Lorenzo’s Primo

At Auschwitz, Lorenzo Perrone, (a modest Italian civilian forced laborer) saved Primo Levi’s life by bringing him a piece of bread and soup every day for 5 months, secretly and at great risk to himself. After the war, Primo Levi found Lorenzo and tried to return the gift by saving him from tuberculosis and alcoholism. Sadly, he was unsuccessful.

Primo Levi became one of the greatest Jewish writers of the 20th century. He said of Lorenzo, “his humanity was pure and uncontaminated. Thanks to Lorenzo, I managed to not forget that I, myself, was a man.”

In the face of great injustice, do what you can.

Find your Primo.

Further Reading https://www.yadvashem.org/yv/en/exhibitions/righteous-auschwitz/perrone.asp

Work in Progress, detail, Lorenzo’s Primo