Henry Kellen

Selected Journal Entries:

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January 5, 1998	It is the duty of all the people to preserve the experience of those who suffered those horrors so that that experience will be remembered forever.
January 6, 1998	No tears will ever be enough for millions of men, women and children who perished at the hands of the ruthless Nazis.We have seen in our lives too much suffering. We must build a better world, a universe of understanding and harmony, a world which will be a joy to live in.
January 2, 1999	The survivor will never recover from the trauma of persecution.
January 7, 1999	We must be vigilant all the time.
January 20, 1999	The event of the Holocaust must be presented to succeeding generations as a grave warning of the destructive power of human evil.
February 12, 1999	I believe that Jewish survival depends on the survival of the state of Israel. Every threat against Jews always began with lies and defamation.
February 19, 1999	Horror of man’s inhumanity to men.
February 28, 1999	Never has a mass genocide been so perfectly planned and executed.
March 5, 1999	We must preserve a lost civilization.
March 6, 1999	I know, to deal with the Holocaust daily is a stress.
March 11, 1999	Jews don’t need a memorial. Every living Jew is a memorial. It is the Germans that need a Holocaust memorial. They will never recover from this guilt, this shame, if they do not open their eyes to it.
March 13, 1999	Our museum will continue to dedicate our efforts to keeping the memory of the Holocaust alive and teach our children the lesson of history so that it will not be repeated.
March 17, 1999	I don’t believe in collective guilt. But I do stress to every German I communicate with that they do have a collective responsibility to teach and educate about the past, to ensure a better future.
March 19, 1999	As a survivor of that horrendous tragedy, we, the last witnesses, have to guard our integrity.
March 21, 1999	When we see a truck full of cows going by on their way to the slaughterhouse, they are no longer in a field, in the sunshine, and we feel a little sad, but we understand it’s necessary for the good of society. Hitler convinced the Germans that the treatment of Jews was just and necessary for society.
April 21, 1999	With no mercy, individuals were stripped of personal possessions, property and all human rights. Families were separated: wives from husbands, children from parents. All were subjected to unspeakable horror.
May 7, 1999	I see my ghetto, Kovno, the streets with children swollen from hunger, pleading for a crumb of bread, the 12 year old ghetto smuggler, the sole provider for his family, until one day he was dead, shot by a Nazi guard.
May 14, 1999	Now I know I lived to tell.
May 16, 1999	So many times I have been wrecked with guilt, wondering why I survived, why I am still living when millions of my people went to their graves, including all my dear family.
May 26, 1999	You have been in my thoughts ever since. I did not break with God. I am angry with God.
June 18, 1999	I don’t believe in collective guilt. The crimes were individuals and the individual should pay for the crime.
June 20, 1999	Our museum will fight prejudice, ideas of genocide and Holocaust denial.
June 23, 1999	When I was a young man and I graduated from college, I thought that I would spend my life inventing new machines and be part of a productive society. Nazism destroyed my dreams. We must work in an atmosphere of mutual respect.
July 11, 1999	The Holocaust was not about war and acquisition of territory. It was the result of what happens when men’s minds and souls and hearts are consumed with prejudice and hatred.
August 1, 1999	The liberated inmates look at American soldiers asking “has God sent his angels to rescue us?” Humans systematically exterminating other humans.
September 19, 1999	The Holocaust is a “constant warning of what can happen if we fail to discuss the importance of democracy and humanity”.
October 13, 1999	Let me finish with my final remark: let’s look forward to a future when we will no longer have to build monuments to our shame but to our glory.
October 15, 1999	I feel that the Holocaust remains the darkest, most devastating event in human history. And it is crucial that we never forget it.
October 17, 1999	The museum is a reminder of how hate and bigotry can destroy a civilized society.
October 22, 1999	The Holocaust is a warning to you and future generations of the unspeakable horror that can result when civilization and humanity breaks down.
October 27, 1999	The challenge of our museum is to tell the history of the Holocaust, to preserve the memory of those who perished whose lives were lost. We must preserve evidence of the atrocities so it will not happen again.
October 31, 1999	A million and a half Jewish children were murdered during the Holocaust. A million and a half stories of lost young souls, childhoods, talents, dreams, caring families, hopes and plans for the future. This is the true loss of the Jewish people. This is what makes the post Holocaust Jewish world uncertain and confused as we continue having feelings of despair.
November 24, 1999	It is because they were fighting to preserve a way of life and freedom that Americans wear a badge of honor.
November 26, 1999	Hatred and prejudice are not artifacts of the past.
December 22, 1999	Any government, institution or individual that openly practices anti-Semitism exclude themselves from the family of nations that share common democratic values. We must make an honest effort to confess fully and truthfully what was wrong in the past as a step towards establishing a new and better future.
December 27, 2000	Friends don’t leave friends on the battlefield.
December 28, 2000	Our museum has a commitment to remember the lives of those who perished at the hands of the Nazis, to honor those who survived, and to educate this and future generations about the value of each and every personal life.
February 7, 2001	The Holocaust is a tragedy beyond imagination but not beyond memory. And the most important thing we can do to prevent its recurring is to remember it.
February 12, 2001	How long will people continue to be targets of hate-motivated violence and prejudice because of their religion, color, sexual orientation or national origin?
February 21, 2001	Our museum is more than a memorial. It is a place of learning. We want to let you know and remember that each and everyone of those 6 million murdered Jews was a feeling, thinking person, precious and unique.
April 18, 2001	I am not a professional speaker but you can’t silence me. I feel a purpose as a survivor. It is to speak out against hate and a destructive way of life. My message is tolerance. If you are raised with dignity, if you are raised with self respect, you can’t do anything wrong to anybody else.
April 21, 2001	We must know that in the midst of the worst evil in recorded history, there were people who had the courage to care and to make a difference.
April 27, 2001	The Holocaust is not a Jewish issue. It is a human issue.
April 28, 2001	Nothing can explain the tragedy that was the Holocaust.
After Sep. 11	The young generation of American has never had to look life and death in the face. Now, we are choosing life like never before.
January 2, 2002	Righteous gentiles: these heroes came from all walks of life. They were scholars, business people, doctors, farmers and workers. But they had one thing in common: they refused to witness the persecution of their neighbors and friends without taking action, even if it meant risking their lives. These brave men and women can serve as examples of conviction and moral judgment, values which are important today as ever.
February 4, 2002	6 million Jewish people lost their lives. 6 million individuals wiped off the face of the earth. Yet, each of them was a feeling, thinking person, precious and unique. Hitler a monster.
February 8, 2002	The Holocaust is not a Jewish issue. It is a human issue.
February 22, 2002	Hitler was a border case between genius and insanity. He became the biggest criminal the universe ever knew.
March 4, 2002	The museum is fighting hatred, bigotry, racism and violence.
March 22, 2002	The righteous: those who stood up remind us that the individual has power to fight off mob evil. In the camps we were helpless and hopeless.
March 28, 2002	I committed half of my life to Holocaust education and youth violence prevention.
March 30, 2002	A generation of children was wiped out.
April 1, 2002	Hitler believed in German racial superiority and this had to translate into military supremacy whatever the obstacle.
April 10, 2002	Last year, 2001, was the year of the biggest Holocaust denial trial that wanted to distort historical truth. Yet, despite the verdict, nearly six decades after the end of Second World War, we can see that the trend of denial of the Holocaust is stronger than ever. So is the role of our museum.
May 8, 2002	While most of European countries were under German occupation, the local populations often followed the example of their conquerors.
May 27, 2002	You must have a purpose to your life and have a goal to reach. And you should be interested in everything in the world. Wallenberg: he was a man of deeds with humanistic values.
June 5, 2002	In camp, a Jewish man heard a friend praying thanks to God on Yom Kippur prayer. He asked him: how could I possibly thank God for this hell? His friend answered: I thank God that he did not make us like those who oppress us.
July 3, 2002	“Man’s inhumanity to man”. Would you have the courage Andrius Urbonas had?
July 8, 2002	What is my mission of talking to you? To overcome prejudice, intolerance and bigotry. This can only be achieved through education.
July 17, 2002	Our county’s principles of freedom and democracy are the reason why we were attacked on Sep. 11, 2011.
July 27, 2002	I am not a number, and I am not a statistic. Please listen to me. I am going to tell you what happened to me and to everyone I knew and loved.
July 28, 2002	The facts of the history are stark: thousands of people participated in the genocide. I am fulfilling my promise: I am telling the world what hatred can do.
August 1, 2002	My message deals with tolerance, human understanding and strength in the face of the forces of darkness. (David Pettes).
August 9, 2002	The title of my book I never wrote: “Dear God, Have You Ever Gone Hungry?”
January 12, 2003	As a Holocaust survivor I know from experience that the impossible is possible.
January 30, 2003	At the museum we work to ensure that the critically important lessons of the Holocaust are forever kept alive and of the 20th century genocides will never be forgotten and never, ever repeated.
April 26, 2003	As a survivor it is important for me to pass the torch to the second and third generations because they are the only ones who can build a better future, a world where no one fears persecution based on their race, color or religion.
April 28, 2003	We must remember that each of us can make a difference and together we can make the universe a better place.
May 7, 2003	Every person should be taught tolerance and compassion at a young age, so that we won’t suffer the consequences of prejudice later. We must teach our youngsters the danger of evil.
May 16, 2003	Remembering the Holocaust is a sacred legacy.
June 9, 2003	As a Holocaust survivor, I carry the responsibility to those who will succeed me, to ensure that the history of the Holocaust is preserved. This is my solemn obligation and precious legacy. (Signed Henry Kellen).
June 18, 2003	It is said that no one is born knowing how to hate. The destructive impulse must be taught either by parents, media or propaganda.
February 6, 2004	The mission of our museum is to honor the memory of the victims and promote the value of human dignity and decency.
February 20, 2004	Warsaw ghetto is burning. A polish couple looks through the window saying to the maid who was Jewish: “Wanda, I feel sorry for them as human beings, but as Jews let them burn.”
March 1, 2004	The museum helps to continue to keep a rich Jewish heritage alive about the righteous among the nations.
March 5, 2004	Today the world is facing increasing uncertainty and rising violence. In such a world, our museum has never been more pertinent and more urgent.
March 10, 2004	America you are amazing! I love the freedom you gave me, your tolerance, the opportunities and the strength of your religious tolerance. Then there is the most important part of America: the generosity and decency of her people.
March 15, 2004	We must never rest, never let down our guard in the fight against the evil of prejudice and intolerance.
March 19, 2004	The Jews in America are celebrating 350 years. In 1790, George Washington wrote to the Hebrew congregation of Newport, R.I.: “The government of the United States give to bigotry no sanction and to persecution no assistance. May the children of the stock of Abraham who dwell in this land continue to merit and enjoy the good will of other inhabitants.”
April 12, 2004	Our Goal and mission is to overcome prejudice, bigotry and intolerance.Enjoy life to the fullest.
May 5, 2004	I care enough to tell my story the way it happened so that you never take for granted our lives and blessings.
May 26, 2004	This is my legacy as a survivor of the Holocaust: when our museum burned down I refused to feel defeated. It was only a matter of time before a permanent museum will reopen.
June 2, 2004	For years Holocaust scholars are debating if the Holocaust is unique. What I am concerned, events do happen because they are possible. If they are possible once, they are possible again. In my opinion, the Holocaust is not unique but it is a warning for the future.
June 10, 2004	The eyewitness generation of the Holocaust is diminishing. With anti-Semitism rising, terrorism and ethnic violence is increasing. The lesson of the Holocaust must be learned. There is much to do. We must worry about today’s uncertain world. Help us respond to the grave challenge and critical times that lie ahead. I fear that no institution teaches about the dangers of unchecked anti-Semitism as a Holocaust museum does.
January 6, 2005	We are fortunate to live under the flag of stripes and stars.
January 19, 2005	To Life and Liberation: we the survivors were rescued and given freedom and hope for a new life.
January 28, 2005	The purpose of our museum is education. Our obligation is to pass the torch of Holocaust memory to our children and to their children.Our museum, while it teaches tolerance, it also fights racism, bigotry and discrimination.
February 11, 2005	We have learned how to weep after the event, but we don’t know how to stop it while it happens.
February 16, 2005	The museum is a reminder how hate and bigotry can destroy a civilized society.
February 25, 2005	Why is the Holocaust unique? Because is was premeditated by a minority and executed by the majority of the people using modern technology.
March 3, 2005	After I am gone, continue the work with the next generation in order to teach the inhuman history of the Holocaust.
March 11, 2005	The Holocaust does not only represent hatred and death but also compassion and love.
March 16, 2005	To the soldiers: you did restore our human right and human dignity.To remember the Holocaust is not a mere commemoration act, but is a sacred legacy. My life goal is to carry forward the torch of remembrance so the future generation will never ever forget the Holocaust.
March 25, 2005	To deny the Holocaust is not only to desecrate the victims and abuse the survivors. It is also to deprive the world of its lessons.
April 4, 2005	It is my fervent hope that by remembering and documenting the horror, civilized people can prevent another Holocaust.
April 14, 2005	Our vital work is to combat hate and terrorism.
April 18, 2005	The Holocaust is a scared legacy.
April 19, 2005	Our museum is preserving the experience of those who survived and is honoring the memory of those who perished.
April 27, 2005	Help us teach what must never be forgotten in a world that too often wants desperately to forget. We must work tirelessly to prevent bigotry from becoming tomorrow’s ugly reality.
April 30, 2005	When courage defies evil: the role of the righteous in the Holocaust.
May 2, 2005	The Holocaust is history’s greatest crime. The killer didn’t see Jews as people.
February 10, 2006	In the future, our museum will preserve the memory of our past, will honor both those who perished and those who survived and inspire younger generations to carry on our traditions and legacy.
February 24, 2006	El Paso Holocaust Museum is a living testimony to millions who perished in the Holocaust and it is a source of education for this and future generations.
March 10, 2006	Our museum is promoting a message of tolerance and diversity to American youth.
April 14, 2006	As the voice of the witnesses is growing quieter every day and when our community and largely Europe is going through a period of racist and anti-Semitic turmoil, the goal of our museum is to show the path of tolerance, freedom, democracy and diversity.
August 1, 2006	I dedicated my life to the memory of those who perished in the hope that history will never repeat itself.
July 17, 2007	As a Holocaust survivor I am trying to bring history to life.
August 31, 2007	The lessons that the survivors teach us are very relevant to issues confronting us today.
September 7, 2007	Our museum is a living memorial in the face of rising anti-Semitism and continuing genocides. Our museum will teach the danger of hate which took place in Nazi Germany and to encourage people to speak out and to act.
October 19, 2007	One of the aims of our museum is to bring us closer to a universe that is free of intolerance and bigotry.
February 8, 2008	I was saved by an angel: Urbonas.
June 6, 2008	My legacy: remembering the past ensuring the future.
March 27, 2009	Remember the history of the Holocaust is crucial because a crime was committed against humanity and civilization, systematically murdering 6 million Jews and 5 million non-Jews.
April 14, 2009	Ignoring the Holocaust is a shame. But denying the Holocaust is a crime.
July 17, 2009	How can I forgive my physical and also my psychological pain that I went through? How can I erase the fact that all at once I was totally dehumanized, lost my identity and was a non-person. Those things never did heal in my life. I don’t forgive.
October 16, 2009	The Holocaust is not just a historical lesion. It is a lesson of man’s inhumanity towards man, and what happens when diversity between people is neither valued nor respected.
October 23, 2009	Dr. Elkhanan Elkes was a friend of the people. We were living under the most inhuman conditions. We were physically and spiritually destroyed.
November 2, 2009	The righteous gentiles were a small group of people who, with nothing to gain and everything to lose, made a decision to save Jews during the Holocaust.
November 24, 2009	I don’t want any more to let tragedy dominate my thoughts and feelings. I can’t let my soul be consumed by death and destruction any more
February 26, 2010	Our museum inspires citizens and leaders worldwide to confront hatred, promote human dignity and prevent genocide.
July 10, 2010	Our museum is working to create a better world, one of hope, courage and strength, as we give voice to the 11 million people who were silenced in the Holocaust.
July 16, 2010	If were to tell you everything I know, I would not sleep. So I alone am the one who does not sleep.
August 10, 2010	The term Holocaust is wrong. It is supposed to be Genocide.
October 1, 2010	Our museum is a reminder how hate and bigotry destroyed a civilized society.
June 3, 2011	I cannot restore 6 million lives that were lost in the Holocaust. But there is something we can do and must do: we can remember. And this what you and your students are now doing.
June 21, 2011	For the last 25 years I have dedicated my life to make the world a better place.
August 5, 2011	If you don’t learn from the tragedy of the Holocaust, you leave the door open and invite it to happen again.
January 10, 2012	The mission of our Museum: to educate people of all nationalities about the Nazi Holocaust as a way to ensure that similar acts will never be repeated.