Dr. William Gingold, a local Holocaust survivor from Champaign-Urbana, will share his family’s powerful story at the Mahomet Public Library on Tuesday, February 25th, from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM.

Dr. Gingold was born in Warsaw on September 20, 1939, a day before the Nazis bombed the hospital and just 19 days after they invaded Poland, igniting World War II. His family endured the horrors of the Warsaw Ghetto, a harrowing escape, cattle car transport to Siberia, survival in Kazakhstan, and time in a Displaced Persons Camp in Germany before finally arriving at Ellis Island in May 1951.

Now retired from his role as Clinical Professor of Family Medicine at the University of Illinois and a social entrepreneurial “incubator” for business, Dr. Gingold dedicates his time to educating others about the Holocaust and promoting tolerance by sharing his family’s experiences. He is committed to reaching as many people as possible with his story, hoping to inspire the best in all who hear it.

The Gingold family’s incredible journey is also documented in the book, Tunnel, Smuggle, Collect: A Holocaust Boy, written by Bill’s nephew, Jeffrey Gingold. The book will be available for purchase after the event, with all author royalties donated to the Holocaust Museum in Milwaukee.

Attendees can also listen to Dr. Gingold on the podcast series, Holocaust Stories of Champaign-Urbana and Beyond, available on YouTube and Spotify. Find the episode and more information at cujf.org/hec/podcasts.

This is a unique opportunity to hear a firsthand account of survival and resilience during one of history’s darkest periods. The event is free and open to the public.