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Dr. Edith Eger’s Sister Asked Her One Question in Auschwitz – Her Answer Says Everything
In an exclusive BrightVibes interview, Holocaust survivor Dr. Edith Eger reveals what she told her sister Magda in Auschwitz when asked, “How do I look?” A powerful lesson in perspective and choice.
Edith Eger’s story in Auschwitz includes one moment that reveals everything about her life’s message. When her sister Magda turned to her and asked, “How do I look?” Edith’s answer has become a symbol of her resilience and wisdom. This powerful exchange, shared in an exclusive BrightVibes interview with founder Michiel de Gooijer, is now featured in a short video that has touched people across the world.
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A Sister’s Question Inside Auschwitz
Edith and Magda had just arrived at Auschwitz. They had been stripped of their clothes, their hair, and almost all sense of identity. In that unbearable moment, Magda looked at Edith and asked, “How do I look?”
It was a very human question in a place designed to erase humanity.
Edith paused. She could have reflected back the horror. But instead, she chose to offer something else. A shift in focus. A lifeline.
She answered, “You have beautiful eyes. I didn’t see it before, when you had your hair all over the place.”
That simple reply wasn’t only meant to comfort her. It was a quiet stand, an effort to hold on to dignity and notice something beautiful in a place meant to crush both.
What This Moment Tells Us About Edith Eger’s Philosophy
In the BrightVibes interview, Edith explained that even in that moment, she had a choice. That word – choice – became the title of her international bestselling memoir, The Choice, where she shares how she turned deep trauma into a path for healing.
Her second book, The Gift, offers practical tools to break free from fear, guilt, and emotional prisons. Together, these works have made her a guiding light for trauma recovery.
Explore more about Edith’s life and philosophy here:
👉 No one will be left untouched by the inspiring story of Holocaust survivor Dr. Edith Eger
👉 92-year-old Auschwitz survivor’s life lessons are a gift to the world that keeps on giving
“I’m Not a Shrink. I’m a Stretch.”
During the interview, Edith also shared a line that captures her unique approach to healing: “I’m not a shrink. I’m a stretch.”
She doesn’t see her role as simply helping people recover. She helps them grow. She stretches their thinking, their perspective, and their capacity for hope.
That’s why she often says, “I’d like to be your ophthalmologist.” Not to test your vision, but to help you see life differently.
This approach has helped thousands of people reclaim power in their lives, even after loss, trauma, or suffering.
A Lesson in Focus and Freedom
The moment in Auschwitz with her sister shows what Edith teaches to this day: you can choose what you focus on. Even when everything else is taken from you, your perspective remains your own.
By choosing to see her sister’s eyes, not her shaved head, Edith gave Magda something more than comfort. She gave her a sense of being seen.
That choice helped them both survive. And today, it reminds us that in any situation, we still have the power to decide what we give our attention to.
