Holocaust Survivor Helen Sperling Tells Her Incredible Story
By: Rachel Polansky
Updated: October 24, 2012
Over this past weekend, the oldest Auschwitz concentration camp survivor
passed away at age 108. Today, Eyewitness News speaks with Holocaust
survivor, Helen Sperling, as she recounts the darkest moments of her
life. But throughout her time in concentration camps, it was her
incredible spirit that kept her alive. And now, Helen believes that she
survived so that she can share her story with the next generation.
"For the first time in my life, I was completely and utterly helpless," says Helen Sperling, Holocaust survivor.
Helen Sperling was born in Poland - she was 22 years old when the Nazi's invaded and she was sent to a concentration camp.
"Utter shock and utter despair and no closure for it ever, ever. What we lost is still there and it's never going away," says Helen.
But Helen says she survived for a reason; To share her story.
"I was their age when the war started and I didn't think it could happen to me. The time is running out to share the story person-to-person. It means a little bit more to the kids then just reading a book and they remember it," says Helen.
"Someone was cruel to her yet she doesn't focus on that. She focuses on the bigger thing, the bigger picture, which is to try to teach the next generation," says Rachel Philipson, senior at New Hartford High School.
Helen says it's not easy to share her story but, she says the hatred she endured keeps her talking.
"I started talking when my daughter was 9 years old, she was called a dirty Jew. Humanity is not a Jewish message. Humanity is a universal message," says Helen.
"She wants people to learn about not being a bystander and she tries to teach the new generation, so that something like this doesn't happen again," says Rachel.
And Helen says her message goes far beyond World War II.
"From the lesson of the Holocaust, we're going to learn not to have Darfur or not to have Syria. In every darkness, there's a glimmer of hope and that's what I want them to go home with," says Helen.
"My name is Helen Sperling. I am a Jew. I am a survivor." That's how Helen began her story. And the 92-year-old says she will continue to spread awareness because despite the lessons of the Holocaust, genocide has not stopped.
Helen told her 2-hour story to a crowd of community members at Temple Emanu- El in Utica this evening.
"For the first time in my life, I was completely and utterly helpless," says Helen Sperling, Holocaust survivor.
Helen Sperling was born in Poland - she was 22 years old when the Nazi's invaded and she was sent to a concentration camp.
"Utter shock and utter despair and no closure for it ever, ever. What we lost is still there and it's never going away," says Helen.
But Helen says she survived for a reason; To share her story.
"I was their age when the war started and I didn't think it could happen to me. The time is running out to share the story person-to-person. It means a little bit more to the kids then just reading a book and they remember it," says Helen.
"Someone was cruel to her yet she doesn't focus on that. She focuses on the bigger thing, the bigger picture, which is to try to teach the next generation," says Rachel Philipson, senior at New Hartford High School.
Helen says it's not easy to share her story but, she says the hatred she endured keeps her talking.
"I started talking when my daughter was 9 years old, she was called a dirty Jew. Humanity is not a Jewish message. Humanity is a universal message," says Helen.
"She wants people to learn about not being a bystander and she tries to teach the new generation, so that something like this doesn't happen again," says Rachel.
And Helen says her message goes far beyond World War II.
"From the lesson of the Holocaust, we're going to learn not to have Darfur or not to have Syria. In every darkness, there's a glimmer of hope and that's what I want them to go home with," says Helen.
"My name is Helen Sperling. I am a Jew. I am a survivor." That's how Helen began her story. And the 92-year-old says she will continue to spread awareness because despite the lessons of the Holocaust, genocide has not stopped.
Helen told her 2-hour story to a crowd of community members at Temple Emanu- El in Utica this evening.
