Holocaust survivor captivates audience in Tullamore

In what was a major coup for Tullamore Toastmasters, there was “standing room only” at their Open Night last week when they managed to secure one of the last survivors of the Holocaust Tomi Reichental as their guest speaker.

The 85-year human rights campaigner, who was a nine-year old boy when he was imprisoned in the slave labour camp of Bergen-Belsen in Northern Germany in 1944, had many members of the audience in tears in as he recounted details of the horrors he witnessed in the camp on a daily basis.

A total of 70,000 Jews died in Bergen-Belsen, including 35 members of Tomi Reichental's family, and having been unable to speak about his experiences for over 60 years, the Holocaust survivor now travels the world to bear living witness to the atrocities perpetrated by the Nazi regime in World War 2.

Despite the fact that Mr Reichental was not due to speak until after 8.30pm at the Tullamore Toastmaster meeting last week, long queues of people had been standing in line outside the Tullamore Townhouse from 7pm such was the interest in his lecture. Among them were large numbers of young people from local secondary schools, many of whom are studying history for Junior and Leaving Certificate.

The extremely moving and emotional testimony given by Tomi Reichental had the audience riveted from start to finish, and was received with a prolonged standing ovation, which was the second of the night as he had also received an extremely warm reception when he was introduced at the outset of the meeting.

Toastmasters President, Pat McAsey said he was “rather overwhelmed” at the interest in their Open Night and said they were not accustomed to having “such large crowds” attend their meetings. “One thing we always try to do is start our meetings on time, but I think we have to make an exception tonight such is the interest in what is a very special Toastmaster meeting,” he added.

Since he began speaking about his experiences in Bergen-Belsen, Tomi Reichental has visited over 600 schools across the island of Ireland to bring his message of hope, love and survival to young people, and to remind them that they should never become bystanders when they witness injustice or persecution of minorities.

“I would like everyone here to remember that the Holocaust started as a whisper, and the slogan adopted after World War 2 was 'never again' but look what happened in Cambodia, in Rwanda and in Bosnia?....we must never ever allow ourselves to become bystanders to injustice, we must stop it with a whisper” he said.

Referring to the refugee crisis across Europe, he said every rich country, including Ireland, should take their fair share of displaced people seeking to start a new life, and he urged everyone and, in particular the young people in the audience, to be sensitive to the plight of refugees and other minorities, and to also be vigilant to the prevalence of racism and discrimination is today's world.

The Holocaust survivor spoke movingly about how he and his fellow inmates in Bergen-Belsen were “reduced to animal status” from the moment they were taken from their home and transported across Germany for seven days in a cattle cart before arriving at the concentration camp. “People died in front of our eyes every single day,” he said, adding that, as children, they didn't suffer as much as the adults did, and he did not have flashbacks or nightmares in later life as a result of his experiences. “I survived very well,” he added.

However, he revealed how he had never spoken to his late wife – who passed away in 2003 – about his experiences in Bergen-Belsen, and he only began to speak about his past when he realised how little people actually knew about the Holocaust. “I am one of the last living witnesses to the horrors of the Holocaust and I owe it to the memory of the 6 million victims that they should never be forgotten” he said.

Outlining the fact that he holds no bitterness in his heart and has been able to forgive his Nazi persecutors and go on to live a good life, Tomi Reichental concluded his powerful testimony with the words: “make peace with your past so it doesn't spoil your present”

Toastmaster and Chair of the meeting, Agnes Keenan, tearfully described Tomi Reichental as “”unbreakable, unconquerable, unstoppable and unforgettable” and he was presented with a specially-inscribed pen by Toastmaster President, Pat McAsey, in honour of his visit to Tullamore.

Earlier in the night, Tullamore Toastmasters demonstrated a taster of what is involved in club meetings: speeches, presentation and topics with a great social aspect to proceedings. The club meets every 2nd Thursday from 8.30pm to 10.30 pm in the Central Hotel on Tullamore's Main Street. Their next meeting takes place on Thursday, January 30.