4th August

Eye-witness cafe and Panel discussion

        Because of how tiring Fest der Begegnung was, we had brunch the whole morning and no activities.
        At about 3pm, Eye-witness cafe activity with concentration camp survivors/their relatives began. We could choose whom we wished to listen according to their
biographies. During the cafe, we could ask any question regarding their life and they would openly speak of it, even though it was obvious how hard and painful it was for them to talk about those events even after all those years. The stories that were told both during Eye-witness talk and cafe, emotions survivors felt and empathy the talks sparked could never be replaced by any history class or book out there. The experience was truly unique, emotional and inspirational because of the fact that those people openly shared their story for a greater cause no matter how difficult it was for them to do so.
        In the evening, granddaughter of Heinrich Himmler (main architect of the Holocaust and one of the most powerful men in Nazi Germany) visited us and lead a panel discussion. Those who don't speak German couldn't understand the speech well, because the translation was poor, but I'd put the subject this way : 'Kids are the not the same as their ancestors.'