This initiative reflects their dedication to Holocaust education, inspired by the legacy of their grandparents, Eva Karfunkel Hecht and Emil Hecht, who survived the Holocaust. The brothers created a documentary film of their grandparents’ stories when they were in high school, and they are proud to continue this educational work as freshmen at Yale.
Looking Ahead
As the exhibit tour—which was led by the exhibit’s curators—neared, Daniel and David hoped to inspire more students to engage with Holocaust testimonies. “Holocaust education isn’t just about remembering the past,” David said. “It’s about creating points of contact with history, not just with the six million or twelve million numbers, but with one individual—someone who looks like them, is their age, or just a few years older. That’s how we build empathy and make these stories resonate.”
The In the First Person exhibit at the Beinecke Library closed on Tuesday, Jan. 28th. Thanks to Daniel and David’s initiative, Yale students had an opportunity to witness these stories and ensure their resonance for generations to come. Through their work, the Dumontet brothers remind us that even in the face of unimaginable darkness, the power of storytelling can illuminate paths toward empathy, understanding, and hope.
Students were welcome back to the Purple Couch Room at Slifka Center for more discussion.
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A Legacy of Survival
The Grandparents of Daniel and David Hecht Dumontet ’28
Daniel and David’s family history is one of hardship and resilience. Their grandparents, and their families, were imprisoned or killed during the Holocaust. Eva Hecht, originally from Nyíregyháza, Hungary, survived Auschwitz and Dachau. Emil Hecht, from Szolyva (now part of Ukraine), was first sent to Auschwitz then Mauthausen for forced labor, drilling tunnels in the Austrian Alps to build munitions factory. Emil learned 12 languages, growing up in a region where control shifted between powers. After being liberated by an all-Black tank division, Emil later worked as a displaced person’s officer helping refugees.
Eva’s story is particularly remarkable. She and her sister, who stayed together throughout the Holocaust, walked from Dachau back to their home, only to find it occupied by hostile neighbors who threatened their lives. Forced to flee again, Eva began an arduous journey on foot back to a U.S.-controlled zone. Along the way, she faced numerous challenges, including an arrest by Austrian authorities while attempting to cross a tightly controlled border. In prison, Eva’s slight frame allowed her to slip through the bars and escape. She then became a ‘Freedom Runner,’ dedicating herself to helping families escape from Soviet-controlled areas to the American zones, ultimately saving around a thousand families. Eva met Emil during these missions as she delivered families to safety.
You can watch a short clip about Eva here.
Building Bridges Across Communities – Through Sharing Personal Stories
Eva and Emil strongly believed in the importance of sharing their stories and often recounted their experiences to family and community members in Denver, where they eventually settled, as well as at middle schools, high schools, and universities across the country. When they felt Daniel and David were old enough to understand the full extent of their history, the brothers were inspired to document Eva’s testimony on video. Though Emil passed away when the twins were just five years old, his written speeches became a cornerstone of their work. In their documentary, Daniel provided voiceovers to narrate historical context, while David brought their grandfather’s words to life by reading Emil’s final speeches.
“It was a very emotional experience, but that kind of personal emotion and connection to a man that we knew brought another layer to this history, which is so important that it transcends,” David said.
Fostering Connections Across Diverse Communities
Daniel and David’s work is not just about Holocaust education—it’s about fostering connections across diverse communities. Recognizing that history resonates differently depending on one’s identities, the brothers have collaborated with Yale’s cultural houses—the Afro-American Cultural Center, Asian American Cultural Center, La Casa Cultural, and the Native American Cultural Center—to ensure the special student tour reaches a broad audience.
The brothers found that when they shared their grandparents story in local schools, they witnessed the transformative power of personal storytelling. Students from diverse backgrounds often found unexpected connections to the Hecht family’s journey, fostering empathy and understanding. By addressing broader narratives, the brothers bridge cultural divides and inspire dialogue.
“What that does is it starts to build a bridge between one community and another so that people can really start to see themselves in each other’s experiences,” Daniel explained. “Students were able to connect with the stories in ways they might have otherwise thought were off-limits for them.”