A FRIEND COMES TO VISIT--THE YOUNGEST SURVIVOR OF "SCHINDLER'S LIST"

Imagine being a child of nine or ten, living a quiet life with your mom, dad, brothers and sister in a small town in Poland. Then slowly, your world begins to fall apart. The events leading up to the Holocaust happened so gradually, and were so seemingly small at first, even illogical and almost ridiculous, that people didn't feel particularly life threatened. Their basic rights were being taken from them, one insidious step at a time, but they had been through something similar with the Russians during World War I , and they thought it would run its course and that things would return to normal. Leon Leyson was one of those children who noticed that he was not allowed to sit on the park bench anymore. Then, the park itself became off limits for people like him. He certainly noticed when he was prohibited from attending school any longer. He also noticed when he was forced to wear the star of David on his clothing. And he very much noticed that he was beginning to be shunned, for he was now called an "enemy of the state". It all seemed very strange to the young boy. Then, one day his brother disappeared, never to be seen again. Leon, his remaining brothers, a sister, and his mother, who by this time had been forced to live and eventually go into hiding in the Polish ghetto, were finally taken away to a concentration camp. His father, however, was working for a Mr. Schindler in a factory. This, as it turned out, was to be the Leyson family's saving grace.

Mr. Schindler, who began to see the utter horror that was happening, used his considerable influence, charisma, and wealth to help save over a thousand Jews. He made a list of names of those he called "experts" in his field of factory workers. Those on the list were to be taken away from the concentration camps and almost certain death, in order to work for Mr. Schindler. Leon's father persuaded Mr. Schindler to put his entire family on the life saving list. But even in spite of their names being on the list, Leon's mother and sister almost didn't make it, as they were mistakenly put on a train bound for one of the death camps, but were rescued by Mr. Schindler. One of Leon's brothers was on the same train with his girl friend, had the choice to get off, but refused to leave his girl friend---both died. Leon, himself almost did not make it, as he somehow got into the wrong line---but, as fate would kindly have it, he managed to plead with the guard who uncharacteristically let him go with his family. As a result, the Leyson family survived, and today Leon is the youngest surviving survivor of the group known as "Schindler's List"., the same title as the movie which was so popular some years ago.

Leon came to our town last weekend to tell his personal account of the above story. For many years, he did not speak of his experiences to anyone outside his immediate family. But finally he decided that it was his responsibility to share his memories, in the hope that all who hear will stand as guardians against the evil that allows hatred to grow to such unspeakable, incredible proportions. He builds his story around Oskar Schindler, a man who made a difference, one name at a time on a list.

Leon's story is told quietly, with dignity and little graphic drama, but the shock and hurt are still etched in his face and his voice as he struggles still to overcome the tide of emotion brought on by the re-telling of his family's harrowing experiences and irretrievable losses. At the end of his talk, there was a question and answer period. One of the questions was whether Leon could find it in his heart to forgive those who had trespassed against him and so many others. His answer was simple and direct--"No. I do not have the authority to forgive. That would be up to those who died at the hands of the perpetrators. " Leon is one of the gentlest, kindest men I have ever known. But he is also an honest man who told his story and his truth, right down to that answer.

Leon also was asked if , because of all he went through, his faith was still intact. His quiet answer---"What can I say---I am a Jew". That said it all ---because of who he was, he paid an incredible price; and because of who he is, he is inextricably tied to his faith. At that moment, the audience went dead silent---the man and his story all came together in one clarifying, elegant, and proud statement.

The Leysons have been good friends of ours for many years. Our friendship was forged with little knowledge of the above story, but our lives are enriched by knowing this man and his wife. It is one thing to read about the Holocaust. It is quite another to hear it from the lips of one who, through a series of very fortunate and unfortunate events lived to tell about it. It is possible for one person to make a difference, and Leon is doing his utmost best---may he succeed, one person at a time, and may this sad story never be forgotten--because even now, there are those who claim the Holocaust never happened. These same people have no sympathies for the Jews and their one homeland, Israel. Extreme vigilance is needed to see that the creeping, slow sludge of apathy,oppression, and hatred is stopped before it can spread out of control again. Don't think it can't happen again---it is happening now in different parts of the world and could happen anywhere. The overwhelming aggression that can build within groups of extreme religions , overly powerful governments, or any kind of radicalism, against anybody they perceive to be dangerously against their views, or "enemies of the state" --- or "infidels", are almost beyond our imagination---imagine.