Chabad Invites Youngest of Schindler’s Saved Jews To Speak

Chabad-Lubavitch of El Paso has invited Leon Leyson, the youngest survivor known to have been saved by Oskar Schindler, to speak to the local community.
Leyson, 78, will recount his story in a lecture titled "Saved by an Angel."
The story of Oskar Schindler was told in 1993, in Spielberg's Academy Award winning film, “Schindler’s List.”
Leyson, who lives in Oceanside, Calif., took courage after seeing the film, to share his Holocaust experiences, and has since inspired many school children with his story. As the Holocaust recedes into the past, Leyson says he feels a more urgent need to speak about it.  "Each day, there are fewer of us. It's not that I'm the great educator, but as long as I can, I should remind people about the terrible events of that period."
Schindler, the owner of an enamelware factory in Poland, saved Jews from the death camps by convincing Nazi officials he needed laborers to work in his factory.
Leib Lejzon – today Leon Leyson – was 13 years old when his father brought him into Oscar Schindler’s enamelware factory DEF. Being on Schindler's list offered some relief during a time of darkness, Leyson said. He quickly grew fond of Schindler, who called him "Little Leyson" and would offer him extra
food rations. Rabbi Yisrael Greenberg, Chabad-Lubavitch representative to El Paso, told the El Paso Times that he invited Mr. Leyson to speak because of wide interest  both among Jews and non-Jews.
"I really think his story is worth listening to. It's important to hear from a human being who was there and can share the horrible things that happened to that generation," said Greenberg.
Mr. Leyson will be speaking at Chabad on Wednesday evening, February 6 at 7:30 p.m.  at 6615 Westwind.