough attention to the holocaust, as it was a huge event, to quantify, killing one third of jewish population, and if hone in on European (and Chassidic) population, perhaps as high as ninety percent. something of this magnitude (and so recent) seems like deserves more attention, recognition, thinking about. I did find a book by Avigdor Miller, which was published only after his passing; he wrote on the topic, to suggest it was an important event, and needed to be considered more, but he did not publish his book… Read more »
Rabbi Mangel taught in seminary and did the same. A most powerful talk that was most inspiring.
this is what we need! with all the horrible things going on, we need this to remember who we are! and its nice to see that in a college, so many students are interested! just truly amazing! and go yehudis bluming!! you are a true inspiration!
Come speak at our schools. Frum kids need to hear this!