Features

Keep the legacy alive

Benjamin Schindler speaks on his experience living with Holocaust survivors

Anissa Barajas, Opinion Copy Editor|April 27, 2023

On April 20th Ben Schindler came to Bonita Vista High to tell the story of his mother. Esther Turqoie as a major part in getting Schindler into BVH, she can be seen helping Schindler close out his presentation.

Seats in the Bonita Vista High (BVH) gymnasium on April 20 started to fill with students, staff and teachers as the presentation started at 11:50 a.m and ended at 1:00 p.m. Israel club president and senior Esther Turquie comes to the stage to welcome everyone and introduce Benjamin Schindler. Although the gym wasn’t completely full, a significant number of fourth period classes still came out to hear the speaker. As he comes to the stage, the BVH community starts to cheer while he gives Barons a warm welcome.

B. Schindler is the son of two Holocaust survivors, Rose and Max Schindler. Back on April 21 2022, BVH had both B. Schindler and R. Schindler on campus to speak on her experience. However, R. Schindler recently passed away in Jan. 2023. After her passing, B. Schindler wanted to come and speak on his experience being the son of Holocaust survivors. Turquie clarifies how this event came to be.

“Last year, there were anti-semtism incidents and after that, the past president of the Israel club and I started working to do something about it so we came up with the idea of bringing a Holocaust survivor to speak. I saw the effect [R. Schindler] had on the BVH community,” Turquie said. “Though, life happens and she is unfortunately not here with us anymore. However when B. Schindler told me that he was also passionate about educating the community, he told me that he could come in place of R. Schindler and talk about his own experiences.”

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If we educate, we are taking one more step into not letting this happen ever again. Hate can escalate very quickly and I don’t think people realize that.

— Israel club president and senior Esther Turquie

Schindler has always helped his mom set up talks at schools and he has always been alongside her. Since she passed away, he continues to speak at schools and share his mom’s story. B. Schindler explains his own preparations when he speaks at schools.

“When I go speak at schools, I make sure I have all my materials together and I make sure that the schools have the Youtube video (Rose Schindler Holocaust Survivor Story 2020) ready to go. The Youtube video is how I show my mom’s authentic story. The key is authenticity and you never want to change it because people can hear different things,” B. Schindler said.

Turquie also explains that the Israel club had decided to do this event again to celebrate Holocaust Remembrance week. Holocaust Remembrance week is for people apart of the Jewish community to remember the lives that were lost during the Holocaust.

“Holocaust Remembrance week is for Jewish people to commemorate the Holocaust and the six million jews that died,” Turquie said. “Usually, we take a minute of silence and we light up six candles to commemorate the six million. Even if it doesn’t do justice for the lives that were lost, this is a way to keep history alive and remind not only Jewish people, but also the community.”

Knowing his parents’ past, B. Schindler didn’t think any differently of his parents. However, he explains that being Jewish back then wasn’t as accepted as it is now.

“I wasn’t bullied necessarily because of my parents’ past. I was bullied because I was a small outsider church kid. As we know, bullying was around a lot more back then and more acceptable, so I got bullied because of my religion,” B. Schindler said.

After the video ended, the BVH community clapped as they heard R. Schindler’s story. B. Schindler returned to the stage, he began talking about growing up and how his parents never told him or his siblings about what they had gone through in the past. B. Schindler shows his gratitude towards his parents when they told him about their past.

“I was about 12 or 13 when my parents gave me the news. I was very grateful that they had finally told us about their past. They were hesitant to tell us because they didn’t want us to be saddened, but it really didn’t change anything,” B. Schindler said.

As he finishes telling his experiences, he opens the floor for questions. Both students and staff ask questions regarding R. Schindler and their religion. One of the questions was asked by Turquie: “After the Holocaust, did R. Schindler still believe in God after all that happened?” B. Schindler begins to explain that her relationship with God never changed. Senior Diego Nava, who had attended the event from last year, explains the differences from last year’s event.

“It was nice to hear about it again. I went to the last one that was a year ago and I’ve lived through a lot in that time and don’t remember much [of it], so it was nice to refresh my memory on all those things,” Nava said. “It inspired me to finally read and buy the autobiography.”

After the questions were finished, Turquie had recommended students and staff to buy B. Schinfler’s autobiography, “Two Who Survived”, paperback being $15 and the hardcover being $20. The Barons clapped once again for B. Schindler as he walked off the stage. Turquie shares how reading and being aware of a painful past can prevent people from making harmful jokes about the survivors.

“If we educate, we are taking one more step into not letting this happen ever again. People are emphatic and that people are conscious of where hate can lead to. Hate can escalate very quickly and I don’t think people realize that,” Turquie said. “An anti-semitic joke or stereotypes of exclusion, ultimately led to the Holocaust. It’s important for people to realize their words have power and the way you treat others and the prejudice that you hold can escalate really quickly.”