On March 21, 2025, Holocaust survivor Ben Lesser visited Pahrump Valley High School to share his firsthand experiences from one of history’s darkest times. Speaking to students, he recounted his harrowing journey of survival, the loss of his family, and the importance of remembering the past. His own experiences during the Holocaust motivated the creation of the Zachor Remembrance Foundation, which funds events like this to educate future generations about the horrifying and gruesome realities of the Holocaust.
During the event, Lesser shared his horrifying experiences. He was only 10 years old when these tragic events began. He described living with his parents, two sisters, and baby brother in a small apartment in Kraków, Poland. The only other residents in the building were a young couple. Recounting the day the Nazis arrived, he vividly described the fear and violence they brought: “I was 10 and a half when the men with shining black boots arrived. They asked for any Jewish people in the building. Once we showed them our apartment and our neighbor’s apartment, we heard banging.” The Nazis harbored intense hatred toward Jewish people, as demonstrated by their extreme cruelty. Lesser recalled a devastating moment when his mother pleaded, “Don’t kill my baby, please.” With a smirk, a Nazi officer slammed the door, killing the baby instantly. With tears in his eyes, Lesser added, “It’s evil how the Nazi had joy in killing the baby.”
This account exemplifies the Nazis’ inhumane treatment of Jewish people. While they persecuted other groups as well, their hatred toward Jews was especially brutal. To control and exploit Jewish populations, the Nazis forced them into ghettos: overcrowded and neglected areas. Lesser recounted, “My father was preparing to go into the ghetto, but Michael, who came to us and said, ‘I am in love with Lola, please move to our community with us.’” Lola, Lesser’s sister, was the only other family member who survived alongside him by the end of the Holocaust. Michael was a stranger who played a pivotal role in their story. The family traveled to an area filled with boats used to transport captured Jews to camps and ghettos. Lesser described the scene: “When we were leaving, there were hundreds of boats. If you didn’t get in, you had to cross it on your own.”
Upon arrival at a Nazi camp, Lesser and his family decided to escape through the Bochnia Ghetto, despite its notorious reputation for brutal treatment of Jews. He recounted, “A Jewish synagogue was turned into a Nazi clothing tailor for Jews to work.” He also recalled a horrifying sight: “We came outside and were horrified to see our neighbors ripped to shreds by dogs.”
Living in the Bochnia Ghetto was unbearable. Lesser described it as “hell,” saying, “People were burned alive or dead.” Realizing the imminent danger, his family desperately sought a hiding place. They found a doghouse, but it was too small to accommodate everyone. Lesser recalled, “Lola and Michael walked away because there wasn’t enough room. A Jewish police officer saw them and asked, ‘Why aren’t you hiding?’ Lola replied, ‘We did, but there wasn’t enough room.’ The officer then showed them a place to hide and told them to stay there.” Tragically, when they later returned, they found everyone who had hidden in the doghouse had been executed. One victim still clutched a doll in their hands.
Following this gruesome experience, Lesser and his remaining family members fled to Czechoslovakia. He described the perilous journey: “We had to cross barbed wire that was in the way.” After crossing, they faced another challenge: “We had to slide down. If we tumbled, it would all be over.” They moved in complete silence, successfully reaching their destination. Their goal was to travel to Budapest, Hungary, where they hoped to reunite with Lesser’s older sister.
These were just a few of the many stories Lesser shared during the event. He also discussed his book, Living A Life That Matters: From Nazi Nightmare to American Dream, which contains even more accounts of his experiences. “There are stories in here I cannot cover in one talk, so I encourage you to read it,” he said. Many of the stories he shared during the event were drawn directly from the book.
After the event, PVHS Junior, Logan Carney, shared about his experience. When asked about his impression of the event, he responded, “It was very insightful on the true events and living conditions during that time period.” He found it eye-opening to learn about the Holocaust from a survivor’s perspective. When asked about the moral takeaway from the event, he said, “It shows how one’s hatred towards a specific group can lead to severe outcomes.”
Hosting this event required significant effort from a dedicated team. Spearheading this momentous event, U.S. History teacher Stanley Sutton worked closely with NCSD’s Curriculum & Instruction Director Erin Jerabek and PVHS Assistant Principal Kaitlyn Lesnikoski to make this powerful learning experience possible. He also acknowledged the Social Studies Department for coordinating with the Theater, Broadcasting, and Journalism teams to make this event a success.
We deeply appreciate everyone involved in bringing this invaluable learning experience to Pahrump Valley High School. Their efforts provided students with a powerful firsthand account of history, ensuring that the stories of Holocaust survivors like Lesser Lesser continue to be heard and remembered.
