Holocaust survivor to speak about tolerance and intervention

The well-known phrase “those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it” has a personal meaning to Sami Steigmann.

Steigmann, a Holocaust survivor and motivational speaker, is coming to the Lake Tahoe Resort Hotel on Sunday, May 12 at 7:00 p.m. Steigmann will share his story about life in a Nazi labor camp, the medical experiments he was subjected to, how he survived and the many lessons he’s learned throughout his life.

“My main goal is to empower people to become active, not to be bystanders,” Steigmann said. “We have to be active now, because if we don’t learn from history, history will repeat itself.”

“Sami Steigmann is without a doubt one of the youngest survivors that any of us will ever meet, and it's important that we bring him to Lake Tahoe to meet as many people as possible to share his story so that we can never forget one of the lowest times in human history. Everything Sami embodies is the idea that what happens to you in life doesn't define you, and to never under any circumstances act with malice toward any individual or group of people. To say that he's a hero and inspiration is an absolute understatement.

"It is an honor to have Mr. Steigmann visit Lake Tahoe and the community with an opportunity to hear his harrowing story and courageous perspective on life,” said Rabbi Mordey Richler

“I am a very open person. You can ask me anything,” Steigmann said.

Steigmann believes education, tolerance and intervention are essential for people to understand. Steigmann wants individuals to learn from his past, rather than just feel sorry for him and encourages others to be educated and tolerant of differing ideas and opinions from their own.

“Tolerance means different things for different people,” Steigmann said. “For me, it’s accepting other people’s opinion and other people’s culture.”

Steigmann has been approached by people claiming that his story never happened and the Holocaust, in general, didn’t happen. Instances of that particular nature are the reason why Steigmann believes in the education of both the Holocaust and tolerance are important to have.

Mordey Richler, the Rabbi at Chabad, hopes the event will bring people of all backgrounds together to have a better understanding of both Steigmann’s life and message as well as Jewish culture and history. “I think it will be a good opportunity to introduce them to the Jewish community,” Richler said.

Hate crimes against religious groups are still very present today, so it’s important to educate community members.

Lake Tahoe Resort Hotel is located at 4130 Lake Tahoe Blvd, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150. For more information and to RSVP, visit JewishTahoe.com/Sami or contact 530-314-7677 or Info@JewishTahoe.com

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