Chabad at IU will present “A historic evening of inspiration from a survivor of Auschwitz & hard labor camps: Helga Melmed” from 5-6 p.m. April 23 at Presidents Hall in the Media School. The speaker event will be in commemoration of Holocaust Remembrance Day.
Chabad at IU is a Jewish student organization that includes Jewish classes, home-cooked meals, Shabbat services and leadership opportunities. Chabad at IU is located at 703 E. 7th St.
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Melmed was born in Berlin, Germany in 1927, and at the age of 16, Melmed was found at 46 pounds and alone in Auschwitz Concentration Camp. Despite the suffering, Melmed fought to stay alive in the infamous camp. She has said she refuses to let hatred in her heart and chooses to share her story around the world.
“As a child I didn’t understand what was happening,” Melmed said in promotional materials for the event. “The hatred, the violence then as a teenager, the labor camps, the gas ovens. Eighty years later, I’m here to tell you what happened.”
The event is free for the public. However, patrons are required to RSVP at the Chabad website. Doors will open at 4:45 p.m.
