Holocaust Survivor Mark Spigelman Shares His Story at Asia Society Hong Kong Center

On January 23, the Asia Society Hong Kong Center (ASHK), in collaboration with the Hong Kong Holocaust and Tolerance Centre (HKHTC), hosted a memorial reception, dinner, and program to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II and honor its survivors. This significant milestone serves as a moment to reflect on the immense sacrifices made and the lessons learned from the conflict. Additionally, January 27, 2025, marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, the largest Nazi concentration and extermination camp, which has since become a symbol of the Holocaust, and the atrocities committed during the war.
The evening commenced with an online keynote address by Professor Rana Mitter, ST Lee Chair in US-Asia Relations at the Harvard Kennedy School. A world-renowned expert on China’s role and experience in World War II, Professor Mitter provided valuable context on the war, impact on China, and the lessons we can glean from studying this pivotal episode in human history.

We were honored to have a Holocaust survivor and the daughter of Holocaust survivors among us. They shared their sacrifices, sufferings, and messages to the world. Speaking with Mr. Ronnie C. Chan, Chairman of ASHK, Professor Mark Spigelman, a Holocaust survivor, recounted his childhood, including how his parents disguised him as a girl for five years to ensure his survival. He poignantly recalled that out of the 30,000 Jews in his village, only three children survived the Holocaust, himself included. Despite still experiencing nightmares, Professor Spigelman accepted that these memories would remain with him forever.

Ms. Rachel Spigelman, Professor Spigelman’s wife and the daughter of Holocaust survivors, accompanied him and shared stories from her parents. She recounted how her father fled to Russia to save his life and how her mother narrowly escaped arrest. Ms. Spigelman also discussed her motivation for chronicling Professor Spigelman’s story in a new children’s book titled Blue Eyes Wide Open. She believes it is crucial for children to learn about the atrocities of this dark period in a way that resonates with them. She later signed copies of the book, which is available at the Asia Society Store.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Spigelman emphasized that despite their horrific experiences and enduring scars, they harbor no resentment. They have dedicated their lives to building better, empathetic societies and hope that Holocaust education will help people overcome prejudices and learn lessons to create a better future. During their stay in Hong Kong, they visited various schools and were pleasantly surprised by the students' curiosity and thoughtful questions about the Holocaust.
A proud moment of the evening was the unveiling of an innovative project harnessing the power of artificial intelligence (AI) to educate and inspire classrooms across Asia. In partnership with the USC Shoah Foundation, HKHTC introduced Dimensions in Testimony, an AI-driven project featuring interactive testimonies from Holocaust survivors, a Nanjing Massacre survivor, and a Chinese comfort woman. This pilot project, which includes the testimony of a comfort woman in an AI format for the first time, allows audiences to engage in real-time conversations with these remarkable individuals, ensuring their stories are heard and remembered. Two AI stations, along with a VR station, were set up in our lobby area, with student volunteers conducting sessions and guiding fellow students through these crucial moments in history. This initiative aims to build a more informed and empathetic society. Besides the students at the Hong Kong Jockey Club Hall, more than 100 students were invited to our venue on that day to watch the program live from our Miller Theater. This allowed a larger audience to engage with the event, ensuring that the important messages and stories shared reached as many people as possible.


We extend our heartfelt thanks to all our sponsors, whose support made the evening possible and enabled us to invite students, who will grow up to be tomorrow’s leaders, to this rare opportunity to hear from a real Holocaust survivor. Sincere thanks to the participating schools, guests and media friends who made the event successful.
Sponsor List:


Thanks to all the students from the participating schools:
Wa Ying College
Pui Shing Catholic Secondary School
St. Mary's Canossian College
Fanling Kau Yan College
Ng Wah Catholic Secondary School
St. Stephen's College
TWGHs Kap Yan Directors' College
The full recording of the event has been uploaded on Asia Society Hong Kong Center’s YouTube channel, you can click here:
Part One
Part Two
To view all the photos from the event, please contact our membership team at [email protected]
Read more on the event (Ming Pao)