RETIREMENT COMMUNITY HOSTS HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR STORY
On Wednesday 2nd April, residents at Great Alne Park in the village of Great Alne, Alcester, had a special talk from Peter and Moira Hart, the son and daughter-in-law of Auschwitz survivor Kitty Hart-Moxon OBE, organised by the Holocaust Educational Trust (HET).
Kitty was born in Bielsko, Poland in 1926. Age 12 she fled with her family after the Nazi invasion and spent three years in hiding. In 1943 she was captured and taken with her mother to Auschwitz and later to Bergen-Belsen where she spent three years in forced labour, experiencing unspeakable horrors. Both Peter and Moira started presenting Kitty’s story of survival a few years ago from a second-generation perspective. Their main objective is to ensure that Kitty’s testimony stands the test of time.
Adam Hall, Village Manager at Great Alne Park commented: “It is a privilege for us to welcome Peter and Moira to Great Alne Park. Our residents are of a generation that has many of their own stories to tell but Kitty’s story brings a unique perspective and acts as a powerful reminder why perpetuating the stories of the Holocaust, remains so important. We are grateful to the Holocaust Educational Trust for co-ordinating the visit.”
It’s a subject close to the heart of one particular resident, Martin Berliner, former CEO of Maccabi GB who was awarded a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in recognition of his exceptional service to the Jewish community last September. Martin is a keen supporter of Holocaust Education and coordinated the visit for his fellow residents.
Martin spoke following the event: “It was a great honour to host Peter and Moira at Great Alne Park to tell Kitty’s ‘Surviving Auschwitz’ story. We were really pleased with the turnout and to hear feedback from other residents who found the story shocking but inspiring in equal measures.” Martin and his wife Judith donated Maccabi GB Yellow Candles for all those attending so that residents could light them on Yom HaShoah (The day of the holocaust) on April 23rd.
