“I still don’t believe it happened.” These words were a soft confession from Utican Helen Sperling, a Polish Jew and 93-year-old Holocaust survivor. A captivated audience sat in the College Chapel on April 9 waiting to hear Sperling’s story.

Utican Helen Sperling, a Holocaust survivor and renowned lecturer, will speak at Hamilton College on Tuesday, April 9, at 7 p.m., in the Chapel. The lecture is sponsored by Hillel and is free and open to the public.

Hamilton College’s “Spirituality 101 Week” will take place from Wednesday, Jan. 30, to Sunday, Feb. 10.  This 12-day program brings together a number of religious speakers and performers to Hamilton College to increase spiritual awareness on campus.  The events are hosted by the Hamilton College Chaplaincy.

“My name is Helen Sperling. I am a Jew. I am a survivor.” With these simple words, Helen Sperling began to recount her experience of the Holocaust before a crowd of Hamilton students and community members packed into the Chapel. During the course of the two-hour-long lecture, which was sponsored by the Days-Massolo Center and Hillel, Sperling recounted the darkest moments of her life with a vigor and compassion that belied her 92 years. Throughout her time in Polish ghettos and prison camps, Sperling’s indomitable spirit sustained her in the face of incredible hardship and heart-wrenching sorrow.

Utican Helen Sperling, a Holocaust survivor and renowned lecturer, will speak at Hamilton College on Tuesday, April 17, at 7 p.m., in the Chapel. The lecture is sponsored by Hillel (Jewish Students Organization) and the Days-Massolo Center and is free and open to the public.

Jewish Chaplain Anat Guez, with support from Jean Miller Wilson K'73, P'09, is leading an effort to acquire a new Torah Ark for Hamilton Hillel. The scroll is currently kept in an office on the third floor of the Chapel but contributions from both Jewish and non-Jewish alumni and parents will see Hamilton's Torah housed in a new cabinet.