In an era when antisemitic incidents have surged by more than 340% since 2022, the story of the Kor family offers both a sobering reminder and an unexpected beacon of hope. Dr. Alex Kor, son of Auschwitz survivors Eva Mozes Kor and Michael “Mickey” Kor, will present a compelling narrative of survival, forgiveness, and legacy at Tribe Public’s upcoming webinar on Thursday, June 4 at 8am PT/11am ET—one that arrives at precisely the moment when the world needs to hear it most.
The Unlikely Origins of an American Story
Eva and Miriam Mozes were just ten years old when they arrived at Auschwitz-Birkenau in 1944, selected from approximately 3,000 individual twins subjected to genetic experiments under the direction of Dr. Josef Mengele. Of that staggering number, only an estimated 150 twins were found alive when Soviet forces liberated the camp on January 27, 1945. Eva’s survival was, by any measure, improbable—during one experiment, she became gravely ill, but through what observers describe as sheer determination, she stayed alive and helped her twin sister Miriam survive.
Mickey Kor’s journey followed a different but equally remarkable trajectory. A Holocaust survivor who became a Jewish refugee, Mickey arrived in New York City aboard the SS Marine Flasher on May 20, 1946, and later served as an unofficial Army interpreter before building his American life. The couple eventually settled in Terre Haute, Indiana—a state known for its Midwestern charm but also for what Dr. Alex Kor diplomatically describes as an “ignominious history of prejudice.”
The Controversial Gift of Forgiveness
Eva Mozes Kor’s decision to publicly forgive the Nazis remains one of the most debated stances among Holocaust survivors and scholars. Her philosophy was neither an exoneration of perpetrators nor a diminishment of suffering, but rather what she described as “a method of healing, self-liberation, and self-empowerment”. In a 2015 NPR interview, Eva explained: “when a victim chooses to forgive, they take the power back from their tormentors”.
This controversial stance becomes the centerpiece of Dr. Kor’s book “A Blessing, Not a Burden,” co-authored with Graham Honaker, which chronicles how his mother’s forgiveness and his father’s “unbridled optimism” shaped his own understanding of legacy and resilience. The title itself captures what might be called the Kor family paradox: how does one transform the weight of history into something generative rather than crushing?
A Legacy Institution in the Heartland
In 1984, Eva founded CANDLES (Children of Auschwitz Nazi Deadly Lab Experiments Survivors), and in 1995, she opened the CANDLES Holocaust Museum and Education Center in Terre Haute—Indiana’s only Holocaust museum. The institution serves as both memorial and educational force, with Mickey Kor having spoken weekly at the museum about his experiences. Dr. Alex Kor now serves on the museum’s Board of Directors, alongside his role as a full-time podiatrist for Hendricks Regional Health in Danville, Indiana, and his position as trustee with the Robert Greenleaf Center for Servant Leadership.
Why This Conversation Matters in May 2026
The timing of Dr. Kor’s presentation carries particular urgency. Recent data from Tel Aviv University reveals that 2025 witnessed 20 Jewish victims of antisemitic violence—the highest number in over three decades. Meanwhile, digital antisemitism has exploded, with a more than 300% increase in online antisemitic content compared to the previous year. Classical antisemitism accounts for 38.5% of reported content, while Holocaust denial represents 21.1%.
Dr. Kor’s journey “from Terre Haute, Indiana, to Auschwitz and many places in between” offers what the investment community might call “lessons in resilience arbitrage”—extracting actionable wisdom from extreme adversity. His perspective on forgiveness, delivered through the lens of someone who has “endured and overcome,” provides a framework for navigating a world where, as the book warns, “we are not so far removed from those dangers as we might think”.
Access to Transformational Leadership
Tribe Public’s webinar model continues to deliver what institutional investors and family offices and beyond increasingly value: direct access to thought leaders whose experiences transcend traditional business narratives. The 30-minute format allows participants to engage directly with Dr. Kor through Q&A, with questions accepted both in advance at Research@TribePublic.com and via Zoom’s chat feature during the live event.
For professionals navigating an increasingly complex geopolitical landscape—one where understanding historical context informs present-day risk assessment—this conversation offers more than historical education. It provides a masterclass in turning catastrophic inheritance into purposeful mission, delivered by someone whose credentials span medicine, institutional leadership, and the most profound form of human resilience.
Registration remains open at KOR-GLOBAL-HEALING.TribePublic.com, with login details and calendar reminders sent immediately upon signup. The event represents another example of how Tribe Public is redefining corporate access, proving that the most valuable insights often come from those whose stories remind us what truly matters when everything else is stripped away.
