Photo by Crystal Reed
Holocaust survivor William Gingold spoke at the Moultrie County History Center on Thursday, May 18. Pictured left to right are Gingold, Robin Goettel of the Holocaust Education Center of Champaign-Urbana Jewish Federation, Brian Kahn, Holocaust Education Center Co-Director and Becky Lawson.

•May 31, 2023•
by Crystal Reed

Holocaust survivor William Gingold gave a presentation Thursday, May 18 as part of the Center’s monthlong hosting of the “The Auschwitz Experience In the Art of Prisoners.” He began by introducing members of his family and noted that he is the only immediate survivor of the Gingold family. Gingold’s mother was about 5 ft 1 or 2 inches tall, and his father was approximately 6 ft 2 inches. His mom never went to school, and his father had education up to fourth grade.
His mother worked as a baker both before and after the war. Gingold’s father worked at a seltzer making company before the war and a steel mill after the war. He noted that in the Jewish culture they believe in one god and have a commitment to social equality and equity. Gingold said cultural traditions, history and heritage are important as well.
“Even though my parents lacked formal education, they prompted their children to learn as much as they could under circumstances so as to pass it on to others,” he said.
Gingold noted that all the persons he mentioned were born in Warsaw, Poland. On September 20, 1939, he was born and given the Hebrew name Baruch. One day after he was born, the hospital in which he was born was bombed and destroyed by the Nazis. His father, anticipating something bad happening in Warsaw, took him and his mother out of the hospital.
Families were fleeing trying to reach the Russian encampments, and he noted that those traveling on the roads took a direct hit and were killed. Gingold said they traveled in areas that were not targeted. The Russians put them on German trucks and took them back to Warsaw. Read More