A SURVIVOR of the infamous Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in World War II is to give a talk next week in Waterford.
Tomi Reichental, who is in his 80th year, dedicates his time going around to schools giving talks about what was one of the darkest periods in human history.
This year marks the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz and Bergen-Belsen and to acknowledge that fact Mr. Reichental will give a public talk at the Chapel, College Street Campus, of Waterford Institute of Technology, on Tuesday, February 10, at 11 a.m.
The organisers of the event have highlighted the fact it is open to the public and are inviting people from all across the south east region to attend.
Mr. Reichental, who was Ireland’s International Person of the Year in 2014, was born in Slovakia in 1935.
When he was just nine years-old he was taken with members of his family to the Nazi concentration camp of Bergen-Belsen.
Tomi survived the experience and in 1959 came to live in Dublin where, along with his wife, he raised three sons.
For almost 60 years he was unable to speak about the horrific experiences he witnessed in Bergen Belsen.
However, now he dedicates his time to raising awareness about the Holocaust and gives many public talks each year about his experiences.
In 2011, O’Brien Press published Tomi’s autobiography ‘I Was a Boy in Belsen’ and a film with the same name about his life was also made.
Last year a documentary called ‘Close to Evil’ was broadcast on RTE about Mr. Reichental’s search for one of his former jailers.
A spokesperson for WIT commented to the Echo: “We are delighted to have Tomi visit WIT on the year that marks the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Bergen Belsen. Tomi is one of the few remaining Holocaust survivors in Ireland and is now himself in his 80th year.”
Mr. Reichental will also sign copies of his book, which will be available for sale on the day, after the talk.
“It is a rare opportunity to hear Tomi speak and the event is free and open to all,” said the college spokesperson.
The talk will be part of a series of talks and presentations organised by the Religious Studies and Theology group at WIT and is presented in association with the Holocaust Education Trust Ireland.
