klieger

Ohel Leah Synagogue

OLS: CONNECT

Kislev 5768 - December 2007 Hong Kong

NOAH KLIEGER VISITS HONG KONG

Text Box: “The Nazis were not an alien race who beamed down from another planet; they were democratically elected by the German people. I can never forget nor forgive.” Noah Klieger, and his wife Jacqueline, visited Hong Kong as the Speaker in Residence of the JCC Events Committee. Noah, a survivor of Auschwitz, a former member of Mossad Aliyah Bet, Crew Member of the Exodus, Fighter in Israel’s War of Independence and the world’s oldest working journalist of a daily newspaper, made us laugh and cry as he told his story. This remarkable man, despite now being 81 years old, spoke at two major communal events and five schools during his week long visit. He was filmed by Pearl TV and had an interview with RTHK Radio 3. He won the hearts and minds of all those of us privileged to hear him speak. Quotes from students at South Island School where he spoke to 200 students Thank you, I learned that people, who will always go through hard times, will have to trust and believe in miracles and luck in order to survive. Miruka (13) You’re COOL and amazing. Gershon (13) Hatred is the key to release all the world’s evil. Thank you. Nicholas (13) “Have faith and don’t give up no matter what situation you are in.” Thank you, Mr Noah! Andrew (12)

Text Box: Photograph of a Holocaust Memorial project from Sha Tin College, where he addressed an assembly of 300 and was mobbed by students who wanted to speak to him or just shake his hand.

Text Box: At he German Swiss International School Noah was invited to speak to 60 of the 15-17 year olds in the German stream. 10 teachers crept in the back to listen as well.

Text Box: The students listened spellbound to every word and were visible moved. You could almost hear their minds working as to how could their grand parents have let this happen. At the end, when he had told them his story, he regaled them with anecdotes of some lighter moments in his life and had them all rolling in the aisles with laughter. The teachers have written to us reporting that students are still discussing his visit and expressing a wish for him to return again. Although having spoken to the Headmaster and being introduced to everyone in English, he suddenly started speaking to the students in fluent German; his German being even more fluent than his English. In total he speaks and reads in 8 European Languages.