CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (Chambana Today) — Parkland College will host a special educational program next month featuring Holocaust survivor Dr. William Gingold, offering the community a firsthand account of survival, resilience, and hope amid one of history’s darkest chapters.
The program, Surviving the Holocaust: Dr. William Gingold & The Righteous Among the Nations Exhibit, is scheduled for Friday, Feb. 20, from 9:30 a.m. to noon.
Born in Warsaw just days after the Nazi invasion of Poland, Gingold will recount his family’s journey through the Warsaw Ghetto, their deportation to Siberia, and their eventual immigration to the United States through Ellis Island in 1951. His testimony traces the lasting impact of displacement, loss, and perseverance shaped by the Holocaust.
In addition to Gingold’s presentation, the program will highlight the Righteous Among the Nations exhibit, which honors non-Jewish individuals who risked their lives to save Jews during the Holocaust. The exhibit underscores acts of courage and compassion carried out in the face of extreme danger and moral crisis.
Organizers say the event offers a rare opportunity for participants to engage directly with living history while reflecting on the lessons of empathy, moral responsibility, and human dignity.
The program is open to the public. Registration is encouraged and can be completed online through Parkland College or by calling 217-351-2235.