Community Holocaust commemoration features Dr. Bernd Wollschlaeger

I met Dr. Bernd Wollschlaeger about three years ago when I interviewed him on my radio show. I was so struck by his amazing story of courage and resilience, and as a member of the Community Interfaith Commemoration of the Holocaust committee, I suggested him as a speaker this year. Dr. Wollschlaeger accepted our invitation, and I am honored to introduce him as our keynote speaker for the 31st Annual R.I. Interfaith Commemoration of the Holocaust.

This year’s community wide event will honor the memory of the six million Jewish victims and millions of others who perished in the darkness of the Shoah. Dr. Wollschlaeger’s book, “A German Life: Against All Odds, Change is Possible” reaffirms our collective responsibility to confront anti-Semitism in every venue.

Dr. Wollschlaeger will share his personal struggle growing up in Germany in the shadow of his father, a highly-decorated WWII tank commander and Nazi officer. Driven by curiosity and interest in finding the truth about his past and the Holocaust, Dr. Wollschlaeger explored Israel and Judaism through literature, a series of personal encounters with Jews and finally a journey to Israel. He eventually converted to Judaism, immigrated to Israel and served in the Israel Defense Forces as a medical officer.  

In “A German Life,” Dr. Wollschlaeger, writes, “In the quest to find answers to questions about my parents and my nation’s past, I set out to find the truth and in doing so, I found a new life and separation from family, friends and country. My attraction to Judaism created a turmoil within me that centered somewhere between personal guilt for what had taken place and a true sense of belonging to a people and their beliefs.” Copies of Dr. Wollschlaeger’s book will be for sale at a reception following the commemoration.

The commemoration will include remembrances of survivors in Rhode Island and poignant vignettes of their stories of survival against the odds. Choirs from the community will join together in singing the message of hope from Psalm 133, “How good it is for brothers and sisters to dwell together in harmony.”

This event is sponsored by the R.I. State Council of Churches, the Board of Rabbis of Greater R.I,, the Community Relations Council of Jewish Alliance of Greater R.I., and the Holocaust Education Resource Center of R.I.

Patricia Raskin, host of the Patricia Raskin Positive Living radio show, is a nationally recognized, multi-media radio talk show host, award-winning producer, speaker and author.