On Oct. 23, Holocaust survivor Norman Frajman will share his story with students, faculty and the public from 6 to 8 p.m. in Room 309 of the Mailman Hollywood Building.
Frajman will discuss his experiences in the Holocaust in the talk sponsored by the Farquhar College of Arts and Sciences, Hillel of NSU and the GenZ Project.
Gary Gershman, professor in the Farquhar College of Arts and Sciences, teaches courses on genocide and the Holocaust and has brought Holocaust awareness to NSU for many years. Gershman’s goal is to bring at least one Holocaust survivor to campus each year so students can learn about a firsthand experience before the last survivor dies.
“Sadly, we are the last generation who gets to actually see and meet a Holocaust survivor,” he said. “We have the amazing opportunity to hear their legacy and pass it onto future generations.”
Gershman chose Frajman through the GenZ Project, a nonprofit organization run by young people who create connections with Holocaust survivors through different forms of artistic expression such as painting, poetry and dancing, in hopes that their stories live on. GenZ is the daughter company of NEXT GENERATIONS, a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating others about the Holocaust.
Eric Donner, founder of the GenZ Project, said the Holocaust survivor generation is fading away and will only be around for another 5 to 10 years.
“Attendees have the chance to learn from a survivor who triumphed over the atrocities of the Holocaust and is living proof that it did happen,” he said.
84-year-old Norman Frajman was born in Warsaw, Poland. He was only 10-years-old when the Nazis invaded his hometown. During the next several years, he survived the Warsaw ghetto, four forced-labor and concentration camps and a death march. His mother and younger sister did not survive.
At 18, the age when most teens are graduating, he was recovering from treatment after surviving concentration camps. He recently earned his adult education diploma and has been an avid Holocaust speaker for 16 years.
“Judging by today’s young people that I encounter when I go to schools to speak, we are in for a better tomorrow. They listen. They are very perceptive. They take it to heart,” said Frajman.
Gershman described Frajman as a fascinating person and said the event will be emotional and will become surreal for many.
“His story is very unique and compelling,” he said. “He will leave the audience crying, shocked or inspired, either way they will leave satisfied and happy they came.”
Gershman also said Frajman will bring the uniform he wore in one the concentration camps.
“Frajman allows the audience to understand the reality of the events happening in our world today,” Gershman said. “When we think of events that happen in Bosnia and Sudan, we realize the Holocaust isn’t an event that can’t happen — we must take action and try to stop these things.”
After the discussion, student attendees will have the option of participating in GenZ’s Story Expression Workshop and contest to learn to express what they heard through art. The winners of the GenZ Story Expression contest have the opportunity to be included in an exhibit online and in a showing at a gallery in Boca Raton in January.
Donner said Frajman has an incredible story, and he wants the audience to pay attention and discuss their experiences through art.
“Students can learn the story of Frajman and then express themselves through any form of art of the written word,” Donner said. “The discussion is a way for students and faculty to see firsthand that there are positive and constructive ways to address hatred and anti-Semitism on campus.”
This event is free and all are welcome to attend. More than 100 people attended last year’s event. Gershman hopes for more attendees this year and encourages attendees to embrace the stories.
“Every speaker has their own story to tell. The thing that makes each speaker and presentation different from the rest is the questions asked and the reaction of the audience,” said Gershman.
For more information about this event, contact Gershman at ggershma@nova.edu or 954-262-8211.
