Holocaust survivors' children speak at MU
Jenny and Alan Stempleman spoke of their parents' experiences during World War II.
Published April 12, 2005
With two candlesticks and 20 photos, Jenny Stempleman entered America with her two Holocaust survivor parents in 1951.
"I remember stories of my parents growing up that did not match any type of speech I've heard about the Holocaust," said Jenny's daughter, MU junior Joy Stempleman. "I'm hoping people will see a different view and perspective, and understand what survivors not only had to live through during the Holocaust, but how their lives were changed afterward as well."
On Sunday, Jenny Stempleman and her husband, Alan Stempleman, spoke about their parents' experiences during the Holocaust. Jenny Stempleman's Polish parents were placed in slave labor camps in Russia toward the beginning of the war in 1939 and were liberated in 1945. Alan Stempleman's father was in the U.S. military during the war.
The speech was part of Holocaust Remembrance Month, sponsored by Hillel, a foundation for Jewish students on college campuses.
"Ninety-one percent of the Jewish population in Poland, which was 3 million Jews, died during the Holocaust," Jenny Stempleman said. "Being young and fit, it helped them stay alive."
Jenny Stempleman said she wanted to talk about the slave labor and displaced persons camps that continued after the war ended in 1945, because many people were unaware of these aspects of the Holocaust.
Freshman Beth Gelfand said she believed it is important for people to understand that there were many aspects of the Holocaust.
"It is important to learn about this because her mom and dad talked about how this type of tragedy isn't over and still is happening throughout the world, and we need to stop and take notice to prevent it from happening once again," Gelfand said.
Jenny Stempleman said her parents met in a displaced persons camp. While waiting for their visas so they could get into the United States or Israel, they had their son and daughter.
"Since there was still a lot of anti-Semitism after the war, Jewish people were afraid to go back to their hometowns," she said. "The DP camps became fully functional communities, with vocational training and cultural and theatrical events."
Joy Stempleman said she heard her grandparents' stories mostly through her mother, and noticed her grandparents always kept her well fed and did not let anything go to waste.
"My grandpa and grandma actually went outside and danced in the street when they found out my uncle was having a child," Joy Stempleman said. "Those were the type of people they were — always focused on the family. I heard most of my grandparents' stories from my mom because no one wants to tell their grandkids about those types of things."
Alan Stempleman's father was a master sergeant with U.S. Army Intelligence during World War II, but Alan Stempleman did not know much about his father's army career until after his father died. He said he believes it's important to understand the meaning of the Holocaust because of its affect on the world today.
"People have not remembered that meaning, as exemplified by Rwanda and Darfur," Alan Stempleman said. "People must realize that the Holocaust has happened and can happen again. It is preventable with fair and just representative governments and the world must be willing to take action."