Henry Friedman, beloved community member and well-known Holocaust survivor visited Everett Community College Wednesday afternoon to tell his story of escape, sacrifice and above all, hope. Clipper student reporters were shocked to find the conference room completely packed, so much that the more youthful majority of the audience gladly resorted to stand in the back, offering their seats to several elderly folk who attended the event as well.

Henry Friedman began his presentation with a pleasant smile and a simple request

“Don’t feel sorry for me,” Henry said, “because I survived. I am here.”

While Friedman narrated his journey with perceivable ease, he spoke of the trauma he endured, the terror he withstood, and of the loved ones he lost in the Holocaust. Friedman shared his experiences and guided his audience through the five years he spent in hiding, all without a single trace of self-pity.

An hour flew by; the audience was fixated still and eager to hear about Henry’s post-war transformation to become the beaming, successful 86-year old man who stood before us. Henry’s story came to a close, and left his audience with some food for thought:

“Think of the holocaust survivor who made it, and never give up hope.”