Holocaust Survivor Shares Message of Hope at Cal Poly

Sora Vigorito is the youngest known survivor of the twin experiments at Auschwitz, and on Wednesday night at Cal Poly, she proved that hope can emerge from humanity's darkest moments.

Nearly 1,000 students, faculty, and community members gathered to hear Vigorito recount her story ahead of International Holocaust Remembrance Day on January 27. What could have been an evening consumed by horror became something more: a testament to the human spirit's capacity for renewal.

Vigorito was born an identical twin in Berlin in 1942, though her birth was never recorded. Her mother was in hiding, and her father imprisoned. She and her sister Hanna survived on gruel and potato peelings while living with their grandmother, who taught them to hide from men in black boots.

In early 1944, the Gestapo found them. The family was forced onto a train to Auschwitz, packed into cars with no food, water, or bathrooms for days.

At the gates, Vigorito ended up directly in the arms of Josef Mengele, the Nazi doctor who would torture her with spinal blood draws, bone scrapings, and skin samples that caused third-degree burns. She was never given anesthetic. The scars remain on her legs today.

The worst day came when her twin sister began convulsing after injections. Hanna shook through the night before becoming still, dying in Vigorito's arms while they were still imprisoned in a wooden cage.

Cal Poly President Jeffrey Armstrong introduced Vigorito, calling the evening "learn by listening." He emphasized the university's unwavering support for the Jewish community and the importance of ensuring every generation knows Holocaust history so it never repeats.

Why This Inspires

Vigorito didn't just survive. After the war, she rebuilt her life and found faith, showing the nearly 1,000 people in attendance that renewal remains possible even after trauma that would break most people.

Her willingness to share these painful memories serves a greater purpose: ensuring that new generations understand what hatred can do and why we must stand against it. At a time when antisemitism still exists, her voice reminds us that bearing witness matters.

The crowd that showed up, from students to local residents, demonstrates that people still want to listen, learn, and ensure these stories aren't forgotten.

Vigorito's message is clear: no matter how dark the chapter, the human spirit can find its way back to light.