Holocaust survivor shares her experiences
Brian Peach
Daily Egyptian
Marion Blumenthal Lazan remembers the horror, and she does not want today's youth to forget.
The image of thousands lying dead and naked in piles is still in the memory of this Holocaust survivor. This description and similar memories have driven her to speak throughout the United States and abroad about her experiences living in a Nazi concentration camp for six and a half years as a child.
On Tuesday, in front of more than 250 students and community members at the Carbondale Public Library, Lazan outlined in detail the accounts put forth in her book, "Four Perfect Pebbles." Those who missed the lecture, sponsored by the Southern Illinois Reading Council, will have another chance to hear it tonight at 7 p.m. in the Carbondale Civic Center.
Lazan is a Jewish woman whose family was stuck in Holland when Germany invaded in 1939. When lecturing, she describes everything from the living conditions to the constant fear of the genocide taking place all around her on a daily basis. She even held up the yellow star she was forced to wear while she was a prisoner at the Bergen-Bensen concentration camp.
Guests such as Jill Tegethoff became so emotional that they could not help but cry when Lazan described these and other events, such as her 12-year-old brother having to bury his own father. Her message was clear to those who took her words to heart.
"I don't dwell on the Holocaust," Lazan said. "But, today's children are the last generation who will ever hear this story first hand. They need to remember what happened and pass it on themselves."
Tegethoff, a fourth grade teacher at Pickneyville Junior High, thought Lazan's message of not following the crowd and being original was an important part of the lecture. Tegethoff met Lazan prior to the lecture, when she spoke in front of the teacher's students. Tegethoff also purchased Lazan's book and got it signed.
"She's such a strong and wonderful person," Tegethoff said. "We can all learn a lot from her."
Lazan has spoken in front of nearly 100,000 in 15 states and three countries, including Germany and Israel. She is fluent in German, Dutch, Hebrew and English. "Four Perfect Pebbles" is in its 11th printing. It has been published in German, Japanese and English and is offered to students through the Scholastic Book Club
Lazan talked about the meaning behind the name of her book on Tuesday. Deprived of all the luxuries, such as books and toys that most students grow up with, a young Lazan had to occupy herself any way possible. She developed small superstitions to pass the time, and one included finding four exact pebbles.
"This game gave me something to hold onto," she said.
Each pebble was to represent a member of her family, and if she could find four, it would mean her mother, father, brother and herself would all make it out of the camps safely. The rest of her story unfolds in detailed account in the first-hand book.
Michael Ahrens, a psychologist at Marion Prison, was another audience member who purchased Lazan's book and waited in line more than 20 minutes to have it signed. He thought her struggle during World War II made for an interesting book topics as he has always had an interest in how people handle and struggle with adversity.
"She gives a riveting presentation, and you can feel the pain," Ahrens said. "It's a hurting process for her.
"She seems to see in the students the potential that she had but couldn't capitalize on. She doesn't want people to squander it away and take things for granted."
Reporter Brian Peach can be reached at bpeach@dailyegyptian.com
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Last update: Thursday, October 10, 2002 at 4:05:21 AM
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