Dr. Alex Kor, son of Holocaust survivors Michael and Eva Mozes Kor, will present a guest lecture titled “Reflecting on My Parents’ Holocaust Journeys: Finding Forgiveness and Celebrating My Family’s Legacy” on April 7 at 6 p.m. in the Memorial Union Great Hall at Iowa State University.

Kor’s parents went through much suffering during the Holocaust. His father, Michael, was sent to Latvia and later to the Buchenwald concentration camp, where he survived hard labor and narrowly escaped execution. With the aid of United States troops, he later emigrated to America.

Moreover, his mother, Eva Mozes Kor, and her twin sister, Miriam, were deported to Auschwitz in 1944. When they arrived, they were separated from their family and subjected to inhumane experiments by Josef Mengele. This was the last time Eva and Miriam saw their parents and other siblings again. They survived and were liberated by Allied troops in 1945.

Growing up in Terre Haute, Indiana, Kor witnessed firsthand how resilient his parents were, as well as their contrasting approaches to their past. His mother, Eva Kor, co-founded the CANDLES Holocaust Museum in Terre Haute in 1995 and dedicated many years to Holocaust education. 

Kor’s lecture will draw from his book, “A Blessing, Not a Burden: My Parents’ Remarkable Holocaust Story & My Fight to Keep Their Legacy Alive,” an account of their lives. He will reflect on their journeys and legacy, delving into themes of perseverance and forgiveness. 

As a member of the CANDLES Holocaust Museum and Education Center Board of Directors, Kor is dedicated to keeping his parents’ story alive for future generations. His presentation aims to provide a perspective that can help others overcome their own challenges by learning from his parents’ remarkable ability to persevere. 

More information on this lecture can be found here.