The last animal alive was a small calf that fought valiantly for his life. The first two butchers chased the spirited calf and slipped and fell into the pool of blood on the floor as the calf bolted to freedom. Other butchers joined forces, becoming covered with splattering blood as the calf dashed and circled, trying to escape. Peter screamed a "bravo" for the little calf that seemed to look at him, his sad eyes saying, "I've done my best. Farewell!!" The small boy watched in horror as seven butchers descended on the defenseless calf, finishing him in seconds. The arena was empty now. Only Peter stood at the fence crying. Little did he know that in a matter of a few years, he and his family would stand in the middle of their own "arena of death." In March 1944, Peter was walking along a street in Budapest when the Nazi troops, the true butchers of the world, occupied his city. Knowing what had happened in Poland in 1939, Peter ran home and asked his father if they, too, could be butchered. His father answered, "Yes." Peter became a "hidden child" by hiding in a Catholic school with 60 other Jewish children, and on November 27, 1944, his father called him from his hiding place. With the shouting and shooting by the Germans in the background, Peter was almost speechless as his father said "farewell" for the last time. That young boy has struggled his entire life with dreams of seeing his father coming home. Peter has spoken to hundreds of groups about his experiences during the Holocaust. He includes positive lessons from the Holocaust when he also focuses on how we interact with, and accept people who are different from ourselves. Peter became a "hidden child" by hiding in a Catholic school with 60 other Jewish children, and on November 27, 1944, his father called him from his hiding place. With the shouting and shooting by the Germans in the background, Peter was almost speechless as his father said "farewell" for the last time. That young boy has struggled his entire life with dreams of seeing his father coming home. Peter has spoken to hundreds of groups about his experiences during the Holocaust. He includes positive lessons from the Holocaust when he also focuses on how we interact with, and accept people who are different from ourselves. Testimonials "Although
his father was killed by Nazis, it was a black and white
photograph that forever changed Peter Fischl's life. Growing
up in Budapest, Hungary during the Holocaust, Fischl spent
his childhood in hiding. He was 14 when his father was killed.
Today, the effect of the experience can be seen in Fischl
's poetry about the Holocaust, which hangs in museums around
the world." "I
am so honored that seeing SCHINDLER'S LIST moved you to publish
this powerful, soulful poem. Thank you for your kind thoughts,
and for the signed poster. I'm having it immediately framed
to hang in our foundation offices. But most of all, thank
you for giving us the greatest gift: your testimony for our
archive." "Your
poem is deeply moving." "The
memorialization of the Holocaust is important, not only as
a tribute to the victims of the world's greatest crime, but
also as a warning to the dangers of bigotry which are yet
to be overcome. Your work is a welcome contribution in the
battle for memory in a more humane society." I'll
prepare your wonderful materials tomorrow, for the Holocaust
MA class at University College, London." "I've
taught your poem in 4 classes and have presented it to a
Holocaust Workshop of teachers at Raritan Valley Community
College in Branchburg, NJ. Everyone responds very positively'.
I have developed a successful writing lesson based on the
poem and plan to begin writing it up this summer." "On
behalf of my students and I, I would like to thank you for
coming to Garfield High School and sharing your moving testimonies.
Please continue to spread the truth about the Holocaust and
tear down the walls of ignorance." "Our
children in this community (and throughout the world because
of your poem) are fortunate to be given such a wonderful
gift. My best wishes to you. Your energy and commitment are
an inspiration to me, personally. May the ears of all who
listen to you be wide open." Topics:
Contact:
|
A
traumatic experience that marked Peter's life before the Holocaust
came at age eight when he was taken to the offices of the slaughterhouse
in Budapest, Hungary, on a business trip with Tibor Fischl,
his father. Peter heard the screams of the animals being slaughtered,
and he wandered through the open door, straight to the slaughterhouse
area, and stood on the fence watching the carnage as several
hundred animals were killed. Butchers gave each animal an electric
shock in the ear, and when the animal fell on its side, the
butchers moved in with huge knives and saws, cutting the animal
in half, cleaning out the innards, and hanging the halves on
hooks. The young child stood in horror and disbelief as butchers
slopped around in the animals' blood, going from one to another
in brief minutes. 
