By Austin Williams
United Way of Southern Illinois held the United We Stand Dinner at the Centralia Cultural Society on Friday. Guests were able to enjoy a meal from Chammies Food for the Soul and listen to speaker Alex Kor, son of holocaust survivors Eva Mozes Kor and Mickey Kor. In her lifetime, Eva became well-known as a speaker and educator on the Holocaust. With both of his parents now deceased, Alex has made it his goal to tell their stories and carry on his mother’s message of hope, perseverance, and forgiveness.
On the theme of unity, Kor told the audience his mother opposed any prejudice based on race or religion.
“(Her lesson was to) prevent prejudice by judging people only on their actions and the content of their character. Meaning, they shouldn’t judge people by their hair color, by their skin color, by their religion… My mom, before any of the Holocaust education, was involved in the Head Start program in Terre Haute, which was an African American community center program. At a young age, I was exposed to a lot of diversity, and I think that truly made a difference in my life.”
One of Eva Kor’s most famous acts a public figure was forgiving the nazis who had harmed her. Alex said that while his mother’s choice was controversial, it allowed her to move forward and focus on doing good in the present.
“I think, in this act of forgiveness, my mom… didn’t realize she was giving herself a gift. Over several months, by the summer of 1995, my mom realized that she no longer had this chip on her shoulder about German people and German things. She always resented her parents because her parents had a chance to protect her and they didn’t. She decided to forgive her mom, forgive her dad, forgive herself for hating her parents… she wanted to move forward, and that was her thought, that she didn’t want to go back.”
Following Kor’s speech, the Cultural Society of Kor’s book, A Blessing, not a Burden, which tells his family’s story in detail. Kor was available afterward to chat with guests and sign copies of his book.
Kor was the speaker on Saturday as part of the United We Stand Cultural Festival at The Commons in Mt. Vernon. The free event featured a variety of artists, performers, and vendors.
Mozes Kor signs hia book, ‘A Blessing, not a Burden’ that tells his family’s story. Photo by Austin Williams.
