UHI WRITES TO REMEMBER
Andrew Sarnevitz (5th Grade) is the winner of Honorable Mention in the Elementary School Division in the EMUHAH Project’s Contest.
Pictured above are (L to R): Ross Kleinman (6th Grade), Ashley Kaplan (6th Grade), Kyle Deutschman (5th Grade), Meitar Dougherty (7th Grade), and Mitch Pisarz (6th Grade) all placed in the local Yom Hashoah/Holocaust Contest. Ben Engel (7th Grade, not in photo) also placed in this Contest.
Holocaust survivor and the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, Elie Wiesel, said, “Let us remember, let us remember the heroes of Warsaw, the martyrs of Treblinka, the children of Auschwitz. They fought alone, they suffered alone, they lived alone, but they did not die alone ….” The middle school students of UHI have not forgotten the suffering of the millions of Jews and others who endured the horrors of the Holocaust. As long as the events of the Holocaust and the stories of the victims and survivors are shared, recorded, and taught to the children, they will never be forgotten.
In Hebrew class, the students learned not only of the tremendous loss of freedom and life but also how Hashem was and always is with His people. Stories of suffering, sacrifice, compassion, and how religious beliefs sustained the Jewish people during this most difficult of times are taught to UHI’s children. As a result, they had the opportunity to reflect on this time in history and to remember.
This spring, the middle school students wrote essays for the Project of EMUNAH of America - Jossi Berger Holocaust Study Center’s essay contest and the local 7th Annual Yom Hashoah/Holocaust Contest. Andrew Sarnevitz was notified that he received Honorable Mention, Elementary School Division, in the EMUNAH Project’s contest. He and his family traveled to the Fifth Avenue Synagogue in New York City to attend the Holocaust Commemoration Ceremony and to receive his award. In addition, Kyle Deutschman, Ashley Kaplan, Mitchell Pisarz, Ross Kleinman, Meitar Dougherty, and Ben Engel were notified that they placed in the local Yom Hashoah/Holocaust Contest. On April 21st, the students were invited to the JCC to share their winning essays and receive their awards. UHI commends our students for their thoughtful and poignant entries on this important subject.
UHI also feels that essay writing is an important way to communicate one’s viewpoints. From the initial phase of reflection and research to the final draft, one travels on a journey through writing. In this way, we remember and honor those who lived during the Holocaust. Elie Wiesel said, “…to remain silent and indifferent is the greatest sin of all.” The United Hebrew Institute will be counted among those who will not forget.