Holocaust Dialogue

No evil lasts forever.

No hatred should endure in future generations.

No pain need go unalloyed for a lifetime.

This is the message of Dr. Zohara Boyd and Dr. Peter Petschauer.  Although they were both children in Europe during World War II, their experiences were worlds apart. And now their cooperation and friendship serves as an inspiring example.

Zohara grew up in Poland during the Nazi occupation. By obtaining the baptismal certificates and other documents of a Polish Catholic family, her Jewish parents were able to “walk on the Aryan side” outside the ghetto and survive the horrors of the Holocaust. Ultimately they were able to hide in plain sight.

Petschauer’s family lived on the other side.  Born and raised in Germany, his father was an officer of the dreaded SS. As a child, he was raised under the rules of Nazi Germany and it was not until later in life that he learned to come to grips with his family’s past.

Petschauer and Boyd met as academic colleagues at Appalachian State University, where Boyd is co-director of the Center for Judaic, Holocaust and Peace Studies. 

They now use their friendship and interaction to share their experiences of one of history’s most devastating storms, telling their stories and the lessons they’ve learned with people.

Their ultimate message: “violence serves no other purpose than to diminish the other who just happens to be very much like we are ourselves.”