Published: January 17, 2007 11:02 pm         

Holocaust survivor Eva Kor to stage forgiveness conference

TERRE HAUTE — Holocaust survivor Eva Kor eventually forgave the Nazis for their crimes during World War II, an action that empowered her and helped her heal, she says.

Now, Kor wants to help others learn to forgive. She plans to stage a one-day forgiveness conference March 24 in the CANDLES Holocaust Museum in Terre Haute.

The conference is aimed at those who need to forgive and those who seek forgiveness. “I call forgiveness a seed for healing,” Kor said.

While the conference still is in the planning stages, presenters will be Kor, Renee Levi and Gunda Vaughan, who will talk about their experiences with forgiveness.

Levi’s mother was a Holocaust survivor and her father abandoned the family when she was 7. About eight years ago, Levi forgave her father and reunited with him, which she found to be a transforming experience. “It was amazing,” the 53-year-old said.

Her father lives in India, his native country. “I spent most of my life denying he was ever in my picture,” said Levi, who lives in Connecticut.

Vaughan’s family left Germany in 1953 when she was 5 and they emigrated to America. She experienced the difficulty of growing up as a German in the United States right after World War II.

Her father had been a German soldier during the war, but he was not a Nazi party member, she said.

Even though she had no direct connection to the war, she felt guilty because of the role of the Germans and Nazis during the war. “I had this horrible, guilty feeling about the Holocaust,” Vaughan said.

Vaughan’s life changed after she talked to Kor and learned about Kor forgiving the Nazis. Kor told Vaughan to forgive herself.

“It lifted a burden off my shoulders,” said Vaughan, 58, who lives in Texas. She realized she didn’t have to carry around that burden and guilt anymore.

“It never occurred to me there was a forgiveness side to this whole story,” Vaughan said. Talking to Kor “was like a magic moment in time.”

Through Kor, Vaughan and Levi met in Germany and had an in-depth conversation about their experiences that took them to another level of healing. Both had suffered because of their family’s experiences in Nazi Germany.

The March 24 conference is open to anyone, but it is limited to 100 people, Kor said. “This is going to be a great day of sharing of ideas and goals as well as personal growth,” Kor said.

Kor has attended conferences on forgiveness around the world, including Germany and South Africa.

Now, Kor wants to conduct a conference in her home community. If it is successful, “Then we need to enlarge the project,” Kor said.

She hopes those attending will be able to share their stories, however painful, if they are in an atmosphere that is receptive and nonjudgmental. “If people can share their pain with the group, it helps them learn to forgive,” she said.

She hopes to find out how better to help people who want to forgive others.

“I want to find out if there is a way to help people who have been traumatized to help them take the first step,” Kor said.

The conference is not group therapy, Levi said. The idea is that people will share their stories about forgiveness.

Levi anticipates breaking into small groups, with facilitators.

She sees forgiveness as a self-empowerment tool. “To me, it’s not so much about the other person. It’s about taking charge of your life,” Levi said.

Eventually, Kor hopes to open a forgiveness pavilion/conference center and garden, although she would have to raise funds. “I have some ideas but I have not gone beyond that,” she said.

The cost to attend the conference is $149 and registration must be completed by Feb. 10.

It will be from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the museum, 1532 S. Third St. It is described as a conference “to explore paths to personal and community healing.”

To register, go to the CANDLES Web site at www.candlesholocaustmuseum.org.

Sue Loughlin can be reached at (812) 231-4235 or sue.loughlin@tribstar.com.