From Holland to Jamaica, a story of hope and life can span many countries. For Lex Silbiger, that was the trek he and his family took when he was 6 years old. 

On Feb. 12, Alexander “Lex” Silbiger spoke to Elon University students, staff and community members as part of the Holocaust Remembrance Day Speaker Series. 

Senior Director of Jewish Life, Betsy Polk Joseph, helped organize the event and led the Q&A afterwards. Joseph said that Silbiger’s story is relevant now.

“His story feels like it happened many years ago,” said Joseph. “It reflects so strongly our realities now.”

Silbiger started off the speech by explaining the context of World War II through his eyes. He recounted how the people of Holland thought and how they only knew rumors of what was happening in Germany. As he progressed through history, he gave accounts of what it was like for him and his family as they escaped.

Silbiger said, “Suddenly, without preparation, this 6-year-old was cut off from his friends, his stories, everything else he owned.”

Silbiger would end up traveling from Holland into France, where he and his family had to wait and get fake identification cards to escape Nazi rule. They would flee to Jamaica after being denied entry by multiple Caribbean islands. 

Silbiger and his family would stay in Jamaica for two years before returning to Holland. To their shock, their house was still there. But, missing were Silbiger’s grandparents, who stayed behind.

“We learned they had been carried off to Auschwitz, Poland, only a few months after we left, and murdered with poison gas,” said Silbiger.

Co-president of Elon Hillel Benji Stern introduced Silbiger and spoke afterwards about what it was like hearing Silbiger’s story.

“It’s such a different experience…hearing it from someone firsthand who lived that experience,” said Stern.

At the end of the Q&A, Silbiger ended with what this experience has meant for him.

“I appreciate life,” said Silbiger, “I value life, because my parents risked their lives for me.”

Silbiger was given a standing ovation as he ended the event.