Holocaust Survivor Talk: Ruth Finkel Wade and Sidney Finkel, “Sevek and the Holocaust: The Boy Who Refused to Die”
Sevek Finkelstein was born in 1931 in Łódź, Poland, and survived the
Holocaust after enduring years in a ghetto, multiple concentration camps
including Buchenwald, and brutal death marches that claimed most of his
immediate family. Despite profound loss, he later dedicated his life to
education and reconciliation, speaking at hundreds of schools, and
authoring the memoir Sevek and the Holocaust: The Boy Who Refused to Die.
His memoir and outreach emphasize healing and unity beyond national or
religious identity. Although he will not attend in person due to his age
and health, his daughter, Holocaust educator Ruth Finkel Wade, will
deliver an account of his testimony, followed by a live Q&A
(conducted via Zoom) with Sidney “Sevek” Finkel from his Tucson
apartment.
This talk was part of the 2026 Oregon State University Holocaust Memorial Week observance. For more information, please check out the program website:
https://holocaust.oregonstate.edu/
