A HOLOCAUST survivor has showcased her play in Solihull.
The play, which took place at Solihull School, was commissioned by Voices of the Holocaust and has been seen by over 20,000 students and members of the public since its premiere in 2022.
It is based on the testimony of Susan Pollack OBE, a Hungarian Holocaust survivor who, at the age of 13, was sent to Aushwitz and later to Bergen-Belsen.
The school also had the honour of welcoming fellow Auschwitz survivor, Mindu Hornick MBE; Kindertransportee Lia Lesser, as well as civic, religious and charity leaders from across the Midlands.
Susan said: How do you get over such an experience? Is it possible to walk away and learn to live with all of this? How do you find the strength? Life is precious β you can go in one of two ways β up or down.
“I chose to walk away and rebuild my life.
“There was no revenge, and no justice.
“In my case I think I rebuilt my self-esteem through the joy of having children and building a family.
“I also chose to exercise my free will. I find that trying to make a positive contribution to society, such as through volunteering, helps greatly.”
Mr Penney, head of the prep school said: βAt 93 years old, Susan continues to be a beacon of inspiration for so many people far and wide.
“Despite losing 50 members of her family in the Holocaust, and her own near-death experiences, Susan continues to share how she is disarmed by acts of everyday kindness.
“Her heartfelt encouragement to be upstanders in the face of all forms of discrimination and prejudice, and
to always be kind will live long in the memory of all present.β
Cate Hollis, Artistic Director of Voices of the Holocaust, said: “Voices of the Holocaust, as a charity, is dedicated to telling the stories of survivors like our dear friend Susan Pollack OBE.
“It is profoundly important that her story, that of her family and the other 6 million Jewish people murdered in the Holocaust continue to be told.
“The impact that Kindness is having across education establishments in the UK is incredible and we are honoured to do this work through the power of theatre.”
