Teaching Future Generations

Phoenix, Arizona

In July 1970, Oskar and Lila decided to follow their daughter Linda out to the wild west while she studied interior design as Arizona State University. As the family finally settled into Arizona life, tragically Lila passed away due to cancer on Septermber 18, 1987. In 2001, Oskar's youngest child, Tracy passed away from cancer as well. 

Oskar realized around that time that he needed to do something to help teach future generations about the Holocaust. In 2014, Oskar wrote a book, A Boy’s Story A Man’s Memory, about his experiences during the Holocaust. Along with the book, Oskar visits schools on a daily basis to teach them about the Holocaust and the importance of respect and toleration. On any average day you can find Oskar traveling around Phoenix to speak not only to students, but veterans, adults, or anyone that wants to hear more about the lessons we can learn from the Holocaust.

In addition, Oskar recently received helped the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office when they asked him to meet with the perpetrators of an anti-Semitic act of vandalism. Three juveniles had pleaded guilty to twisting a decorative menorah in the front of someone’s yard into a swastika. The three were sentenced to perform 30 hours of community service, write a letter of apology to the victims, and meet face-to-face with a Holocaust survivor. Oskar was the survivor chosen for this meeting. The juveniles then had to write a 10-page essay on the lessons learned from the Holocaust and how their actions impacted the community. The case garnered national and international headlines as an example of a community coming together and refusing to let ignorance and hate control the narrative.

While Oskar enjoys his retirement you can still find him every so often speaking to groups about being a Voice for Tolerance.

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