Lisha Kill Middle School 8th grade students had the extraordinary opportunity to hear from Mrs. Ruth Mendel, a 93-year-old Holocaust survivor who shared her powerful story of survival, resilience, and the enduring importance of kindness and justice.

Speaking to a captivated audience of nearly 200 students and staff, Mendel, recounted her early years growing up as a happy child in Luxembourg—until everything changed. One morning, her mother woke her with urgent words: “It’s time to go.” Looking out the window,she saw the unimaginable: a sea of Nazi soldiers marching through the streets. The Nuremberg Laws were quickly enforced. She was expelled from school, her family’s business was vandalized with the word “Jude” painted across the windows, and the antisemitism she had never known became a brutal reality.

Mendel’s family acted swiftly, securing visas to the United States. At that time, Adolf Hitler was still allowing Jews to emigrate, before the systematic mass executions began. Two buses departed Luxembourg that day—Mendel’s family was on the first. The second was turned back. “If we had been on that second bus, I would not be here speaking to you today,” she told the students.

Before reaching the U.S., Mendel lived as a refugee in Portugal, where she became fluent in Portuguese. But the trauma lingered. Her entire extended family was later killed by the Nazis. She recalled the day her father received a postcard bluntly announcing their deaths—“I had never seen my father cry until that day,” she said.

Mendel’s mission in life is now clear: to educate others and ensure Holocaust education is mandated in every state. “Words matter,” she reminded students. “Words lead to actions, and those actions can be dangerous. We must always choose kindness and stand for what is right.”

Adding to the significance of the day, Joe Mastracco, a 100-year-old World War II veteran, was in attendance to hear Ruth’s story. The two met for the first time, creating a truly unforgettable moment. Joe, who has become a local inspiration, sat attentively and spent time afterward shaking hands and speaking with students who were eager to meet him.

Mendel stayed after her presentation to speak with students and staff for more than an hour. She shared photos and books from her childhood, answered questions, gave hugs, and reminded us all of the power of courage in the face of darkness.

Thank you to Ruth Mendel for sharing a story that our students will never forget—and for the reminder that even in the darkest times, the human spirit can prevail.