The Communique

Issue date: 4/17/08 Section: News

Media Credit: Scott Kintzel Hedy Epstein speaks to Kirkwood students about her experiences during the Holocaust on April 15.

When Hedy Epstein left for school on Nov. 10, 1938, she thought it was just like any other day. Epstein had no idea what the day would hold for her family.

Epstein shared her story about life as a Jewish child growing up under Hitler's power at Kirkwood Community College on April 15 in Cedar Hall before a standing room only crowd.

On her way to school on Nov. 10, Epstein said she passed Jewish owned businesses that had windows broken out. Not thinking much of it, she continued to school. Epstein was shocked when her school principal came into her classroom, grabbed her by the elbow and threw her out the door. Epstein tried to call home but all of her relatives phone lines had been disconnected.

Upon arriving home, Epstein learned her father had been arrested by the Nazis 10 minutes after she left for school. All men ages 16 and up were arrested. As Epstein's father was being taken away, he yelled back to her mother, "Try to find Hedy and try to stay together!"

Epstein and her mother and aunt hid in the attic in a wardrobe, the whole time knowing they had to get out of Germany. At this point, Jewish people in her village were no longer allowed to attend school or use public services like hospitals. Jewish Synagogues were burned to the ground. Epstein recalls her parents being scared that this day would come.

There was no information on the men that had been taken from the village for two weeks. They then learned that the men were at Dachau, a concentration camp about 10 miles from Munich.

"I was so traumatized by the events," Epstein told the crowd. "I wouldn't let my mother or aunt out of my sight."

Epstein said her mother temporarily lost sanity when her father was missing.

One day when Epstein was 14, she did something on her own; she answered a knock at the door. Her father stood there, bald headed and dressed in clothes much too small for him. He had been badly beaten at Dachau but was happy to be alive. Later that same afternoon, Epstein's father had a mild heart attack. He was treated in the late hours of the night by a Christian doctor who risked his life by helping. Epstein later found out that the doctor was responsible for many cruel experiments on Jewish people in concentration camps.

In 1939 Epstein was transported to England on a "children's transport." This was an effort to save Jewish children between the ages of 6 months and 17 years of age. Epstein stayed in writing contact with her parents until Sept. 4, 1942, when she received the last letter from her mother.

Epstein's father died at Auschwitz in August of 1942 and her mother in September of 1942.

When asked why she travels around speaking about her experiences, Epstein's said she wanted to stop hate and educate people about genocide.

"Each and every one of us not only can but must make a difference in this life," Epstein said.

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