Holocaust Survivor Describes Escape from Cattle Car

Born in 1930 in Kaunas, Lithuania, Kalman Perk was deported with his family to the Kovno ghetto in 1941. Hiding in a cellar in July 1944 to escape the impending liquidation of the ghetto, the family was forced to abandon their hiding place due to German-ignited fires in the ghetto. They were then loaded onto a cattle car and deported to the concentration camps. Convinced by his parents that he must escape, Kalman jumped out the window of the moving train and fled eastward into Russia. Kalman adopted the last words his father spoke to him before escaping from the train, "Be a decent person", as the guiding principle of his life.

For more details, click here: http://www1.yadvashem.org/yv/en/exhibitions/survivors/perk.asp

Category:

Education

Tags:

• holocaust
• shoah
• kovno
• kaunas
• lithuania
• ghetto
• concentration
• deportation
• museum
• yad
• Vashem
• משפט אייכמן
• גדעון הואזנר

[BoricuaDelight]

another heartbreaking testimony of a parents love to save their child who went on to be a good man.

amazing story, thank you for sharing, and god bless his family and him

[fezik82]

I've never cried so hard! I just want to give him a hug!

[breeeegs]

The Torah is literally the word of G-d that was dictated to Moses by G-d Himself. This is an absolutely vital tenet of Jewish belief. We have commentaries on the Torah by the sages which help us understand it and prevent it from being distorted, though sadly that still happened, and the consequences for the Jewish People were devastating and can still be felt today.

[slyrader1]

shalom i wish i had been born to fight the nazis i hate them they are wrong and will always be wrong

[sk8tr4lf]

@zaohad1 they are. In the pits of hell.

[feephont]

he was male therefore his father said man.. but the message for all people to get is be a good person male or female. translating what someone said according to what we think is best changes what they said. this is what is wrong in Christianity, different religions trying to translate what God said into human understanding. this will always leave questions instead read it for what it is and let Hashem translate it in your heart

[VALASINET]

I can't stop crying, God bless all the Jews and anyone who is going through hard times anywhere in the world, and bless the kind hearts of those who lend out a helping hand:):):)

[spacevase1]

that story is amazing! the fact that something this cruel happened to humans really does frighten me! just think if you were born in the early 1900's....im going to buy a gun right now...laterrr

[etheth44]

@msharoff actually they have universal health care AND freedom of speech

[Aepullo68]

What the father said is not "be a good man" but "be a man" (sein ein mensch), for what it matters...

[xee00]

wow unbelievable story

[meronmotors]

@BoricuaDelight its a shame people still deny the holocaust, I think they do it to upset people, THey hate people. This is a good man and he would make his father proud, Notice he is not hateful. He doesnt curse the nazis for taking his father. He only cares to make good on his father last wish. When these last survivors die. I hope the holocaust does not become doubted