Book Talk: A Blessing, Not a Burden

By all accounts, Dr. Alex Kor’s life has been a miracle. The son of two Holocaust survivors who narrowly escaped death, Alex grew up in Indiana — a state with Midwestern charm and an ignominious history of prejudice. In “A Blessing, Not a Burden,” Alex details his incredible journey, from his unique upbringing to his present-day mission of carrying on his parents’ inspiring legacy. From his mother’s controversial stance on forgiving the Nazis to his father’s unbridled optimism, Alex shares life lessons that have helped him overcome his own hardships along the way. Alex also offers his own perspective on forgiveness as he nurtures his parents’ legacies in a world still fraught with discrimination. He’s traveled a long and winding road, from Terre Haute, Indiana, to Auschwitz and many places in between and like his parents, he has endured … and overcome. As anti-Semitism festers across the globe, “A Blessing, Not a Burden” takes readers back to one of the most horrific periods in human history, reminding us of the terrible costs of hate and warning us that we are not so far removed from those dangers as we might think. Yet, at the same time, the story of the Kor family stands as a living memorial to the belief that the human spirit can overcome even the darkest of circumstances.

Dr. Alex Kor grew up in Terre Haute, Indiana to parents Michael and Eva Mozes Kor. He has a B.S. in Chemistry from Butler University and a M.S. in Exercise Physiology from Purdue University. He received his D.P.M. (Doctor of Podiatric Medicine) from the Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine in Chicago. Dr. Kor is a full-time podiatrist for Hendricks Regional Health in Danville , Indiana, and is a Clinical Assistant Professor for Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine. Knowing the importance of being the son of two Holocaust survivors who have both passed away in the last 5 1/2 years, Alex feels an obligation to tell their stories. Since 1985, he has traveled to Auschwitz more than twenty times with his late mother. He is a member of the CANDLES Holocaust Museum and Education Center Board of Directors and assisted in establishing an exhibit (Eva Kor from Auschwitz to Indiana) to honor his mother in downtown Indianapolis at the Indiana Historical Society.

Graham Honaker serves as Associate Athletic Director for Development and NIL Strategy at Butler University where he is in his 12th year. He has worked on various campaigns at Butler including the Campaign for Hinkle Fieldhouse and the Butler Beyond Campaign, the largest campaign in University history. He is an active member of Toastmasters International, the Robert Greenleaf Center for Servant Leadership, and the Indianapolis Kiwanis Club. He has an undergraduate degree from Wake Forest University and a master’s degree from Indiana University. He’s previously co-authored three books: The Cinderella Strategy: The Game Plan Behind Butler University’s Rise to Prominence, Unbracketed: Big Time College Basketball Done the Right Way, and A Blessing, Not a Burden: My Parents’ Remarkable Holocaust Story and My Fight to Keep Their Legacy Alive. He is married to Dr. Sarah Honaker and has two daughters, Kate and Bella.

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