Queenstown Mirror: Survivor Speaks About Holocaust

Sue Fea, Queenstown Mirror

SURVIVOR SPEAKS ABOUT HOLOCAUST

BY SUE FEA

QUEENSTOWN MIRROR, AUGUST 6, 2014

As a Jewish child he survived the Holocaust and now Lithuanian born Daniel Gold carries a tale of terror around the world, teaching the younger generation about the devastating consequences of racism.

Mr Gold in his late 70s will speak at a public meeting at St Margaret’s Presbyterian Church in Frankton tomorrow night at 7.30pm for a gold coin donation. He’ll also speak to students at Wakatipu High School on Friday.

Queenstown “Friends of Israel” coordinator Conny Vangronsvelt said, Mr Gold was hidden by his parents in 1943 during World War II when “actions” were carried out in the ghettos around Lithuania.

“All the old and weak people and children, were rounded up and sent to their deaths,” she said. “Parents tired to hide their children, but only a few remained undetected. Daniel and a few of his cousins were among them.”

She said the present unrest in Europe and on the Gaza Strip shows that the world has not learned the lesson about ethnic intolerance yet.

“Anti-Semitism is on the rise – it’s not extinct,” Mrs Vangronsvelt, a non-Jewish German who has lived in Israel said.

“There are daily demonstrations going on in Germany carrying terrible slogans like, “Hitler didn’t finish the job.””

“We have Israeli and Jewish friends who own shops in Israel, and whenever there’s a demonstration the police tell them to cover their windows,” she said.

Mr Gold’s tour, which takes in schools and universities in Auckland, Wellington Christchurch and Queenstown, is being organised by the Zionist Federation of New Zealand and New Zealand Friends of Israel. It’s his first visit to New Zealand and if time allows he may also speak at Cromwell College, Mrs Vangronsvelt said.

A professor of medical microbiology, Mr Gold who lives in Israel, retired eight years ago, but continues to teach medical students voluntarily.

One of the few remaining survivors of the Holocaust, Mrs Vangronsvelt said his mission was to teach history students and young people around the world about the Holocaust, bringing history books alive with his powerful firsthand account.

“He’s very passionate about communicating to the next generation about racism and prejudice.”

While in the Wakatipu he will officially open the travelling “Shadows of Shoah” Holocaust exhibition at Lakes District Museum on August 8.

• Anyone interested in attending the invitation only opening should contact the museum on 442 1824.