Holocaust Remembrance Event with Celina Karp Biniaz

President Reagan once said, “…even a tortured past holds promise if we learn its lessons…. it is up to us to ensure that we never live it again.”

Join the Education Team at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute as Celina Karp Biniaz shares her compelling and traumatic story. 

Celina Karp Biniaz was just eight years old when the Germans invaded her homeland of Poland in 1939. Over the next six years, the child from Krakow endured the Holocaust as the Nazis took away her schooling and civil rights, then herded her and her family into a ghetto. Life grew worse when the ghetto was liquidated, and the family was sent to Plaszów, a slave labor/concentration camp where they lived in constant fear, witnessing unspeakable horrors. Ultimately, Celina and her parents landed on Schindler's list, but before being sent to safety at Schindler's factory, Celina spent several terrifying weeks at Auschwitz where she faced down the infamous Dr. Josef Mengele. When the war ended, she and her family eventually made their way to the United States. With great strength and resilience, she moved forward and embraced the “American Dream”. She finished her education, got married, had a family, and eventually enjoyed a career in teaching. Through the years,she kept her Holocaust experience a secret because the memories were too terrible to describe, and she did not believe anyone would understand. That all changed with Steven Spielberg's film Schindler's List, which brought the Holocaust and the story of Oskar Schindler to millions around the world. The movie prompted Celina to confront her painful past and begin speaking publicly about it. As she often explains, “Oskar Schindler gave me my life, but Steven Spielberg gave me my voice.”

This event is intended for a high school audience or older and free for school groups to attend. One adult chaperone is invited per group of 15 students. Schools may bring a maximum of 150 students each. School registration includes complimentary admission to the museum only. 

The registration table will open at 9:00 a.m. for school groups on the day of the event. Following the event, only non-local school groups can enjoy lunch under the wings of Air Force One due to limited space available (provided they are brought in brown bags by the school) and tour the museum.

Although this event is geared towards student groups, there are a limited number of event tickets available for the public. Admission to the Museum and Auschwitz are not included. General public check-in will begin at 9:30 a.m. 

For those who want  to tour Auschwitz. Not long ago. Not far away., tickets should be purchased in advance by visiting the online ticketing page. The Auschwitz exhibit takes 2 ½ hours to tour. Please note that the Museum and special exhibition close at 5:00 p.m. 

Registration for the event will close at the end of the day Wednesday, October 4, 2023.

 

Jewish Family and Children’s Services Holocaust Center is a proud partner of this program.