Eva Schloss is a Holocaust survivor… a wife, mother, daughter, sister, grandmother, friend… a teacher and a humanitarian.

She survived escape from her homeland in Austria, two years in hiding, capture on her 15th birthday, nine months in Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp, repatriation in Holland, the death of her beloved father and brother… and the poison of bitterness, the burden of grief, the integration of loss. 

Forty years after the end of World War II Eva began to share her story.  She has since written two books and spoken to more than one thousand audiences about her experiences.  In 1999 Eva joined United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan signing the Anne Frank Peace Declaration, along with a niece of Raul Wallenberg, a Schindler-like hero who rescued thousands of Jews in Budapest.  Eva joins many courageous individuals who work tirelessly to end the violence and bigotry that continue to plague our world. 

Eva’s story is sensational and difficult to imagine, yet her insightful message reminds us that life is precious and fragile, that the creative spirit is stronger than fear, that the power of good is immeasurable, and that love makes a difference.

One student’s thoughts about Eva’s story…

My most important lesson was about total strangers.  I realized I should not judge people…  Now I give everyone a chance and try to learn something from everyone I meet.  I look at a person for themselves, and not how different they may look… I want to be treated the same way by people I do not know…

By being a more tolerant person I now have many more people in my life that may someday be a friend… Even a stranger can change your path in life and help you become a better person.