Stonehill College Hears from Holocaust Survivor

By Gabrielle Damico

Stonehill College is Condemned to Remember as Holocaust survivor, Tomi Reichental, 83, from Slovakia, shares his new film and how it relates to modern day problems around the world.

Reichental was accompanied by film director and friend, Gerry Gregg. Sitting onstage with Reichental and Gregg was Stonehill’s own Vice President for Academic Affairs, Joe Favazza who moderated the event.

Favazza began the discussion asking Reichental about filming Condemned to Remember.

“While we were in Europe at the time, three years ago, the influx of refugees suddenly coming to Slovakia…it reminded me of late 1939 when the Jewish people wanted to escape Europe from the Nazis,” Reichental said.

“There were young Slovaks taunting Jews…saying, ‘Slovakia for Slovaks.’ They sound like the coos in the 40’s,” Reichental said with a disappointed tone.

Because of these modern day refugees and what Reichental and Gregg encountered while shooting this film, it was decided that the film would change course. The film now ties in the Holocaust and today’s problems with refugees, like those in Slovakia.

“The past is not even the past,” Reichental and Gregg both said on different occasions.

They explained this is to remind us that even though the Holocaust happened, we cannot let the memories pass with the passing of the last few survivors.

Reichental encouraged the audience to come to terms with the past, but not forget what happened.

“The best example of this I can think of is the genocide of 8,300 Muslim men. I recited prayers in Hebrew over the Muslim grave,” Reichental said.

Reichental segued into how these issues are still surrounding gender phobia, sexism, and racism.

He looked sternly at his audience and said, “Do not become a bystander, be an upstander.”

Gregg said an upstander is someone who “gets involved and tells people what’s wrong in their actions.”

“At the time it was happening to the Jews in the late 30’s and 40’s no one said it was wrong,” Reichental said.

He stressed that people need to stand up for others with hushed voices.

“The Holocaust started with whispers, abuse, and then finally murder,” Reichental said.

Gregg nodded as Reichental recounted the event.

“Like the San Andreas Fault, there are tremors in Europe,” Gregg said. He supported Reichental as he mentioned that it’s important to warn young people that this is what’s happening and to make sure it doesn’t spread.

The most overwhelming experience Reichental had while filming Condemned to Remember was meeting the 19-year-old granddaughter of Officer Hans Leiden of the Nazi party.

                                                                                                                                        

“I am worried about Holocaust denial and what will happen when this generation dies out,” Reichental said to Leiden’s granddaughter.

“I will tell my children and their children so it will never die out. I will tell succeeding generations of the Holocaust to honor your memory,” she tells to Reichental.

As Tomi Reichental became emotional over this message, he felt reassured that the memory of his family and fellow Jewish community will be honored.