PHOTOS: Yesterday, approximately 175 Lakewood High School students had the opportunity to hear moving presentations from Holocaust survivors Manny Lindenbaum of Jackson and Helena Sininsky of Lakewood.
The three, hour-long presentations, arranged by Tracy Paolantonio, Supervisor of Humanities, World Languages, Bilingual & ESL, were delivered to Honors Social Studies students who sat in silence listening to the presenters’ personal accounts of the Holocaust, the devastation that they suffered from losing their families, and their amazing stories of survival. Manny spoke of his escape from Germany via the Kindertransport to England where he was taken in by several families. Helena spoke of being separated from her family during “The Selection”, her escape from Auschwitz, and her journey to America.
Details about the Holocaust were not the only lessons learned by students, however. Both survivors, who remain extremely active in the community through their presentations and advocacy for numerous charities and organizations, clearly conveyed several important messages to the students: we are all more alike than we are different; never be a bystander when someone needs help; and don’t take life and its many opportunities for granted.
The only thing that was more moving than Mr. Lindenbaum’s and Ms. Sininsky’s stories of resilience and the human spirit were the students’ reactions to them, as students wiped their tears and either shook hands with or hugged the presenters on their way out of the auditorium.
It was an event that, anyone who attended, will not soon forget.
“The experience was extremely moving for myself the staff and the students alike,” says Board of Education member Joel Schwartz, who attended the event along with Board President Carl Fink. “There was not a dry eye in the room. The message to the audience was to become educated and learn about the past never to forget what had happened during WWII and to pass the torch of knowledge to the next generation, as well as to promote unity among our fellow residents. This experience will be etched in my mind forever as one of my most memorable moments of my tenure at the Lakewood Board of Education.”
The Lakewood Public Schools would like to extend a heartfelt thanks to both Mr. Lindenbaum and Ms. Sininsky.
Can i see a video of this?
We shoulld have similar presentations in our yeshivas.
Wow, way to go Lakewood Schools. Nice job by this professional, arranging this and bringing our communities together.
#2- Mrs. Rosenblum’s holocaust class at LHS was famous throughout the state. I tried to connect her with one of the girls’ schools for a guest lecture but they were not receptive due to differing hashkofos.
It’s nice to see that SOME BOE members care and are involved.
WOW! Major Kiddush Hashem! Hearing these kind of stories make me happy! This is what will bring humanity back to its senses.
Lakewood Cheder School
Brings Mr Raul Topas every year.
Learn and Network has a whole program on Tishabav
Bais Faiga always brings survivors to speak.
Why are people in their comments always critical?
This new administration and BOE are AMAZING! Thank you for doing such a wonderful job with the children of Lakewood. Keep up the great work