Since 1984, Eva Kor and her CANDLES group have been shining a bright light on the unspeakable inhumanity that occurred at Auschwitz and other death camps in the days of World War II when the Nazis tried to eliminate the Jewish culture, create a master race and dominate the planet through its abject evil.
Kor, a survivor of Josef Mengele’s diabolical experiments on young twins, went on to found the CANDLES Holocaust Museum and Education Center in Terre Haute in 1995 — with considerable help from her husband, Mickey, also a survivor; her staff; her board of directors; and other supporters.
In 2003, a firebomber who was never apprehended, set fire to the museum building and destroyed irreplaceable photos, documents and exhibits that together told the story of Hitler’s reign of demented terror.
But before the final embers of that arson had burned out, Kor and her supporters had already rekindled the resolve to rebuild the museum from the ashes, grander than the original. A new museum opened in 2005, itself a statement against the violence that claimed the original building.
Now that museum, and the educational efforts that emanate from it, set Terre Haute apart from its sister cities throughout the country, even the world. It draws groups of schoolchildren on day trips from across the region, students who will forever remember that it was in Terre Haute that they learned about the Holocaust, hate, hunger, famine, poverty, violence and greed.
Always, those students are mesmerized, wide-eyed, both by what they see and by Kor’s lessons of knowledge over ignorance, forgiveness over vengeance, healing over retribution, light over darkness.
Kor also takes her message on the road, speaking to college audiences — such as 500 at Louisiana State University in March of this year — and overwhelming that age group with horror stories that are real beyond any they have heard. She also, of course, offers hope that good can, and eventually does, conquer evil.
CANDLES also has gained international renown for conducting frequent trips to Auschwitz for those who want to see and feel the sites — and remaining sights — of concentration camps. (If you have that interest, a special trip is being planned for next January, a time that will commemorate the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz — which Kor and her late twin sister, Miriam, experienced first-hand.)
Coincidence or planned, July 24 saw the happy confluence of yet another anti-hate speaker at CANDLES, Rainer Hoess, with an announcement that CANDLES and Indiana State University have formed a three-year educational partnership.
Through the agreement, ISU students will be made to confront the history of the Holocaust and the real-time crises that threaten people around the world and around the corner. This will become an important part of ISU students’ worldview, social consciousness and respect for human rights.
Kor and ISU deserve great compliments for forging this relationship. ISU’s size and resources will add support to CANDLES’ efforts. Kor’s insights, drive and sheer power of unrelenting personality will greatly broaden and enrich learning.
It may be pre-ordained that this merged effort between CANDLES and ISU will work famously because both are in the light-shining business.
That is obvious in the 11 candle-shaped panes of glass that beckon from the CANDLES museum’s north side and in the words of its mission statement that vow “to create an empowered community of critical thinkers who will illuminate the world with hope, healing, respect and responsibility.”
And ISU? Since its founding in 1865, two images have graced its seal: a torch shedding light and an open book of knowledge.
That knowledge at ISU can increasingly become — for its students, faculty and staff — a scholarly avenue to study a tragic era in world history. It can also underscore the reassurance that even from despicable acts there can arise renewable hope.
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