Dana Barber

Professor Wertz-Orbaugh
UWRT 1102-009
21 January 2015

Holocaust Survivor Testimony Response

Watching this testimony for Reva Kibort was very impactful because of how personal and
real the story is. I have always found that personal stories are the ones that speak to me most
while learning about the Holocaust. Because of this, I really felt that listening to Revas story
benefitted my overall knowledge of such a tragic historical event. This testimony of hers really
touched me and elicited certain emotions that I do not get from just reading textbooks and more
factual information about the Holocaust. She gave such a large historical event a real, deep, and
personal meaning.
From the beginning I found that I was engrossed in her story. As she talked about the
celebrations in her house during the holiday season, I found myself already comparing my family
to hers. Reva seemed so content with the little her and her family had and did not dwell on them
being poor but rather focused on the holidays her family would celebrate together because that
was the part most important to her. I found already that I could relate because growing up my
family did not have a lot of money and so for me especially, I found that time together as a
family meant a great deal to me. I think recognizing that connection early on helped me
throughout the rest of her testimony to put myself in her shoes and imagine what it would be like
for me and my own family.
There were several parts of her testimony that really stuck me as I listened to Reva talk.
The first being how strong her, her sisters, and her brother had to be during this time. The

sacrifices they made in order to survive was heartbreaking to hear, knowing that they were so
young at the time. I truly found the relationship between Reva and her oldest sister, Hannah, was
so admirable and one that I could connect with on a personal level. There was a part in Revas
testimony when they are at one of the slave-labor camps as the war is coming to an end. One of
the soldiers called out Reva Kiborts name to come leave the camp along with many others.
Instead of Reva coming out, her sister Hannah did instead. This part just really struck me
because it showed how Revas sister was going to do anything to protect her younger sister. I
have a sister myself who is five years younger than me and all I could think was Could I do the
same thing if this was me and my sister? I just have so much admiration for what Revas sister
did in order to protect her so that part of her testimony really spoke to me.
Another part of Revas story that stood out was after they had been moved to another
camp and she was one of only a few children in this camp. She talks about having a six month
old baby in her arms and a solider telling her to throw it away. Hearing that just made my heart
wrench. However, that was not the end of her story. She talked about how for a split second the
soldier had enough humanity to tell her to run before he shot all of the other children. I actually
gasped when she said this happen and my heart just broke listening to this part of her testimony. I
tried to envision such a horrific event to witness and for Reva to see that as such a young age is
just unimaginable. The way she described how that that solider had humanity for such a small
fraction of time and then all consciousness was shut off brought on a new understanding for me
of what the German soldiers were like. I still cant fathom how a person can just flip a switch and
for one moment think humanely and the next completely inhumane. I find it really hard to grasp.
Overall, Revas testimony was one that will probably continue to stick out to me for years
to come. Her determination to survive and tell her story is admirable. I am so glad that she was

able to fulfill that desire because it is definitely a story that needed to be told. Reva Kiborts
strength through this horrific experience is nothing less than astounding.