The Downtown Fuquay-Varina Rotary Club will recognize “International Holocaust Day” a few days early by hosting Holocaust survivor Esther Lederman in a community event on Tuesday, Jan. 22 at 5:30 p.m. at Stars Theater and Arts Center.

Ms. Lederman was 15 years old when World War II started in Poland in September of 1939. After the German invasion, Esther’s family moved from Lodz, the second largest city in Poland, to a small town to try to survive the war. Esther’s family suffered the indignities of ghetto life, painful discrimination and the imprisonment of her father in a labor camp. Esther escaped, but lost her mother, sister and several aunts, uncles, and cousins. She was hidden for 22 months by a Catholic family. Her father was liberated from Buchenwald, but Esther’s mother and sister were killed at Treblinka. Esther married after the war and emigrated to the U.S. in 1949 with her husband and son.

Ms. Lederman will speak about her experiences in Europe during the tumultuous times of World War II and answer questions from the audience. The event will last about an hour, and the community is welcome to attend. Stars Theater and Arts Center is located at 123 East Vance St. For more information about this event, please contact Lynanne Fowle at 919-201-5457.