Israeli professor, (Holocaust Survivor) killed in US attack (helping students escape classroom)

[Ian David]

Source: The Jerusalem Post

As Jews worldwide honored on Monday the memory of those who were murdered in the Holocaust, a 75-year-old survivor sacrificed his life to save his students in Monday's shooting at Virginia Tech College that left 32 dead and over two dozen wounded.

Professor Liviu Librescu, 76, threw himself in front of the shooter, who had attempted to enter his classroom. The Israeli mechanics and engineering lecturer was shot to death, "but all the students lived - because of him," Virginia Tech student Asael Arad - also an Israeli - told Army Radio.

Several of Librescu's other students sent e-mails to his wife, Marlena, telling of how he blocked the gunman's way and saved their lives, said the son, Joe.

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?blobcol=urlimage&blobheader=image%2Fjpeg&blobheadername1=Cache-Control&blobheadervalue1=max-age%3D300&blobkey=id&blobtable=JPImage&blobwhere=1176152814725&cachecontrol=never&ssbinary=true

<snip>

"My father blocked the doorway with his body and asked the students to flee," Joe Librescu said in a telephone interview from his home outside of Tel Aviv. "Students started opening windows and jumping out."

<snip>

Librescu was sent to a labor camp in Russia as a child and saved by the townspeople. His father was deported by the Nazis.

Read more: http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1176152816138&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

[THUNDER HANDS]

1. wow, what a great and noble man

[sabra]

2. "Zichrono Livracha"

Hebrew: Of Blessed Memory

[YOY]

10. "Liviu Librescu"

Romanian (I think...not my best language) "Lion of Freedom".

[colorado_ufo]

81. That would make sense.

Both of his sons have names that are associated wtih "lion" in Hebrew.

And, I might add, what a lion that man was!

[dnbn]

109. This is incorrect.

Liviu is not related to "lion" and Librescu comes from "book". This is what my Romanian speaking wife tells me.

[YOY]

123. My bad not my best language as I said

Now if he were Bulgarian or Serbian...I'd be spot on.

[dnbn]

124. No problem.

Bulgarian and Serbian are Slavic languages, while Romanian is a Latin language.

[AnneD]

3. When you save a persons life...

you save the world.

[lancdem]

13. Beautifully said

:cry:

[AnneD]

23. It is the way I remembered the quote from...

Schindler's List. "Whoever saves one life, saves the world entire."

[barb162]

41. I didn't know that was where it originated.

That was a great and sad movie, but elevating too. Thank you. Sigh....

[Kber]

58. It actually originated in the Talmud about 2000 years ago.

It's become a central tenet of Judaism.

[AnneD]

69. Thanks,

I forgot to credit it back to the source, but most folks know Schindler's List. Who knew that a little kid saved would one day save more young people.

Reminds me of another movie It's a Wonderful Life. Harry Bailey didn't save all those guys on the ships because George wasn't around to save Harry when he was young.

He used his life well.

[undeterred]

65. Its what the Schindler Jews had inscribed on the ring

I couldn't understand it at first- it sounded like "he who saves a life saves the world in time" but then I realized it was "entire" and it made a lot more sense.

What a beautiful man.

[barb162]

39. That is a beautiful line and so appropriate in this man's case

[Raksha]

129. That's true...thanks for reminding me. n/t

[Duppers]

4. A true hero!!

Thanks for posting this.

[xultar]

5. RIP - how sad to survive the horror of the Holocaust and die like this.

What a brave and loving soul.

[BonnieJW]

75. No you must look at it this way:

He survived the Holocaust so he COULD die like this. He died for something precious. Who knows what all those students will accomplish? Knowing that someone sacrificed their life will help them remember to choose wisely.

[Taverner]

91. He survived the Holocaust so he COULD die like this.

Well put. I just can't fathom any of this senseless killing, but his story at least gave me some ray of hope.

[kestrel91316]

92. I happen to see it this way: Everything that man went through, all

the horrible experiences he endured, served to give him the inner strength that he would need on THIS day. He was born for a reason. He survived the death camps for a reason. He survived the reign of Ceacescu for a reason. And yesterday we all got to see what that reason was.

There's a special place in heaven for people like him.

In a perfect world we would ALL take our personal tragedies and tribulations and use them to become our best selves. He passed through the flames again and again, and was hammered repeatedly, and he came out the other side pure steel.

[pitohui]

99. it's like that story, a prayer for owen meany

only it's real

[kestrel91316]

105. I guess I should go back and finish that book - got bored and quit halfway

through it...........

[Behind the Aegis]

76. And the "irony" of this, is he died on Yom HaShoah.

He survived the Holocaust, only to die on Holocaust Remembrance Day saving his students. I think he is the definition of the word "hero!"

[MLFerrell]

6. That man is a hero.

He learned from his time during the Holocaust... Evil can't be reasoned with, and it's never safe to assume that an armed person with a grudge doesn't intend to carry out his threat.

Rest in peace, brother. You won't be forgotten.

[depakid]

89. Many times over

As with most honorable men and women, this seems to have been part of a pattern in his life.

[soleft]

7. The towns people who saved him also saved those students

Some 65-70 years later, they'll probably never know the ripple affect of their actions.

[aquart]

14. True. But it's okay. They didn't do it for that.

They did it because it was the right thing to do. And they taught him.

[Maat]

43. That is just profound when I think about it.

It really inspires me to go out and work harder in the community than ever before.

[in_cog_ni_to]

70. So true.

May his memory be blessed

[Vidar]

8. RIP Professor Librescu, a hero to the last.

[Double T]

9. What a brave soul, may he rest in peace.

[Flagg]

11. That really makes you think, doesn't it ?

[poverlay]

12. Wow... Just WoW! n/t

[coffeenap]

15. Here I sit, safe in my house on a beautiful day. My heart is full

of sadness and of gratitude. I cannot fathom this man's life. This a person of great measure. As a human being, as a mother, I thank him.

[Kingshakabobo]

16. Wow is right.

From the Holocaust to Nicolae Ceaucescu's oppressive regime to dying at the hands of a crazed gunman while saving the lives of innocent students.

There is a man I would like to have met. A true hero.

[Missy M]

17. What a brave and honorable man....

he sacrificed his life so the young could survive.

[yardwork]

18. Thank you for posting this.

Words aren't enough to thank this man for his sacrifice so that younger people could live.

[shrike]

19. This was a man. We shall not see his like again.

Paraphrased from Julius Caesar. RIP.

[barb162]

48. I'm going to cry soon. Sigh

So terribly sad. I hope the kids who lived can contact his family and let his family know. How do you express gratitude for that kind of courage and selflessness?

[ProgressiveEconomist]

20. IMO, Norris Hall needs to be renamed Librescu Hall, for starters

I can't think of a better way to ensure that this extraordinary act of heroism never will be forgotten.

In the inevitable screenplays that will be written and filmed, I hope Librescu's history of survival and heroism will get much attention. IMO, the world needs to know more about what makes men like Librescu tick.

[Ian David]

21. Chuch Norris won't like that, but I agree. n/t

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

36. He won't?

He'll roundhouse kick anybody who doesn't like the change.

[Ex Lion Tamer]

27. Damn good idea!

Got me to crying yet again.

[Melynn]

106. Great Idea

That way, the man and his deed can be remembered by future generations of VT students and by all of us.

[offergreatdeals]

138. Petition Online for Renaming Norris Hall To Librescu Hall

My name is Justin Kozuch, I am the owner of a Facebook group memorializing Dr. Liviu Librescu who died on Monday morning. The group can be found at http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2317683565. We have setup a petition calling for the renaming of Norris Hall to Librescu Hall. The petition can be found at http://www.petitiononline.com/04172007/petition.html

I was curious to see if I could engage your help in sending out a message to your group members. We are looking for current VT students and faculty to help co-ordinate a committee to start the renaming process. If you would be so kind to do this for me, I would be most grateful. I have included some copy below.

===

Dear Students & Faculty of Virginia Tech,

I would like to offer my most sincere condolences to all of you who have had a difficult week coming to grips with the events of Monday morning. A nation, nay, a world of sympathetic citizens stands behinds you and supports you during this time of grief and despair. Many of you have lost friends, fellow classmates and professors, and we grieve your losses side by side with you. Your show of unity which began on Tuesday morning is truly exemplary, and everyone the world over is VERY proud of you. Today, you have truly a nation of Hokies!

I am posting this to garner interest in a cause I have been working on for the past few days. I have setup a petition to have Norris Hall renamed to Librescu Hall to honor Dr. Librescu and his heroic actions that saved the lives of his students. (http://www.petitiononline.com/04172007/petition.html)

I am interested in speaking with current VT students who are interested in sitting on a committee to help co-ordinate the process of renaming Norris Hall. If you are interested in helping out, I can be reached on MSN/GoogleTalk at [email protected]. You can also message me on Facebook if you don't have access to an IM client. We also have a Facebook group setup for this petition at http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2317683565

Thank you for your time,

Justin Kozuch

[Mad_Dem_X]

22. God bless him

He is a true hero.

[gauguin57]

24. Why isn't the US news media all over this?

Curious.

[CookCountyResident]

31. We're starting to see this story show up on news sites

I now see it mentioned at MSNBC.com, CNN.com, FoxNews.com.

[prolesunited]

108. Fox is NOT a news site

You sure you're not lost?

[northofdenali]

113. proles, at least they have the sense to recognize a heroism story.

It'd be more like them to ignore it, as he was Israeli.

[prolesunited]

115. It's not the story

It's the new poster. Most DUers wouldn't cite Fox news. That's all.

[northofdenali]

117. True. But give a tyro a chance!

:hi::hug:

[mcscajun]

25. Not a victim, but a true hero.

He will not be forgotten, and many who live today because of him will tell his story.

[Javaman]

26. You know what makes this man remarkable?

Not only did this man unselfishly give his life for these students but he having lived through the nazi's learned that you have to stand up to evil.

Talk about a totally unselfish act of heroism.

[CookCountyResident]

32. I would be willing to bet that

if this man had been carrying his own weapon, he would have shot the deranged perp.

[colorado_ufo]

84. Perhaps.

And if he had been carrying a knife, he might have stabbed him. And if he had been carrying a . . . whatever, he could have used it. But he was armed with something a lot more powerful: His character, his courage, his heart, and his love.

Is that the world you really want to live in, a world where a family has to budget to arm all its members with guns and ammunition, along with the oil changes for the car, groceries, and shoelaces? To have to walk around wearing weapons on a daily basis, always looking over your shoulder, always suspicious of everyone you meet? Is that a world worth living in?

We would do much better to arm our children with Professor Librescu's powerful weapons, and then use them daily against intolerace, poverty, disease, mental illness, ignorance, and all the other scourges of mankind.

[brer cat]

103. Thank you.

Great post. :thumbsup:

[rockymountaindem]

128. Great post n.t.

[marshall]

137. Why not a taser?

I wouldn't like to see guns be standard issue for college professors, but some more minor type of weapon like a taser or some other non-lethal weapon. It's something that should be debated.

But more importantly I think colleges should have a debate about how they deal with students who are obviously troubled. I don't want to have us become a police state where big brother is looking over our shoulder and turning in people who deviate from a narrow definition of the norm, but we have to pay attention to troubled young people.

[NashVegas]

46. Aye, So True

In our culture we teach people to bury their heads and/or run.

Pro-violent reaction advocates talk a good game about rushing shooters, but most of them are armchair generals who wouldn't consider risking their own lives, not for a minute.

[Virginia Dare]

28. An act of selfless bravery and humanity..

on the part of a man who had experienced so much inhumanity.

:cry:

[ThomCat]

29. He will certainly be remembered and honored for what he did.

[Show_Me _The_Truth]

30. He should be buried at Arlington with all those others we consider National Heros

Those that ran as he died should be ashamed. Yes I said it, ASHAMED.

[non sociopath skin]

40. I understand your anger. But those of us who have never been in that place ...

... cannot judge those who have.

The Skin

[NashVegas]

44. His Sacrifice Would Surely Have Been in Vain

Had they exhibited the courage that he did, they might have been able to bring him down. They might not have.

[Show_Me _The_Truth]

126. Bring him down is not the point.

He was stopped from entering the other room by students that acted TOGETHER.

[melnjones]

73. Surely you don't mean the students he sacrificed to save

should be ashamed... as I do believe that was the dear prof's intent, that they might escape. There is no shame in what those students did.

[fidgeting wildly]

86. I'm ashamed of YOUR comment.

This man made an amazing sacrifice, and those kids lived so that one day maybe they can honor that sacrifice with their own lives. There is no shame in what they did. They didn't have guns. They couldn't have saved their professor or themselves.

[Show_Me _The_Truth]

125. Be ashamed of my comment all you want doesn't change the fact.

They left him to die. Oh wait, he was old, so he had lived a full life so he was expendable. He told them to run while he tried to hold the door. The dorr was succesfully held in the other room by a group of students who acted.

[kestrel91316]

93. He TOLD them to flee while he slowed the gunman down.

YOU are the one who should be ashamed.

[aaronbees]

119. What's shameful is your rant

Who are you to judge those students? And he urged them to run.

[Dudley_DUright]

33. As a college professor myself,

I can only wonder if I would have been brave enough to give my life for my students. A true act of love and devotion in the face of a heinous act of hate. :cry:

[HuffleClaw]

34. inspiring.

[Connonym]

35. This story gives me goosebumps

and literally brought tears to my eyes. None of us really knows what we'll do until we're in the situation but I hope that if I ever have the chance to prove my mettle that I'll be capable of a fraction of this man's courage.

[barb162]

37. Yeah, this man saved many lives. A hero

[barb162]

38. kick and thanks for posting

[Blue_Tires]

42. it is good to see

one positive and empowering thing that was revealed from this tragedy

[Lurking Dem]

45. .

http://yizkor.ort.org:8081/resource/prayers/kaddish-ash.gif

[Behind the Aegis]

50. Amen.

[meti57b]

51. amen ...

אמן

[barb162]

52. meti57b, what does that mean?

[Behind the Aegis]

54. It is Hebrew for "Amen."

The post by LD is the Mourner's Kaddish.

[Gormy Cuss]

56. amen n/t

[leftynyc]

59. Amen (eom)

[rockymountaindem]

60. Amen

They are not dead who are bound up in the bond of life.

[jhrobbins]

67. Amein

[dave29]

82. amen

and amen

[Phx_Dem]

102. Amen

[piesRsquare]

110. Amen.

[ChimpersMcSmirkers]

111. Mourner's Kaddish.

Amen.

[Hekate]

131. Amen

[StarTurtle]

134. Amen.

[IronScorpio5]

136. And let us say....AMEN.

my heart is so sad.

[tabasco]

47. I am inspired to become a better person.

We are capable of such greatness, and the actions of Professor Librescu inspire me to become a better person.

Sadly, humans are also capable of great evil. Sometimes it truly seems like a battle between good and evil in this world.

[Seldona]

49. What an amazingly selfless act.

How many of us could stare death in the face and still act with such grace and honor, not to mention his obvious love for his fellow humans? I sincerely hope his students understand and appreciate the gift he gave them, and use their lives to continue the chain of astounding acts of heroism surrounding this man's life.

Here is to you Liviu Librescu!

:applause:

[Lone_Star_Dem]

53. To give your life so that others may live, the ultimate selfless act

May the effect of his actions ripple through all those whose lives it touched and beyond.

[suffragette]

55. "He was an exceptionally tolerant man who mentored scholars from all over our troubled world''

from Ishwar K. Puri, the Dean of Virginia Tech's Engineering Science and Mechanics department.

Also from that article, "Liviu Librescu was born in Romania, Puri said, but his quest for freedom brought him to the United States. Students on Monday described his attempts to barricade his classroom door while they jumped from a window to safety."

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-070417-shooting-tribute-story,1,6969078.story?coll=chi-newsnationworld-hed&ctrack=1&cset=true

[Prophet 451]

57. Pachiv tumenge Romale n/t

[renate]

61. I hope his heroism brings his family some measure of comfort in their grief

At least they have the consolation that his sacrifice meant that others--many others--lived.

RIP, brave soul.

[rockymountaindem]

62. What a loss

I don't know how to say this exactly, but at least in the depths of this tragedy we have some exemplary heroism to take some comfort in.

[superconnected]

63. Incredible bravery and heroism. Wow!

and from a 75 year old!

What an incredible man!

[Norrin Radd]

64. Heroic.

[woo me with science]

66. Here is a link to his webpage, with picture and link to CV.

http://www.esm.vt.edu/php/person.php?id=10023

A true hero. This is so sad.

[damntexdem]

68. That is the teacher's responsibility to students.

Thank goodness, few of us ever have to go to such lengths. And we should honor those who do.

[GirlinContempt]

71. That is amazing

and beautiful.

[Madspirit]

72. K&R

I can't believe this man survived the holocaust to die like this. He truly is a hero.
Lee

[roguevalley]

74. he's living proof of peace, of justice and goodness. what a good and

fine man.

[melnjones]

77. How do you pronounce his name?

first and last both?
I want to at least be saying his name correctly.

[DeepModem Mom]

78. Tears in my eyes. Thanks for posting this. nt

[lovuian]

79. He w as incredible man

what a hero

[JPZenger]

80. I've Often Wondered What I would have done during the Holocaust

I'm currently reading a book about the hundreds of people throughout Europe who risked their lives to save Jewish people during the Holocaust. These people were literally risking their own lives and those of their families. If they were caught, they would also be sent to the concentration camps. In fact, about 40% of the people killed in Concentration Camps were not Jews. The biggest threat was being turned in by your neighbors. There actually were few Gestapo agents in most areas - they depended upon snitches (some paid and some just anti-Semitic) to maintain their terror.

I've been wondering what I would do in that situation - as a gentile while my neighbors were being rounded up in the Holocaust. Would I have been willing to hide someone for years? I might have been willing to risk my own life, but I am pretty sure I would not have been willing to risk the lives of my own kids.

Now, today we read about a man in the reversed situation.

[Seabiscuit]

83. The circle of life: what goes around comes around...

As a child, Mr. Librescu was saved from the holocost by townspeople. As an old man, he saved other children by sacrificing his own life. "When you save a life, you save the world."

[Tekla West]

true hero

very rare these days, he knew what the right decision was - not to give in, but to fight - and did it. peace be to him.

[colorado_ufo]

85. An exemplary life.

[VTMechEngr]

87. He was my dynamics professor.

He was such a nice guy and so helpful to me. I'll always remember him teaching dynamics with that thick accent and chalk flying all over the board.

[Dudley_DUright]

95. The only way to teach dynamics

is dynamically! I am sorry for your loss. I am sure it is painful to lose such a beloved former teacher under such horrific circumstances.

[VTMechEngr]

97. At least he went out a hero.

He was a good guy who actually would help if you had a question or didn't quite grasp a concept.

He will be missed.

[Gregorian]

96. Oh my god.

He sounds just like my dynamics prof. and his Timochenko Potato.

I'm so sorry. This just deflates me. What a horrible loss.

His last breath of air was to hand the life that was given him, to others. There is a special place for him somewhere.

[Lisa]

101. that's so cool! he sounds like my calculus prof ...

My prof's colleagues used to tease him because he preferred chalkboards over the new whiteboards (and newfangled stuff like PowerPoint) -- the next person coming into the room to teach would invariably frown at the copious smudges of chalk. Needless to say, he could teach ALL of them under the table.

When I started teaching, I was afraid that I wouldn't be able to handle it, if the overhead projector went out, or I couldn't get the computer to boot up. Then I remembered my prof, and I wasn't as scared, because he always seemed to find a way through. Now I will think about Prof. Librescu too!

He sounds like an awesome teacher. You've written a beautiful tribute to him. Thanks so much for sharing your stories ... I hope that you will find peace in the days to come.

[Cameron27]

88. This breaks my heart.

Rest in peace Professor Librescu.

[Taverner]

90. Sigh

All I can say...sigh

[LeftishBrit]

94. What a great man and hero

That is so tragic, but inspiring.

[pitohui]

98. i started crying when i read this

how can one man take so many knocks from life and still be so strong? this is the meaning of the word hero

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

100. A terrible and wonderful story at the same time

We all die eventually, but this person chose to die a hero. After what he'd seen in his youth, he deserved to die of old age, peacefully and selfishly in his own bed, with loved ones around him. Instead, he thought about the lives of others. What a wonderful, heroic individual. I don't think I could have possibly been that selfless if confronted with the same situation.

[Up2Late]

104. I haven't the words to properly memorialize this man, so I give you the words of Mahatma Gandhi

When I despair, I remember that all through history the ways of truth and love have always won.

There have been tyrants, and murderers, and for a time they can seem invincible, but in the end they always fall. Think of it--always.

Mahatma Gandhi
Indian political and spiritual leader (1869 - 1948) <http://www.quotationspage.com/quote/33237.html>

Rest in Peace Professor

[druidity33]

107. This title stinks...

It makes it sound like he was "attacked by the US"...


:shrug:

[northofdenali]

112. His "grace under pressure" was remarkable.

Arthur Ashe once said "True heroism is remarkably sober, very undramatic. It is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost, but the urge to serve others at whatever cost."

He was an inspiration to those kids, and should be one to all of us. He will be so missed.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

114. a tragic end to a brave man

life isn't fair

[tom_paine]

116. The Mourner's Kaddish - in Hebrew and English for all of the victims

http://www.jewfaq.org/prayer/kaddish.htm

A horrific tragedy by any stretch of the imagination. But this tragedy is comprised of 100 or more tragedies.

[President Kerry]

118. May you find eternal peace, Dr. Librescu.

You are a true hero and an inspiration. RIP, great man.

:cry:

[Lithos]

120. A real hero

Who through his courage, fast thinking and selfless deeds helped to minimize a horrible tragedy. I grieve the passing and celebrate the life of this great man.

[nam78_two]

121. K&R.nt

[Maryland Liberal]

122. Yes - he is a hero - BUT what if ...

But what if he had a GUN? Could he have prevented this tradgety? Ever since 911, I have felt STRONGLY that all pilots should have guns - now that this tradgety has occured, I feel that all teachers should be armed, for the same reason.

[Haole Girl]

127. What a wonderful and brave man...

...and true hero. My condolences to his family...
and to all the families of those killed and wounded.

[Hekate]

130. "May his name be remembered for a blessing" -- courageous to the end of his days

Some people's lives truly inspire awe. In saving the lives of others, it is as if he saved the whole world, as the saying goes. They will have children and their children will have children, all of whom would never have been born had he not saved the lives of those students.

In the Librescu family's profound grief, I hope they are as profoundly proud of their father.

Hekate

[Name removed]

132. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[StarryNite]

133. Now he is a true hero

[WePurrsevere]

135. What an amazing man; what an amazing life. He is a true hero

that committed a totally selfless act to save the lives of others. If there is such a thing as angels that walk this earth (which I believe there is) surely he was one of them.

My heartfelt condolences go out to all those that loved and cared about him.

[tidy_bowl]

139. What a truly remarkable man. n/t

[Swamp Rat]

140. .

:cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: