Alice Herz Sommer, filmed here at age 108, is still very much alive today at 110 and still giving interviews. The oldest living survivor of The Holocaust, Alice Herz Sommer is regarded with affection and admiration by hundreds of thousands who see her as both a sage and a saint.
Alice Herz Sommer was a highly accomplished concert pianist with a husband, a son, and a rewarding career when she and her family were seized by the Nazis and thrown into the notorious death camp known as Theresienstadt. Her parents and her husband died there, but Alice and her little son survived.
At age 110 she still practices the piano for at least two hours every day, and still plays Schubert with great character, color and powerful expression. One can easily see from the way she uses her now-ancient hands how gifted and well-trained she must have been from the start.
Her wisdom is evident in almost everything she says. Her saintliness is seen in her nearly unique tolerance, compassion and determined optimism. She has the rare gift of true forgiveness. Her approach to life may be summed up in this one statement:
"Life is beautiful, Love is beautiful, Nature and Music are beautiful. Everything is a present."
~ Alice Herz Sommer
Here is a link to another interview with Alice Herz Sommer. There are several, all well worth pursuing, and easy to find on YouTube:
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
 |
| Alice Herz Summer in youth |
Related information: "I played Chopin as they sent my family to their deaths." If she could still have faith in humanity, so should we all.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year! May 2014 be a less contentious year.
I take my hat off to you Ms. Sommer. This country need more people (Heros) like you.
ReplyDelete