Holocaust Survivor Emanuel (Manny) Mandel:
By Ashley Taylor
By Ashley Taylor
Mr. Emanuel Mandel is a Holocaust survivor and a Montgomery County resident. He visits schools and speaks at events all over the county. Even though he is commonly asked about torture, bombings, and things of that sort, if you can look beyond that he has a very moving story to tell.
He grew up in Hungary, and from 1936 to 1944, he witnessed and was impacted by bombings, and air raids, amongst other dreadful things. He was even forced to wear a yellow star pinned to his clothes, a symbol that marked he was a Jew. At first, he thought it was an honor and a privilege to wear this little yellow star, as he entered the first grade. As time went on he realized that it was like a giant target painted on his back, that it was a reason to be fearful.
Though he faced many dangerous and daunting situations, he, as a six year old, thought of it as an adventure. He was unaware as to what would happen next, a feeling of bewilderment as he describes it. He was moved around all over Europe, experiencing many different things, one of which being the horrors of a concentration camp. In 1944 he was in Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, most known as being the camp that Anne Frank was sent to, and was later transferred to Switzerland after negotiations.
Though, he says that the horrors of the war were worse than those of the Holocaust. After the war was over he was with his mother, but did not know if his father was alive and was placed in a foster home in Switzerland. In 1945, he moved to Palestine after being reunited with his family. Finally, he moved to the United States to be with his father and mother in 1949. Once in the United States, Mr. Mandel, wanting to experience American culture, went to see his first ball game, and marveled at the New York skyscrapers, a nice change in pace.
When Mr. Mandel went to college the Holocaust wasn’t a common topic that was talked about, as discussions about the Holocaust didn’t truly begin until the 1980’s. However, at the Mandel home, the Holocaust is a normal dinner time discussion. He wants future generations to be educated on the Holocaust, in order to improve their future and learn from the mistakes of the past.
He grew up in Hungary, and from 1936 to 1944, he witnessed and was impacted by bombings, and air raids, amongst other dreadful things. He was even forced to wear a yellow star pinned to his clothes, a symbol that marked he was a Jew. At first, he thought it was an honor and a privilege to wear this little yellow star, as he entered the first grade. As time went on he realized that it was like a giant target painted on his back, that it was a reason to be fearful.
Though he faced many dangerous and daunting situations, he, as a six year old, thought of it as an adventure. He was unaware as to what would happen next, a feeling of bewilderment as he describes it. He was moved around all over Europe, experiencing many different things, one of which being the horrors of a concentration camp. In 1944 he was in Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, most known as being the camp that Anne Frank was sent to, and was later transferred to Switzerland after negotiations.
Though, he says that the horrors of the war were worse than those of the Holocaust. After the war was over he was with his mother, but did not know if his father was alive and was placed in a foster home in Switzerland. In 1945, he moved to Palestine after being reunited with his family. Finally, he moved to the United States to be with his father and mother in 1949. Once in the United States, Mr. Mandel, wanting to experience American culture, went to see his first ball game, and marveled at the New York skyscrapers, a nice change in pace.
When Mr. Mandel went to college the Holocaust wasn’t a common topic that was talked about, as discussions about the Holocaust didn’t truly begin until the 1980’s. However, at the Mandel home, the Holocaust is a normal dinner time discussion. He wants future generations to be educated on the Holocaust, in order to improve their future and learn from the mistakes of the past.