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He shines with pride.
You can hear it in his voice as he describes his grandchildren. They
represent something so special; they are a testimony to his
survival. He has lived through so much hatred, murder, and
torture. Yet, he has not given up. Despite the
extensive efforts the Nazis went through to break and destroy
Murray Ebner's life, he has flourished. Although he lived
through many concentration camps, saw so many die, and lost his
entire family, Mr. Ebner strove to rebuild his life. From "Three
dollars in his pocket," he built a successful real-estate
business in America, which he calls "the greatest country in the
world." He now has three children and many grandchildren
including Zachary, "a champion hockey player." When
encountering someone who has experienced the very worst aspects
of human kind at a very young age, one would expect to meet a
hardened, cynical, man. Mr. Ebner, despite being subjected
to the horrors of the holocaust at thirteen, is the very
opposite. The soft wrinkles on his face easily dissolve into an
eager smile. He is sharp and understanding, many times worrying
if his younger audiences are "bored with his [war] stories."
He harbors a love and appreciation for life that many of us have
never known. Although Mr.
Ebner may have seen the worst horrors human kind can act upon
itself, he represents the most redeeming feature of humanity:
our ability to overcome, our capability to love. He lives as a
loving husband, father, and grandfather; a generous
philanthropist, not simply in donating his money, but donating
his time to teach other from his experiences. Not only has
he survived the holocaust, but he currently - with help from the
Jewish Family Services - aids holocaust survivors. He
serves on Jewish Family Services' Holocaust Advisory Board with
other survivors that look at any emergency needs that may arise
with other Holocaust Survivors in the Columbus community. If
eligible, JFS will provide assistance through a special fund
created by the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against
Germany. Mr. Ebner and other Holocaust Survivors, seeking
restitution payment from various European governments, receive
help from JFS with filling out paperwork. For
twenty-five years, Mr. Ebner was reluctant to share his painful
stories, but Tod Freidman, his friend, convinced him that it
would be selfish not to reveal his experiences. Mr. Ebner
currently gives speeches to colleges and groups about his life
during World War II, showing them the countless documents -
including restitution checks for "forced slave labor" from
European governments and orphanage certificates - that improves
upon reality. A
documentary, "A Survivor's Journey," was produced on Mr. Ebner's
first journey to Poland after the war, and Steven Spielberg used
his interviews for his own movie based on the Holocaust.
As he reminisced and told his stories through the interview, his
awareness and appreciation for life filled the room. He
made it clear he knew he was a miracle, being one of the few
that survived. His love and passion for life shined
through his eyes while his body and words displayed the pride he
has for where he is today and the journey that has brought him
here.
Written by Columbus Torah Academy students, Asher Kay and
Marcie Phalen.
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