Hillel At Texas A&M To Host Holocaust Survivor Max Glauben

When Holocaust survivor Max Glauben visits Texas A&M University’s campus Tuesday (Nov. 1) on behalf of Hillel at Texas A&M at the Memorial Student Center, it will be a special moment for one student in the audience.

To most, Glauben is an inspiring 88-year-old survivor of the Warsaw Ghetto uprising, the Dachau Death March and several concentration camps. But to Delaney Becker, a senior allied health major at Texas A&M, he is “Zayde” – Yiddish for “grandfather.”

Becker said her Zayde instilled in her at a young age to always be respectful and do the right thing. Instead of being a bystander, Glauben instructed Becker be an “Upstander.” She said the motto shaped her as a person and she hopes it resonates with students, faculty, staff and members of the Bryan-College Station community who attend. The event is free and open to the public, but seating is limited. Children under 13 are not encouraged to attend.

“Education and passing on the stories are very important to me and my Zayde, and it is fantastic that Hillel is providing a way for Texas A&M students, faculty, and staff to hear the stories and ask questions,” Becker said. “I want them to also begin to feel the way I do about the importance of sharing stories and realizing how important it is to never forget what happened. Genocide is still happening all over the world today, and I hope that they hear my Zayde’s story and advocate not only for the remembrance of the Holocaust but also the end of genocide worldwide.”

Matt Rosenberg, campus Rabbi and executive director of Hillel at Texas A&M,  said the organization has hosted a Holocaust survivor or liberator every semester since the fall of 2013 and that Glauben has spoken on Texas A&M’s campus before. Rosenberg said Glauben is an “engaging and fascinating speaker” and “attendees will be on the edge of their seats listening to his story.”

Hillel’s mission to regularly bring survivors and liberators to campus is increasingly important with each passing year, he noted.

“I believe that the Holocaust is the most uniquely tragic event in human history,” Rosenberg said. “Never before had genocide been committed on such a vast scale. It is essential for everyone today to hear and learn from the stories of the survivors because in the not-too-distant future, there will be no survivors left.”

Becker said Glauben, whose last name means “believe,” used a saying with her growing up that echoed Hillel at Texas A&M’s mission: “I’dor v’dor,” meaning “from generation to generation.”

“He would tell us to make sure to pass on everything that you have heard or been told about the Holocaust to someone else, ask questions, and be aware of what’s going on around you because it is important to always remember, and never forget what happened so that it will never happen again,” Becker said.

When: Tuesday, Nov. 1 at 7 p.m.

Where: Memorial Student Center Room 2300 D&E

Note: This event is free and open to the public but seating is limited. Parking is available in university visitor parking garages. Children under 13 are not encouraged to attend.