(Posted to this site on 10/10/2000)

Peter L. Fischl
P.O. Box 656, Burbank, CA 9 1503-0656

Peter Fischl hangs a poster with his poem about the Holocaust and
the photo that inspired it at the Los Angeles Museum of Tolerance.

"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."
—GLENDALE NEWS-PRESS, by Britt Tunick, Staff Writer, December 21, 1994

"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. Bust most of all, thank you for giving us the greatest gift: your testimony for our archive."
—A letter from Mr. Steven Spielberg, June 30, 1995

"Your poem is deeply moving."
—A fax from Elie Wiesel, Professor, Boston University, March 4, 1998

"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."
—A letter from Aaron Breitbart, Senior Research Associate, Simon Wiesenthal Center, December 29, 1994

I'll prepare your wonderful materials tomorrow, for the Holocaust MA class at University College, London."
—A letter from Sir Martin Gilbert, Professor, Oxford University, February 26, 1997

"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."
—A fax from Nancy Gorrell, award—winning English teacher, Morristown High School, NJ, April 30, 1998. On May 2000 The English Journal published: "Teaching Empathy through Ecphrastic Poetry."

"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."
—A letter from Lori A. Barrell, English teacher, Garfield High School, Los Angeles, California, September 15, 1997

"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."
—A letter from Fred Fate, Project Director, Upward Bound, Los Angeles City College, July 17, 1997

"THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS I WANT TO HELP PEOPLE START TO THINK AND TO EDUCATE THEMSELVES AND TO LOVE EACH OTHER," FISCHL SAYS. "SO NO ONE EVER HAS TO GO THROUGH WHAT THAT LITTLE POLISH BOY WENT THROUGH AGAIN."
— THE BURBANK LEADER, by June Casagrande, February 11, 1998