Holocaust Survivor Irene Zisblat talks to Campus

Virginia Tech was honored last month when Holocaust survivor, Irene Zisblat, came to speak with students about her miraculous survival of the Nazi massacre of the Jewish people. Over 200 people, including students, faculty, and community members crammed into the black cultural center in the Squires student Center to hear Zisblat’s chilling tale.

Born in Hungary, and thrown out of school for being a Jew, Zisblat and her family were quickly sent off to ghettos and concentration camps, where they were split up, tortured, and sadly, lost. Words cannot describe the tragedies faced by Zisblat, which included, medical experimentations, dehumanizing, and a near encounter with the gas chambers. The most memorable moment of her story was the connection to her Mother, who sewed diamonds into the Irene’s dress. Later when her clothes were taken away, Zisblat was forced to swallow the diamonds in order to keep the connection to her Mother alive.

Her torturous journey finally ended when she was liberated by American soldiers while on a death march, while she was still only 14. And she eventually arrived in America in 1947 to be with her Uncle.

She dedicated her speech to fellow holocaust survivor, hero, and victim of the Virginia Tech Aprl 16^th shooting, Liviu Librescu, who lost his life helping students escape. She urged the audience to never forget, the horrors of the past, and to not let them repeat themselves in the present. She spoke of Rowanda and Darfur, and of 9/11, and asked each person to stand out against racism and hatred. It “starts with you.”

A mix of emotions were visible as the room emptied out. Many students were wiping tears from their eyes, while others rushed to hug Zisblat. “Her story was so beautiful,” said freshman, Anna Isserow, of Fairfax, VA.

We want to thank Zisblat for visiting our campus and touching the lives of the students with her story. She has published her life's story into a book, The Fifth Diamaond, which can be purchased here: Fifth Diamon, Irene Zisblat.

(Irene Zisblat and Rachel Adell visiting the April 16 memorial.

One of the victims was Liviu Librescu, a fellow Holocaust survivor.)

(Irene Zisblat poses for a picture with Bianca Rosen Siegel, Hillel's Holocaust awareness chair.)