fbpx

Hershel Greenblat, Holocaust Survivor, Southern Region, USA

Hershel Greenblat​

DOB: April 24, 1941
Country of Origin: Ukraine
Delegation: Southern Region, USA

1. What is motivating you to take part in the 2024 March of the Living?

My motivation is to help educate the future Jewish generation of what happened in the darkest days of our history and let them know that they are our witnesses and our hope that they work to see that it never happens again.

2. After the events of October 7, 2023, is there still a reason to have hope? In light of October 7th and the dramatic rise of antisemitism, do you fear for the future of the world?

The Jewish people always have hope for a future with peace in the world. The fight against antisemitism is an ongoing battle that we must fight with all of our heart and soul. The future of the world is in their hands, they need to get a good education and show the world that there is still goodness and respect for everyone. No matter how different we are, we are still all human beings.

3. What does the 80th anniversary of the destruction of Hungarian Jewry mean to you? What kinds of feelings does this somber commemoration evoke in you?

In 1944, the war was not going good for the Nazis, but they still wanted to eliminate the Jews of Hungary. The worst part is that most of the deportations were done by the Hungarian people themselves. It was done for simple reason of hatred. The unfortunate thing was by this time the rest of the world knew what was happening and still stood by and still let over 400,000 people be destroyed.

4. What do you want the students to know about your family who perished in the Holocaust?

My father’s family was completely destroyed and most of my mother’s family were killed but because of my parents’ strong will me and my sister survived. Their love of family was something that was handed down to me and my sisters and brother now have the opportunity to have a loving strong bond.

5. Why do you continue to educate about the Holocaust? What is your most important message or lesson for the students?

The reason that I continue to educate is that I want them to know [that] what happened was for only [one] reason: hate.

We have to do everything in our being to bring hatred to a stop and bring respect for everyone. But my biggest hope is a better and kinder world for my great grandson Elijah Mason Greenblat and everyone else.

Hershel was lifted in a chair and sang to on his 82nd birthday on the day they landed in Israel.
Hershel pouring dirt from Israel into the ash pit at Majdanek, where members of his family were most likely murdered.