How Chicago Saved Eva Kor’s Holocaust Museum in a Modern Hanukkah Miracle

Eva Kor’s Holocaust Museum ChiTribe

By Yisroel Ebert, ChiTribe.org

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – You might assume the Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center in Skokie was the very first Holocaust museum in the Midwest. It’s certainly a prominent one. But in Terre Haute, Indiana—a few hours south of Chicago—a smaller institution came before it, founded by a Holocaust survivor whose life story and vision would inspire communities across state lines. In a modern Hanukkah story few could have predicted, that museum found itself in need of rescue—and Chicago rose to the occasion with a well-timed gift of support.


From Auschwitz to Indiana

Eva Mozes Kor’s journey to founding the CANDLES Holocaust Museum and Education Center is a story of remarkable resilience. Born in 1934 to a Jewish farming family in Portz, Romania, Eva and her twin sister, Miriam, shared a special bond. That bond would become their lifeline when, in 1944, their family was deported to Auschwitz-Birkenau.

Upon arrival, the Mozes family was ripped apart. Eva and Miriam were pulled from the line of deportees by Josef Mengele himself, their status as twins marking them for his infamous experiments. The rest of their family—parents and two older sisters—were sent directly to the gas chambers.

Over the next year, Eva and Miriam endured Mengele’s horrifying medical experiments. Eva later recalled being injected with a mysterious substance that left her gravely ill. Lying in the filthy barracks, she overheard a doctor tell a nurse she had only two weeks to live. Refusing to give up, she willed herself to survive, dragging herself out of bed each day and clinging to life for the sake of her sister.

“I knew that if I died, Miriam would be alone,” Eva later recounted. “And I couldn’t let that happen.”

When Auschwitz was liberated in January 1945, Eva and Miriam were among the survivors. Emaciated and orphaned, they faced an uncertain future. After spending time in refugee camps, the twins eventually moved to Israel, where Eva served in the Israeli army before immigrating to the United States in the 1960s. Settling in Terre Haute, Indiana —a quiet Midwestern town perched on the banks of the Wabash River. It was here that she married, started and raised a family and gradually began to confront her painful past.


A Hunt For Mengele

Decades after Auschwitz, Eva became one of the most vocal advocates for bringing Josef Mengele to justice. In the 1970s and 1980s, as reports surfaced that Mengele had evaded capture and lived in South America, Eva launched an international effort to track him down. She collaborated with survivors, journalists, and law enforcement agencies, using her platform to reignite global interest in capturing the “Angel of Death.”

Eva partnered with organizations like the Simon Wiesenthal Center, which worked tirelessly to expose and prosecute Nazi war criminals. Her efforts included public appeals, interviews, and participating in global forums that demanded accountability for Mengele’s crimes. While Mengele ultimately evaded justice—he reportedly died in 1979 in Brazil—Eva’s campaign ensured that the atrocities he committed remained in the public consciousness.

“Even if we didn’t catch him, the world needed to remember what he did,” Eva said. “The pursuit of justice was as much about education as it was about holding him accountable.”

 

 


Forgiveness and the Founding of CANDLES

For years, Eva grappled with the trauma of Auschwitz. But in the 1990s, she made a controversial decision that would define her legacy: she chose to forgive the Nazis. In a public gesture in 1995, she returned to Auschwitz and ceremonially forgave the Nazi perpetrators, including Josef Mengele and other camp guards. She even delivered a letter of forgiveness toward those who had perpetrated the horrors she endured. Her decision divided many.

“Forgiveness is not for the perpetrator,” she explained. “It is for the victim. By forgiving, I released myself from years of anger and bitterness. It was my way of taking back control of my life.”

While some praised her decision as a profound act of emotional liberation, others—especially fellow Holocaust survivors—criticized it as a betrayal of the victims. Eva acknowledged the controversy but stood firm, believing forgiveness to be a personal choice and a means of healing.

“Forgiveness is not about forgetting or condoning,” she said. “It’s my way of taking back control of my life. Forgiveness is for me, not for them.”

That same year, Eva founded the CANDLES Holocaust Museum and Education Center in Terre Haute. The name—Children of Auschwitz Nazi Deadly Lab Experiments Survivors—was a tribute to the twins and other children who endured Mengele’s experiments.

The museum, though modest in size, was bold in its mission. The museum quickly became a hub for Holocaust education in the Midwest, attracting school groups from Indiana, Illinois, and beyond. Many students found their visits transformative, particularly when they had the chance to hear Eva speak about her survival and her controversial stance on forgiveness..


Hate Strikes Home

In late 2003, the museum became the target of a hate crime. Vandals broke into CANDLES, smashing windows and spray-painting swastikas and antisemitic slurs across its walls. For Eva, the attack was deeply personal. The very place built to warn against the evils of antisemitism fell victim to the same poisonous hate it sought to combat

“This wasn’t just an attack on the museum,” she said at the time. “It was an attack on everything we stand for—education, tolerance, and the fight against hatred.”

The damage was extensive, and the museum’s future was in jeopardy. Local volunteers helped clean up the damage, but the museum faced an uncertain future and was in danger of shutting down permanently

“It was devastating,” recalled a Terre Haute volunteer who helped with the cleanup. “The museum, the exhibits, everything—defaced by the symbols and language of hate.”

The costs of repairs and security upgrades far exceeded what Eva could manage on her own. News of the vandalism spread, reaching Jewish communities across the Midwest and prompting an outpouring of support.


Chicago’s Hanukkah Miracle

As word of the vandalism reached Chicago, the city’s Jewish community mobilized with extraordinary speed. The Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago, along with Synagogues, philanthropists, and community leaders across Chicagoland organized a fundraising drive, determined to ensure the museum could continue its mission.

Entire congregations contributed, holding fundraisers and spreading the word through newsletters, email chains, and word of mouth. Parents explained to their children why they were giving, emphasizing the importance of standing against antisemitism.

With Hanukkah approaching, they decided to deliver the funds in person as a show of solidarity.

On a cold December day, representatives from Chicago arrived at the museum to present Eva with a donation check. The timing was deliberate: Hanukkah, a celebration of resilience and light overcoming darkness, was the perfect backdrop for such an act of unity.

Gathered in the museum—still bearing scars from the attack—Eva and the visitors lit a menorah together. As the candles flickered, a Chicago representative handed Eva the check, which would cover repairs, install new security systems, and expand the museum’s educational programming.

“Hanukkah reminds us that even a small flame can push back the darkness,” the donor said. “This museum is that flame.”

Eva, visibly moved, thanked the Chicago community for standing with her. The moment felt like a turning point—not just for the museum, but for everyone who believed in its mission.


Rebuilding and Renewing

With the funds from Chicago and additional support from local donors, CANDLES reopened stronger than ever. The museum underwent significant renovations, including upgraded exhibits and enhanced security. Eva also took the opportunity to expand its outreach, creating new workshops for teachers and inviting more schools to bring students on field trips.

Chicago schools became frequent visitors, with educators noting the unique power of the museum’s intimate size and Eva’s firsthand testimony. Students left inspired, carrying with them lessons about resilience, forgiveness, and the importance of standing up to hatred.


Eva’s Lasting Legacy

Eva Mozes Kor passed away in 2019, but her work continues through CANDLES. The museum remains a vital educational resource, offering visitors an intimate window into the Holocaust and its lessons for today. Eva’s message of forgiveness—controversial to some, transformative to others—is woven into every aspect of its programming.

The connection between CANDLES and Chicago also endures. The Hanukkah check presentation is remembered as a moment when communities united to confront hatred and preserve the light of education. For those who visit the museum now, it’s a powerful reminder that even in the darkest times, small acts of kindness can create miracles.


Plan Your Visit

If you’re inspired by Eva Mozes Kor’s story, consider visiting the CANDLES Holocaust Museum and Education Center in Terre Haute, Indiana. The museum offers a deeply personal and impactful experience, connecting visitors with the lessons of the Holocaust through Eva’s testimony and the museum’s thoughtfully curated exhibits.

CANDLES Holocaust Museum and Education Center


Sources

  1. CANDLES Holocaust Museum and Education Center
  2. Terre Haute Tribune-Star archival coverage, December 2003
  3. Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago newsletters (2003–2004)

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Yiisroel Ebert

Yiisroel Ebert

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