My response to "Reasons to Forgive-- or Not Forgive"

            As the son of the late Eva Mozes Kor, I feel an obligation to continue to give my mother a voice. She passed away more than 3 years ago, yet I am well aware that her detractors and critics remain. My mom was far from perfect, and I did not agree with all of her beliefs nor actions. Conversely, when an author(s) and a publication intentionally avoid the truth in an effort to ridicule and demean my mother, I cannot remain silent. On October 4th, the Tablet Magazine released an article by Marjorie Ingall and Susan McCarthy entitled “Reasons to Forgive—or Not Forgive”.

https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/holidays/articles/reasons-to-forgive-or-not-forgive

The article is short-sighted, inaccurate and biased in an effort to fulfill a well-orchestrated agenda, and this attempt at “balanced journalism” should be an embarrassment to all involved.

            I would like to set the record straight and correct the falsehoods put forth in this article.  My mother NEVER asked Dr. Hans Munch to write a letter of apology. In fact, forgiveness had nothing to do with my mother’s initial interactions with him. After my aunt’s (my mother’s twin) passed away in June of 1993, my mother wanted to help other Mengele twins avoid the same fate by accessing their medical records from Auschwitz.  In the fall of 1993, my mother was asked to speak at Boston College on medical ethics, and was also asked if she could find a NAZI doctor to interview.  Intrigued and determined to help other Mengele twins, she arranged an interview with Dr. Hans Munch at his home in Germany. During the conversation, my mother was disappointed to learn that Munch had no knowledge of Mengele’s experiments. However, he did provide specific testimony about the operation of the gas chambers. After hearing Munch say, “This is the nightmare that I live with,” she asked Dr. Munch if he would accompany her to Auschwitz on the 50th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz. She also requested that Dr. Munch sign a document at the ruins of the gas chamber that would attest to the atrocities at Auschwitz? He responded, “Yes, of course!” Upon returning to her home in Terre Haute, Indiana, she was thrilled. But, how could she thank Dr. Munch for his admissions?  A bottle of champagne seemed inadequate. A trip to the local Hallmark card shop yielded no appropriate gift. Months later, an epiphany occurred; she would forgive Dr. Munch for being a NAZI in her name only. This was the highest honor that she could bestow upon him. In preparation for the Jan. 27th, 1995 ceremony in Poland, her English professor challenged her by saying. “Eva, you should think about forgiving Dr. Mengele.” Initially, my mom was not in favor of such a dramatic proclamation. However, in the months leading up to the anniversary, she realized that this act of forgiveness, in her name only, was liberating. She would no longer have a chip on her shoulder and be tormented by the anger that had consumed her for over the past half century. I believe that this act of forgiveness saved her life and allowed her to live the next 24 years of her life with a smile on her face.

            Knowing that Mark Twain once said, “Never let the truth stand in the way of a good story, unless you can’t think of anything better,” it is important to  mention other statements that demonstrate a lack of knowledge and effort. At the risk of ruining a good story, I can assure you that my mother never said, “… gardening and spending time with animals can help people heal.”  At the risk of ruining a good story, my mother testified in the trial of Oskar Groening, the accountant of Auschwitz, in 2015 and not 2017. To mention my mother in the same breath as “The Golden Girls” is a slap in the face of every young person who admires my mother. Rather than criticize my mother, I am asking the Tablet Magazine to acknowledge her courage. My mother led countless trips to Auschwitz and her outreach and educational efforts provide important testimonial to counter Holocaust deniers.  Without my mother and my aunt, much less would have been known about the twins’ experiments. My mother’s greatest legacy is that she did indeed bring inspiration and healing to thousands, via her powerful message of forgiveness.

In closing, I realize that not everyone is capable of forgiveness. So, on the one hand, I applaud your efforts to inform the public about these two options: to forgive and to not forgive. But, in so doing and without merit, you should be ashamed of your portrayal of my mother. At the very least, I demand an apology and request to have this response published in your magazine.