Life is beautiful Holocaust survivor Esther Basch shares her story of hate and love in Las Cruces

LAS CRUCES – Approximately six million European Jews were killed during World War II, 1.3 million of whom were sent to Auschwitz extermination camp in German occupied Poland. Auschwitz is known as the largest and deadliest of Nazi extermination camps. Nearly 1.1 million people, or 85%, sent to the camp between 1940 and 1945 were killed. Survivors are aging and Holocaust denial is prominent. Las Crucens had the rare opportunity to meet survivor Esther Basch, 94, and hear her tell her story of survival and forgiveness. Rabbi Bery Schmukler of the Chabad of Las Cruces said he and his wife,…