Jack Sittsamer was a Holocaust survivor who resided in the Pittsburgh area. He survived three years in six concentration camps, then several years as a refugee in Europe before coming to Pittsburgh in 1949, Sittsamer died on October 26, 2008 at the age of 83.
In 2006, Seton Hill University’s (SHU) theater department performed a play, inspired by Sittsamer’s life titled “Mazel.”
“Mazel,” written by play-write, Amy Hartman, was performed by SHU students in October of 2006, with a featured talk-back session on October 12, where the cast, crew, Hartman and Sittsamer took the stage to answer questions from the audience.
“I read the play before meeting Mr. Sittsamer so it didn't sink in until I attended his talk and heard his story from him. There's something very valuable about hearing the story straight from the source,” said Marie Manski, a senior at SHU, who helped with costumes during “Mazel.” “When I attended his talk I was in awe of the horror he experienced and even more so in disbelief that a fellow human being inflicted that pain.”
Sittsamer, who was 17 when Nazi soldiers took over in 1942, told students in that talk-back session that he lost his father, mother and four siblings and he never got over the experience he had while under control of the Nazi’s. “I remember during the talk someone asked if he ever healed from it and his answer was a simple 'no'. Although it was concise, it was haunting to know that it was a part of his life every day,” said Manski.
Through working on the play, the students learned history as well. Students who contributed to “Mazel” during it’s time at SHU had a unique experience. “All of these events we learned about in history class, but to actually hear it coming from a person’s mouth as they’re narrating what they experienced can be very eye-opening,” said Brittany Huffman, a junior at SHU, who was one of the assistant stage managers for “Mazel.”
During the talk-back session, Sittsamer (center) and Hartman (second from right).
Jeff Gettemy, a senior at SHU, who was cast in “Mazel” as a Holocaust survivor said, “Meeting Jack was an unforgettable experience. Jack was a wonderful person, whom you would never guess would have been a Holocaust survivor just by speaking to him. He was one of the nicest and most generous people I have ever had the grace of meeting."
Though most of the students who were given the opportunity to work on “Mazel” have since graduated, the ones that are still around are grateful for their experience. “Working on this play was an experience that will stay with me for a lifetime. Having been able to work with a wonderful person like Jack Sittsamer was an experience that more people should afford the opportunity to participate in. And having been able to work with a playwright as gentle, caring, and as open minded as Amy Hartman was a wonderful experience as well,” said Gettemy. “I am truly glad for having been able to work on the play “Mazel,” and I only hope those who work on it in the future take something from it with them.”
With the news of Sittsamer’s death, the students realize the precious experience they were able to take part in and the reality of why “Mazel” is so important. “Mazel” serves such a greater purpose than just for entertainment; unfortunately, we are losing the personal experiences of Holocaust survivors as they get to a certain age and pass away. “Mazel” keeps Jack’s story of faith and survival alive,” said Huffman.
After retiring as a sheet metal worker at Tyson Metal Products in 1985, Sittsamer began to open up about his experiences in the Holocaust, which led him to give many speeches, become the president of the Holocaust Survivors of Greater Pittsburgh and to tell his story to Hartman, to help create the play “Mazel.”
Seton Hill is eternally grateful to Sittsamer for his willingness to share his story through “Mazel,” and share his time with the community on October 12, 2006.
“I am very happy to have met Mr. Sittsamer before his passing. I cannot emphasize enough how important it is to know history from someone who physically experienced it,” said Manski. “I personally believe we must remember the Holocaust in order to recognize present day injustices in the world.”
Services were held on October 28 at Burton L. Hirsch Funeral Home in Squirrel Hill and Sittsamer was buried in Homestead Hebrew Cemetery following the service.
