Local Author, Holocaust Survivor Shares His Story at LTCC

The Lake Tahoe Community College Foundation warmly invites you to an evening with local author and Holocaust survivor Leon Malmed on Friday, April 26 at 7:00 p.m. in the Aspen Room, across from the library.

Mr. Malmed will share a short documentary film, discuss his amazing story of survival, and sign copies of his book, “We Survived…At Last I Speak.” Books will be available for purchase and signing, and $5 from every sale will go to the LTCC Foundation in support of student scholarships and academic success. The event is free, and all are welcome to join us for this special occasion.

Mr. Malmed and his sister, Rachel, watched as their parents were arrested and taken away in 1942 Nazi-occupied France. Neighbors offered to watch the children, believing the parents would return in just a few days. Instead, their parents were taken to Auschwitz-Birkenau, and never returned.

The two siblings were taken in by their neighbors, the Ribouleaus. The couple provided a safe home to the children through roundups, threats, air raids, and the many difficulties and sacrifices of wartime. The courage, sympathy and loyalty of the Ribouleau family stands in stark contrast to the injustices and horrors both perpetrated and tolerated by French authorities and police. For their kindness and sacrifice, the Ribouleaus were honored as “Righteous Among the Nations” by Yad Vashem, the Holocaust museum and memorial in Israel.

A short documentary film will be shown that includes video interviews of Mr. Malmed, his sister, and Mrs. Ribouleau. Archival photographs and family film footage completes this moving film experience. Mr. Malmed will also host a Q and A, offering both children and adults the chance to ask questions of someone who directly experienced one of the most tragic events in human history, and lived to share his story.

For more information about this event, contact Peter Bostic at Bostic@ltcc.edu.