Holocaust survivor speaks to students

As the saying goes, “Those who forget the past are condemned to repeat it.” Michael Herskovitz is determined to ensure that doesn’t happen. The 88-year-old Holocaust survivor paid a visit to West Chester East High School on Wednesday to talk to students about how he survived three Nazi death camps.

The Czechoslovakian-born Herskovitz was 15-years-old when he and his family were sent to Auschwitz-Birkenau in April of 1944. He spent six months there before being transferred to two concentration camps in Austria – Mauthausen and Gunskirchen. Herskovitz said the conditions at those two camps were the worst he had experienced.

In May of 1945, British troops liberated Herskovitz’s death camp. He was reunited with an uncle who informed him that the Nazis had murdered his parents and younger brother. Herskovitz later moved to Israel and fought for the Israeli Army. Then, in 1959, he and his family relocated to America, where they settled in Philadelphia.

Despite having the education level of a fourth grader and not knowing the English language, Herskovitz went on to become a successful businessman, owning six gas stations, two automotive repair shops, and two shoe stores.

“With hard work,” Herskovitz told the students, “you can achieve anything.”

He has written two books that detail the years of his survival during the Holocaust – “Early One Saturday Morning” and “Our Cherry Tree Still Stands.”

At the conclusion of the presentation, students had the opportunity to ask questions. One student wanted to know if he

hated the Germans for all of the atrocities they committed. “I don’t have hate,” replied Herskovitz. “If you hate a person, that hate hurts you more than the person you hate. I don’t have hate. Please, forget hate.”

For more information, please contact Ms. Jennifer Neill, Digital Communications Coordinator, West Chester Area School District at 484-266-1170 or jneill@wcasd.net.

“If you hate a person, that hate hurts you more than the person you hate. I don’t have hate. Please, forget hate.” — Michael Herskovitz, 88-year-old Holocaust survivor

SUBMITTED PHOTO Michael Herskovitz, 88, who survived the Holocaust, told his story to West Chester East High School students.