Remember Never to Forget: the Life Story of Israel Lior

When Israel arrived in Auschwitz he had the number 87584 tattooed on his arm like an animal. Those days in the camp seemed like the end of the world, with the madness of death and hatred everywhere. It was easy to cross the line between good and bad, to forget mercy, friendship, and forgiveness in order to survive, to steal the last morsel of bread from a dying man. But Israel did none of that; he kept his human dignity, optimism, and hope. He never forgot that in him was a man of...
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When Israel arrived in Auschwitz he had the number 87584 tattooed on his arm like an animal. Those days in the camp seemed like the end of the world, with the madness of death and hatred everywhere. It was easy to cross the line between good and bad, to forget mercy, friendship, and forgiveness in order to survive, to steal the last morsel of bread from a dying man. But Israel did none of that; he kept his human dignity, optimism, and hope. He never forgot that in him was a man of value and honor. When they were freed and the spirit of revenge came over others, made them drunk with hatred and wanted blood, Israel kept his spirit and soul. He went to Israel to follow his Zionist dream and start a family. He did not become a bitter man but looked at the world with optimism, always moving with hope. He carried the pain of his story in his heart in silence until the day came to tell his story. This is the story of a man who remained a man in spite of everything. This is Israel's legacy.