Our Class (By: Anush)

Coming into this class I did not know much about the Holocaust other than the mass murder that was demanded by Hitler. Now, I have expanded my knowledge and am very pleased that I took this class. The knowledge I obtained was insightful, and it presented a whole new light to how I view the Holocaust. This class is very educational, and I will now have much to say during social discussions about the Holocaust due to the knowledge I received in this class. I very much like how Dr. Clark and Dr. Levitsky conduct class lectures and how we are put into groups with LMU students via Skype to discuss class readings. I enjoy new things like this, and I think it should be introduced to other classes as well because it keeps the class alive and interesting. I value the class readings we do; all in their own turn give more and more insight to the Holocaust. The construction of this class (two classes from two different schools) was a first for me. I thought it was something new and it’s very impressive seeing how these two classes do so well together, and blend in. I like meeting new students from LMU and working with them. It was great meeting some of them at the 1939 Club, as well as seeing other survivors of the Holocaust there that I will never forget. I very much enjoyed my Survivor Project with Tiffany. We worked quite well together. The Survivor Project was a very educational experience. This was an experience that will stay with me forever
and every time I hear of the holocaust, I will be reminded of this class and the afternoon we spent with Mrs. Leventhal. This class has left a lasting impression with me, the most enjoyable events so far that this class has offered me is the 1939 Club, and our interview with Mrs. Leventhal.

My Classmates’ Blogs. (By: Anush)

It was very interesting to read other people’s experience with this project, and to learn about their survivor’s story. First, I would like to comment on Vince Brouwer’s and Donald Belisle’s blog’s on their survivor Zenon Neumark. I really liked the way they constructed the blog with a “question and answer.” They brought sort of a reenactment of the interview directly to us, I liked that. I thought Mr. Neumark’s story was unbelievable. Hiding in the open like that must have been quite an intense experience for him, and I appreciate him sharing his story with the world by writing his book. I thought the story of his sister Rena was touching, her having survived the concentration camps, but what I thought particularly interesting is that Mr. Neumark said him and his sister “never talked about it.” I know emotions can be so intense sometimes that they persuade you to erase something like this out of your memory, and I am assuming that is what Rena wanted to do. I just think she in particular, wanted to pretend like it never happened so that she can be capable of moving on. Thanks guys, remarkable story!

Second, I want to comment on Rene Firestone’s story. I really liked the way Alyssa said the she finds that “being in a survivor’s presence is surreal.” I felt exactly the same way. She put that into perspective perfectly. Rene’s story literally gave me the goose bumps. I have read about Dr. Mengele and the devastating experiments he conducted on Jews, and the fact that Mrs. Firestone interacted with him and survived is amazing. Also, the fact that Rene survived three different encounters meeting with her sister, pretty much tells me that she was destined to survive and tell the world her story. I thought it was very interesting how she did not have nightmares until she was told to tell her story. In my opinion, she probably repressed the events in her mind, and being asked to tell her personal story, triggered her first nightmare. Like Alyssa, I too am very glad that we have survivors today to tell us their stories. I think it is an honor being able to interact with these people. Their stories are what is most important to understand what took place. No other information can compare to that of an eyewitness encounter with such an ordeal. They are all in their own turn inspirational and courageous people.

Our Interview With Beba. What An Exceptional Experience! By: Anush

Mrs. Levenethal welcomed me into her home with a warm and inviting smile, Tiffany already having gotten there. We sat comfortably in her living room but I began to feel nervous, however, she was the kind of woman that puts you at ease quickly. I asked her to tell us what she remembered of the war, and her response was “I remember everything.” Well it is something one can never really forget. The afternoon with Beba was enchanting. Her story enveloped me with sentimental feelings, and engraved in my mind a day I will not forget. Looking back on the day, I am reminded of her generous personality and wonderful spirit. Meeting Beba was an honor; I was very much looking forward to meeting with her. She was an extremely delightful, sweet, smart woman. She knows five languages fluently, and has a Bachelor of Social Working. She also had a sense of humor that I liked very much. She made Tiffany and I giggle a few times. As Tiffany mentioned, she was concerned with our lives as well. We had a chance to tell her our plans for the future and she was delighted to hear that we were ambitious young women. Her story moved me and provided insightful information about the horrific events that took place. To me she was a very brave woman having worked in the underground organization, and attempting to help other Jewish families. I was curious to find out if her grandchildren took any interest in her experience and during our interview, I asked Mrs. Leventhal if they were curious about her story and the holocaust and she said, “Yes very much, they often ask questions.” It was interesting to know that she shared her story with them, since we have been taking a look at how it affects second and third generations. Beba really recognized the war breaking out when she came back from graduation, and I could not imagine what a devastation that must have been coming from a happy event to such a horrifying nightmare.

She pointed out an art piece above the fireplace, and informed us that her uncle (that helped her come to America) had given it to her. As she said this I can see in her eyes that she missed him very much. It was so good to see an 87 year old holocaust survivor that, in spite of the difficult experiences she undertook during Nazi Germany’s occupation, has flourished into a happy wife, mother, and individual. Tiffany and I had the privilege to meet her husband “Lee” as she calls him, as well as viewing some family photo albums. I concluded from these photo albums that she had a very close and intimate relationship with her family and friends. Mrs. Leventhal had a beautiful home that she and her husband were staying in at the Pacific Palisades. She also took us into her library where there were a ton of books; we came to find out that it was her favorite pastime as well attending the theater. She told us about a movie that she was going to view, that is part of our class assignment called “The Defiance” and stated that the movie very much resembled what her experience was like in the underground organization she was involved with. The afternoon with Beba was a great opportunity to receive testimonial information about the Holocaust, and I am thankful to Mrs. Leventhal for spending time with us to tell us her amazing story, and I am equally grateful to Dr. Clark and Dr. Levitsky for allowing us to do such an educational project.

I would love to keep in touch with her. She has that sort of personality that one would want to be in contact with. As we were leaving her, we exchanged hugs and it did not seem to me that I had just met this woman. Her warm personality makes one see what a precious human being she really is. She is a charming woman, and her story made me realize how relevant witness testimonies are to have a good understating of the Holocaust. It gives a whole new light to what people went through.

Beba’s Life: “How should I tell you?” (by Tiffany)

Author's Note:

Beba Levanthal, so graciously, met with us and allowed us to interview her about her life before, during and after the war. She was very reflective and careful in telling us the story, ensuring that we understood the historic and personally painful details of the war. She would often pause and wonder aloud saying, “How should I tell you?” She would take a few moments to recollect and frame her memoried before proceeding with her responses. When I remember the afternoon and meeting with her, I can hear her voice, soft and pondering about how to best tell her story and how to share such precious and personal memories.

All about Beba:

Beba Leventhal, was born Beba Epstein in Vilna, Poland on December 19, 1923. Her hometown is now Vilnius, Lithuania. As child, she received a Polish education; it a was a private education and she liked school. In 1939, when she was 16 years old, Russia invaded and took over her town. Her father, who was a banker, lost his job because Russia, as a communist state, did not have banks. Stores were scarce and he would have a hard time finding a new job and a means of supporting his wife, 2 daughters and 2 sons. Beba remarked that the two years under Russian rule were not bad, and although her parents hated this time, it was nothing in comparison to what was to come when the war broke out in 1941.

Vilna was located on a river and often would take boats to nearby towns. On the night of her graduation, she was traveling back home with classmates from their celebration. As the steamship neared home, she and the other students were shocked by the German bombardment of the city. It was June 21^st. The war had begun and had reached her town. Under German occupation, Jewish people were subject to a curfew, which if broken, would result in death. Beba’s family was moved into a ghetto. Being the eldest, and a recent graduate, her family arranged for her to live at an estate with family friends on the Arian side. She escaped the cramped and brutal conditions of the ghetto in which all of the Jewish population was crammed into a small dense area of apartment buildings and at times up to 20 people in one apartment. During her stay at the estate, she received letters from her family every few weeks. Each letter was a reminded that they were alive and well even when she was so far from them. When the letters stopped, she decided she must return and look for her family. Despite the urging of her hosts, she insisted that she would return to the ghetto to look for her family. This mean leaving the safety of the estate as well as the clerical job she held. She dressed in peasant clothes and took a horse back to the ghetto. She found an aunt and an uncle in the town, but could not locate her parents and siblings. Her uncle found out that they had all been killed.

Beba remained in the ghetto. During her time here, she worked and was a member of an underground group. The underground organization was a group of youths who tried to recuirt young people to fight against the Germans. They were overall, unsuccessful because the majority of the ghetto population was against them. It was too dangerous and risky. The German soldiers would often threaten to simply destroy the whole ghetto; because the Jewish people were forced into such a condensed area, it would not be difficult, they implied, to drop a few bombs and wipe out the entire ghetto. This fear, and real danger that it held was too much and the organization faded. (Though this effort was refuted, it was only the beginning of Beba’s dedication to helping people in need and working for a good cause. She had the tenacity and dedication and would use these later in her life after the war.) She mentioned that her underground group was like that of the group depicted in the recent film, Defiance. Although it is very different in details, the group she was a part of had the same idea and goals as the one of the movie. The struggle of underground groups to fight during the war was very real, and Beba was a fighter.

Her work in the ghetto was part of an assigned worker group. The groups would meet in the morning, line up and walk together to the factory. In the factory, they were making bullets for the soldiers. But knowing that the war was not stagnant, they were always aware of the moving troops and the possibility of the war reaching them. When the troops were getting too close, production needed to be moved. The workers were moved to a new location, but when the machinery that was to follow never reached there, the workers were sent to a concentration camp. When the camp was liquidated, the people were all loaded onto a small dingy boats. They were shipped off and when they reached a northern part of Germany, they stopped short of shore. The people were forced to jump out of the boats and walk in waist high water towards the shore. Beba waded towards shore while being shot at by the soldiers. She had to walk with her back turned to the enemies shooting at her and make her way towards shore, hoping to make it to freedom.

The land they had reached was occupied by British forces. This meant she was finally free. But although the worst was behind her, she could not simply return to life as it was before the war. Doctors were waiting on shore to receive the former concentration camp victims. She was examined immediately had was found to have typhus (Beba nonchanlantly told us “I guess I was sick.”). She did not want this to stop her, but she was forced by doctors to remain in a military hospital nearby. Many people on the trip from the camp onto the boats were not a lucky as Beba, and had died. However, Beba’s determination and spunk would not allow her to simply sit in a dirty military hospital and just wait for things to get better. She would often tell her friends, “Bring me my boots!” and hoped to escape the hospital. Eventually, she was well enough to leave for Sweden, but became sick once again and had to stay in a hospital in there. The hospital in Sweden was much nicer and she noted that arriving there, out of the military hospital and into a Red Cross facility, that it was “already a different life.” The bed she occupied had crisp, clean white sheets which she hadn’t seen in years. The stark contrast of the grimey laborious life in the ghetto and camps was nothing like this new place.

She knew of the Jewish Committee in Stockholm and reached out to them for help. She had learned the language and been attending university and working in a bank when her uncle (her father’s brother), who was already in the US, located her. He urged her to move and attend university in America. This would mean leaving the life she had made for herself after her experience, and braving a long journey to somewhere she had never been, but eventually she made the move to New York City.. ( In order to be able to move, she would need an affidavit of an established family or company to say that they would be responsible for her and her move. Distant relatives, owners of MaidenForm bras, enabled her to come). Instantly she knew it was a “crazy country.” New York was so loud and dirty; nothing like what she had grown accustomed to and fond of in Sweden. The people were certainly not as open and friendly and the subway rides to her new job dirtied her clean white blouse before she could even get to work. After a move to Brooklyn and continuing her work, she met her future husband.

Beba and Lee Levanthal decided to marry. The moved to Los Angeles when he enrolled in USC graduate school in engineering. She went to school while working full time. They have two children who reside in L.A. as well as two grandchildren. This year, they will be celebrating 62 years of marriage. Each big marker in their lives, they are not shy to celebrate. In her living room are several photo albums of past celebrations for their 50^th anniversary, 65^th anniversary, her 80^th birthday and many others. The walls are covered in artwork from her dear uncle who brought her to the US and who had a large impact on her life. Their home is full of love, memory, and compassion.

Beba, while living in L.A., worked for Jewish Family Services for several years helping people to immigrate and settle here. Her knowledge of 5 languages helped her to communicate with the recent immigrants and to assist them. When she returned to school, she pursued social work so that she could further help people. The Leventhals enjoy theater, music recitals, and going to community functions in Pacific Palisades. Beba admits that she now loves it here, L.A. being much better than her experience in New York. The loves her proximity to the beach and the valley view from her home. She is still so happy and her warm personality is inviting to all.

I intend to keep in touch with Beba. She is a wonderful woman and I am truly grateful for having met her. It opened my eyes, hearing about her life, and her outstanding perseverance.

Meeting Beba (by Tiffany)

Before meeting Beba Leventhal, I was a bit nervous. I had read a brief biography that had been written about her and was intimidated by the gravity of her story. I knew where she was born, that she had a complicated survival story, and that more importantly, I was given the privilege of meeting with her. I was worried about how to approach the topic, how to approach her because I had never spoken or talked to her before, and I was concerned at how the afternoon would go. When I arrived at her house my nerves were even more on edge.

As soon as she opened the door and greeted me, I knew that I had nothing to be concerned about. She was eagerly awaiting us and had such a comforting presence. She invited me in and insisted that I make myself comfortable, not allowing me to help with anything. We sat together, getting to know each other so that when it came time for her to share with Anush and me her story, it was eased into. I had a lovely time meeting her and am so grateful for the experience. She had a great outlook on life, so joyful and content. She was even so compassionate that she was concerned with our lives, what our plans for the future were, and wanted to know as much of us as we did of her.

(I felt an immediate connection to her when I found out that our birthdays were December 18 and December 19, and that both of us read way too much. It was a small serendipitous discovery, but we both agreed that it was a sign that we were destined to meet.)

One of the funny things she said to us, after learning that we were two independent, academically focused young women, was that she did not see any advice that she could give us that we did not already have taken care of. Without guidance to offer us in the context of our education or aspirations, she laughed and said “Well, may you both find good husbands. You have everything else taken care of.” I was touched by her concern for us as individuals, seeing as she was already so kind as to let us come to her house and interview her. I did not expect her to be not only so giving of herself and her time, but to be genuinely concerned about us. As we left, each with a big hug and kiss, I could not help but think about how I wish that if I am so fortunate to live so strongly and vivaciously into my 80s (fingers crossed, beyond that) as she does, that I hope to be able to do the same.