Eva Mozes Kor — Holocaust survivor, educator, and founder of CANDLES

Early life and the Holocaust

Kor and her twin sister were among the thousands of twins used by Nazi doctors to study genetics and human traits. They were imprisoned at Auschwitz, where they endured experiments and the killing of many family members. The experience shaped the rest of her life and formed the basis of her public testimony, memoirs, and teaching efforts.

Activism, writing, and CANDLES

After moving to the United States she built a life in Terre Haute, Indiana, where she established the CANDLES Holocaust Museum and Education Center. CANDLES — an acronym reflecting survivors of Nazi medical experiments — focused on preserving the memory of victims, documenting the twin experiments, and educating young people about the dangers of hatred and pseudoscience. Kor wrote about her experiences and led educational trips and programs to increase Holocaust awareness.

Views, controversy, and public legacy

Kor became widely known for her public statements of forgiveness toward individual perpetrators, a stance that prompted debate among survivors and scholars. Some praised her message of reconciliation and healing, while others argued that forgiveness could complicate collective memory and the pursuit of justice. Regardless of differing opinions, Kor's work brought attention to the specific crimes committed against twins and to medical ethics.

• She used testimony, museum exhibits, and school programs to teach about medical abuse and human rights.
• Her memoirs and talks helped document personal aspects of the Holocaust experience and the aftermath for survivors.
• She remained active in education until her death in Krakow, Poland, while on an educational trip to former camp sites.

Eva Mozes Kor's life combined survival, testimony, and education. By founding a museum, publishing her story, and speaking widely, she ensured that a specific aspect of Nazi cruelty — the twin experiments and other medical abuses — remains part of Holocaust teaching and ongoing discussions about ethics in science and remembrance.