Nate Leipciger (born 28 February 1928 in Chorzów, Poland) is a Holocaust educator, public speaker and author.[1]
Early life
Forced to leave their home in Chorzów when the Germans invaded Poland, Leipciger and his family were moved to the Sosnowiec Ghetto.[2] By 15 he had been transferred to Auschwitz-Birkenau.[3] His mother and sister were murdered in Auschwitz, but his father kept close to his son. Leipciger ended up as forced labour in various other camps in Silesia. Twice he recalls his father saving his life. Once, Leipciger found himself in the queue for the gas chamber, only for his father to pull him out and bring him into the camp with him. On a second occasion, the Nazis were about to send his father to a factory in Germany, but he convinced one of the officers that his son was a useful electrician, so they let Leipciger accompany his father. According to Leipciger, his father begged a Nazi officer to get Leipciger to a factory in Germany to save him from being murdered at Auschwitz.[4]
They were incarcerated in the concentration camps of Fünfteichen, Gross-Rosen and Flossenbürg before ending up at Waldlager V, part of the Mühldorf camp complex and a subcamp of the Dachau concentration camp[5] where they were eventually liberated by American soldiers.
In June 1948, after living in Bamberg, Germany, for three years, Leipciger and his father immigrated to Canada.[citation needed]
The Weight of Freedom
In 2015, The Weight of Freedom was published, a 280-page book written by Nate Leipciger, one of over 60 books in the Azrieli Series of Holocaust Memoirs by Canadian survivors.
"The Weight of Freedom presents a well-written description of life and death at Auschwitz-Birkenau and other slave labour and concentration camps. Told by a sympathetic narrator, the story is gripping, moving and insightful, “ wrote one reviewer.[6]
Visit to Auschwitz-Birkenau with Prime Minister Trudeau
In July 2016, Nate Leipciger guided Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau through Auschwitz Birkenau.[7]
After, Leipciger reflected: "When Prime Minister Trudeau and I shed tears together in Auschwitz-Birkenau, never have I been more grateful for the welcome given to me by my adopted land, never have I been prouder to be a citizen of our beloved country, Canada. It was one of the most uplifting moments of my life."[8]
The Prime Minister said, “This past July, I was privileged to walk the grounds of Auschwitz with Nate Leipgicer. It was a tremendously moving experience, one that will stay with me forever.”[9]
Nate Leipciger Embraces Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada at the 30th Anniversary Gala of March Of The Living Canada in Toronto held in May, 2018
Volunteer activities
Nate Leipciger has been an active volunteer with numerous Holocaust and community organizations, including the Toronto Holocaust Remembrance Committee, The Canadian Jewish Congress, The Neuberger Holocaust Education Centre, The International Council to the Museum of Auschwitz-Birkenau, Facing History and Ourselves and March of the Living, participating in the latter program 17 times.
Nate Leipciger: "You cannot have hate in your heart without being hateful against yourself. And that's the big problem – when you are hateful, you become bitter, you resent everything and that becomes part of your nature." Student: "You don't hate the soldiers, who took those kids out [and murdered them]?" Nate Leipciger: "There is a difference between hating and holding them responsible. They are two different feelings. I don't have to like them, but I don't hate them. Because hate will destroy the person doing the hating."
Holocaust Education Work
Leipciger has given testimony several times with USC Shoah Foundation, speaking about his father, Jacob Leipciger, to whom he recognizes as the reason he himself survived the Holocaust. Feb 13, 1996, Leipciger took part in "A Father and Son Story" for father's day. The show was to recognize and celebrate life-saving actions taken by many fathers during the Holocaust. In his testimony, he was asked, "what gave you the will to go on?" Nate Leipciger answered, "my father...the fact that we were together."[11]
On May 26, 2019, Crestwood Highschool did an extensive interview with Leipciger about his childhood, the War beginning and ghettos being created, his deportation to Auschwitz, his imprisonment, liberation, and his views on using the lessons of the past to build a stronger future.[12]
March 29, 2023, International March of the Living released "2023 Survivor Spotlight," featuring Leipciger on the March as part of the Canadian delegation where he participates regularly. When writing about his participation, he was quoted saying, "In my opinion, there is no more impactful way to tell the story of the Shoah than on the site where it took place. During the March, my suffering – the hunger, isolation, fear, degradation, incarceration, and loss of family – comes back to me, and I am transported back to the reality of what defines the Shoah for me."[13]
"As a survivor and educator, nothing can be more rewarding than telling my story in the barracks of Birkenau and seeing the understanding and compassion written on the tear-stained faces of the participants, knowing they have become the new witnesses who will carry the story of the Shoah to the next generation."
"Be proud of our achievements and contributions to the Jewish people and the world. Stand up to racism and antisemitism, and fight with determination using all available elements of our free society through legislation and education. Stand your ground with truth and knowledge and defy false narratives and falsehoods. Join the fight for all human rights. Remember that we have the same rights as all other people; the right to live with dignity, respect, freedom from discrimination, freedom of religion and the right to worship in the manner we choose."[13]
Leipciger has travelled and taken part in the March of the Living over twenty times alongside Holocaust educator and religious leader, Eli Rubenstein. In an article written by Rubenstein, Leipciger talked about the intersectionality of the Holocaust and the October 7th attack in Israel. When Rubenstein asked how he, as a survivor compared the Holocaust with October 7, 2023, Leipciger said, “I think it is a situation which we as human beings have never seen. It’s a barbarism and I cannot equate it with anything else,” describing the attack as worse than the Shoa.[14]
After October 7, 2023 and Antisemitism
Leipciger has been interviewed numerous times about his thoughts and feelings on the events of October 7 attack in 2023 and the ongoing war between Israel and Palestine. The Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM) and International March of the Living featured Leipciger one month after the October 7th attack. Leipciger spoke about being attacked in the streets as a little boy in Poland. He spoke about the number on his left forearm, and how this became his only identification. Leipciger also spoke about his entire family murdered. "I am devastated to see that Jews are being attacked on the streets today and on campuses." Leipciger stated, "Jews are not safe...anywhere." I saw where antisemitism can lead. Don't be a bystander, fight antisemitism now."[15]
In 2024 Leipciger was interviewed on the Arvum Rosensweig Show with Eli Rubenstein about the response of Jewish people around the world and how they respond to the level of antisemitism today. When asked if Leipciger was surprised at the level of antisemitism in the world today, he replied, "I am surprised. I shouldn't be, but I am. 80 years after Auschwitz [the Holocaust] is not a long time, and when the vengeance with which antisemitism has returned has eliminated the gap between then and now... I think [like most people] I feel disappointed, I feel troubled, I feel horrified by the loss of life we have witnessed on Oct 7, and with the brutality with which it was conducted. It was unequal even Isis didn't show pictures like that."[16][17]
