Credit: Tanya Kalchenko
Angel, a Jewish man who owned the most famous bakery in Germany, often said: "Do you know why I’m alive today? When I was still a teenager, the Nazis in Germany were killing Jews without mercy. They took us to Auschwitz on a train. The night was freezing cold, and we were left in the cars for days with no food, no beds, and no way to stay warm.
It was snowing everywhere, and the cold wind made our faces numb. There were hundreds of us, suffering in the freezing cold with no food or water. It felt like the blood in our veins was frozen. Next to me was an elderly man, loved by many in my city. He was shaking terribly and looked so weak. I tried to keep him warm with my hands.
I held him close, hugging him tightly to give him warmth. I rubbed his hands, legs, face, and neck. I begged him to stay alive. I kept him warm all night, even though I was tired and frozen myself. My fingers were numb, but I kept massaging him to help him.
Hours passed, and finally, morning came. The sun began to shine, and I looked around. To my horror, all I saw were frozen bodies. The cold night had killed everyone. The only two survivors were the old man and me. He survived because I kept him warm, and I survived because I kept him alive.
Let me share with you the secret of survival in this world: When you warm the hearts of others, you warm yourself. When you support, strengthen, and encourage others, you will receive the same in your life."
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