Mel Mermelstein, 1926-2022
February 7, 2022 10:57 PM Subscribe
Mel Mermelstein, Holocaust Survivor Who Sued Deniers, Dies at 95. Mel Mermelstein survived Auschwitz, Gross-Rosen, and Buchenwald, the sole member of his immediate family to make it out, and made a life for himself in the United States. In 1980, he sued the Holocaust-denying Institute for Historical Review when they claimed they would pay out a cash reward of $50,000 to anyone who could prove the Nazi regime had committed mass murder of Jews in gas chambers, and refused to honor the agreement when he presented his own notarized eyewitness statement. He sued and won $90,000 and a formal apology, and as a result of the case the Holocaust was confirmed as a legally incontestable fact by the Superior Court of Los Angeles County in 1981.
Mel Mermelstein died late last month at the age of 95 from complications of Covid-19. He was the subject of the film Never Forget and published a memoir, By Bread Alone.
He came to speak at my middle school. I remembered the speech, but had forgotten his name until these headlines brought it back.
Mel Mermelstein died late last month at the age of 95 from complications of Covid-19. He was the subject of the film Never Forget and published a memoir, By Bread Alone.
He came to speak at my middle school. I remembered the speech, but had forgotten his name until these headlines brought it back.
May his memory be a blessing.
posted by fight or flight at 12:56 AM on February 8, 2022 [26 favorites]
posted by fight or flight at 12:56 AM on February 8, 2022 [26 favorites]
Thank you for this post.
He must be remembered.
posted by M. at 1:02 AM on February 8, 2022 [6 favorites]
He must be remembered.
posted by M. at 1:02 AM on February 8, 2022 [6 favorites]
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posted by Probabilitics at 1:26 AM on February 8, 2022
posted by Probabilitics at 1:26 AM on February 8, 2022
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I visited Buchenwald last year and this year I read "The Theory and Practice of Hell". While it was one of the most upsetting books I have read, I highly recommend it. Visiting one of the places featured before reading really helped me visualize the place when it was running.
I hope as we lose those with direct experience we don't forget their suffering.
posted by adventureloop at 1:57 AM on February 8, 2022 [7 favorites]
I visited Buchenwald last year and this year I read "The Theory and Practice of Hell". While it was one of the most upsetting books I have read, I highly recommend it. Visiting one of the places featured before reading really helped me visualize the place when it was running.
I hope as we lose those with direct experience we don't forget their suffering.
posted by adventureloop at 1:57 AM on February 8, 2022 [7 favorites]
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posted by dannyboybell at 3:22 AM on February 8, 2022
posted by dannyboybell at 3:22 AM on February 8, 2022
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posted by GenjiandProust at 4:00 AM on February 8, 2022
posted by GenjiandProust at 4:00 AM on February 8, 2022
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posted by hydropsyche at 4:23 AM on February 8, 2022
posted by hydropsyche at 4:23 AM on February 8, 2022
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posted by Silvery Fish at 4:30 AM on February 8, 2022
posted by Silvery Fish at 4:30 AM on February 8, 2022
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posted by DirtyOldTown at 5:07 AM on February 8, 2022
posted by DirtyOldTown at 5:07 AM on February 8, 2022
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posted by AlonzoMosleyFBI at 5:25 AM on February 8, 2022
posted by AlonzoMosleyFBI at 5:25 AM on February 8, 2022
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posted by Phyllis keeps a tight rein at 5:39 AM on February 8, 2022
posted by Phyllis keeps a tight rein at 5:39 AM on February 8, 2022
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posted by Laura in Canada at 5:44 AM on February 8, 2022
posted by Laura in Canada at 5:44 AM on February 8, 2022
May his memory be a blessing.
posted by Maastrictian at 5:56 AM on February 8, 2022
posted by Maastrictian at 5:56 AM on February 8, 2022
Dang, if anyone's obit should say "Rest in power," a fighter and survivor like this should.
May he now enjoy some rest after so many years of standing up to indifference and hate -- while the rest of us carry on for him.
posted by wenestvedt at 6:01 AM on February 8, 2022 [2 favorites]
May he now enjoy some rest after so many years of standing up to indifference and hate -- while the rest of us carry on for him.
posted by wenestvedt at 6:01 AM on February 8, 2022 [2 favorites]
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posted by Lawn Beaver at 6:14 AM on February 8, 2022
posted by Lawn Beaver at 6:14 AM on February 8, 2022
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posted by JoeXIII007 at 6:21 AM on February 8, 2022
posted by JoeXIII007 at 6:21 AM on February 8, 2022
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posted by nickggully at 6:37 AM on February 8, 2022
posted by nickggully at 6:37 AM on February 8, 2022
Z"L
posted by BlueNorther at 6:58 AM on February 8, 2022
posted by BlueNorther at 6:58 AM on February 8, 2022
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posted by Quasirandom at 7:33 AM on February 8, 2022
posted by Quasirandom at 7:33 AM on February 8, 2022
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posted by The Great Big Mulp at 8:06 AM on February 8, 2022
posted by The Great Big Mulp at 8:06 AM on February 8, 2022
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posted by May Kasahara at 8:55 AM on February 8, 2022
posted by May Kasahara at 8:55 AM on February 8, 2022
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I hope his children and/or even his great grandchildren continue to tell the story like his father wanted.
posted by JohnnyGunn at 9:00 AM on February 8, 2022
I hope his children and/or even his great grandchildren continue to tell the story like his father wanted.
posted by JohnnyGunn at 9:00 AM on February 8, 2022
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May his memory always be for blessing. He did an incredible thing, and had an incredible life.
posted by spinifex23 at 9:32 AM on February 8, 2022
May his memory always be for blessing. He did an incredible thing, and had an incredible life.
posted by spinifex23 at 9:32 AM on February 8, 2022
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posted by The Underpants Monster at 9:36 AM on February 8, 2022
posted by The Underpants Monster at 9:36 AM on February 8, 2022
He came to my middle school as well. I'll never forget.
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posted by allthinky at 10:05 AM on February 8, 2022
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posted by allthinky at 10:05 AM on February 8, 2022
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posted by The Lurkers Support Me in Email at 10:49 AM on February 8, 2022
posted by The Lurkers Support Me in Email at 10:49 AM on February 8, 2022
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posted by whisk(e)y neat at 10:56 AM on February 8, 2022
posted by whisk(e)y neat at 10:56 AM on February 8, 2022
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posted by Farce_First at 12:21 PM on February 8, 2022
posted by Farce_First at 12:21 PM on February 8, 2022
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posted by NoThisIsPatrick at 1:11 PM on February 8, 2022
posted by NoThisIsPatrick at 1:11 PM on February 8, 2022
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posted by doctornemo at 1:14 PM on February 8, 2022
posted by doctornemo at 1:14 PM on February 8, 2022
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posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 2:27 PM on February 8, 2022
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 2:27 PM on February 8, 2022
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posted by socialjusticeworrier at 2:31 PM on February 8, 2022
posted by socialjusticeworrier at 2:31 PM on February 8, 2022
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posted by kitten kaboodle at 3:47 PM on February 8, 2022
posted by kitten kaboodle at 3:47 PM on February 8, 2022
May his memory ever be a blessing, and the memories he passed to us of the horrors he endured ever be a warning and an illumination of what should never have been and never should be again.
posted by mephron at 11:25 AM on February 9, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by mephron at 11:25 AM on February 9, 2022 [1 favorite]
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posted by freshwater at 12:02 PM on February 9, 2022
posted by freshwater at 12:02 PM on February 9, 2022
I read his memoir "By bread alone: The story of A-4685" and was glad that he was willing to bear witness when he no doubt suffered to do so.
posted by wnissen at 4:55 PM on February 10, 2022
posted by wnissen at 4:55 PM on February 10, 2022
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Let none among us let them get away with it.
posted by away for regrooving at 11:16 PM on February 7, 2022 [56 favorites]