Bearing Witness to Max Eisen (July 7)

     Today, I had the great fortune of hearing a speech from highly respected, Max Eisen. Max, a Holocaust survivor and educator, shared his amazing and heart wrenching story to us of his experiences in Auschwitz during this time of suffering and inhumanity. Listening to this man who has such a painful yet rich history, was almost as if I had been transported into his world. His recollection of his past was so detailed in the short amount of time we got to hear him speak, but I found myself not wanting the discussion to end. 

     Max explained their daily allotment of food, which was 200-300 calories a day. I had known that the prisoners were starving, but I hadn’t realized that the allotment of calorie intake they received per day, and the food they ate was so specific. “Tea for breakfast, soup and water for lunch, and a thin slice of bread with butter for dinner,” he said. The Nazis had meticulously planned out everything, including the amount of food that the prisoners would receive every day to ensure starvation. It’s unbelievable to imagine that was the normal meal regime every single day, not to mention the days when food supply was low. 

     Mr.Eisen is such a special person today, and it is with his presence and knowledge that we can help address issues of prejudice, stereotyping, social justice, and genocide. He is someone who experienced all of these issues firsthand, and knows exactly what it’s like to be segregated and punished simply because of certain characteristics you possess. His story is something I believe all of us who listened to him will be able to carry through our lives, and use to educate others. 

    I was personally able to pull out lessons from his testimony. I think his passion carries him through into teaching and educating the young and old on what had happened, and he most prominently wants to spread the message that it only takes good people to do nothing, in order for evil to thrive. I would like to further my understanding and learn more about how the survivors and people were able to escape the camps, found breaks in the Nazi regime and worked to help others, just as Max did. To me, the most interesting and important part of Holocaust studies is being able to hear from people who were there, and dig deeper into their experiences. If we are educated on past events, we already hold the most powerful tool for ensuring that these events won’t repeat themselves in the future. 

          - Claire W.