Mark is a Holocaust survivor. He is worried about the state of Australia
Current and future generations are learning about antisemitic atrocities through the voices of Holocaust survivors, like Mark Spigelman.
Mark Spigelman, a Holocaust survivor and retired surgeon, professor, and medical archaeologist, expresses concern about the state of Australia today. Born in Poland in 1940, Mr. Spigelman endured a childhood marked by deception and survival. Forced to adopt a disguise, he lived as a girl during the war to avoid detection by the Germans.
When liberated in 1945, his family hid on a farm near Auschwitz, believing it safer than far away. After liberation, Mr. Spigelman returned to his hometown of Będzin, now experiencing a drastically altered Jewish community of only three survivors. In 1949, he immigrated to Australia as a refugee, where he faced a new school experience.
His peers welcomed him, curious about his background and eager to teach him cricket. The survivor now rekindles these interactions by sharing his story with students, hoping to prevent the rise of hate and discrimination. Amid ongoing concerns about antisemitism and social cohesion, Mr. Spigelman worries about the future of Australia, its values, and humanity.
He emphasizes the importance of education in fostering empathy and understanding, advocating for a national minimum standard for Holocaust education in the curriculum.
Written by urgent.news from ABC News AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.
