Marion Blumenthal Lazan, a Holocaust survivor and co-author of Four Perfect Pebbles, an award-winning book about her childhood under Hitler’s rule.
What:
A moving first-hand account of the Blumenthal family’s life in Germany from the events preceding Kristallnacht to imprisonment in concentration camps to liberation in April of 1945. Mrs. Lazan was 11 years old when the family gained its freedom. She relates to adolescents, describing her ordeal in such a manner that students are quickly drawn into the drama. The students are eyewitnesses to history.
Why:
Mrs. Lazan’s mission is to speak to as many students as possible so they hear the story from a Holocaust survivor. Her presentation goes beyond the facts; she applies the lessons learned to society today. She asks her audience to be tolerant of others and not stereotype individuals based on religious belief, color, race or national origin. She stresses the importance of positive thinking as well as creativity and inner-strength when working to overcome adversity. She warns students to be true to themselves and not blindly follow the leader.
Where:
Mrs. Lazan speaks for about 45 minutes and then answers questions for 15-30 minutes. The most successful format is speaking to an audience in an auditorium (or gymnasium) setting. Ideally, many of the students will have read Four Perfect Pebbles prior to the presentation.
How to contact:
E-mail Marion at marion@fourperfectpebbles.com
or call 516-374-5958 (cell 516-641-7713)
to arrange or discuss a possible presentation visit.