Pelham Students Hear from Holocaust Survivors, Visit 9/11 Museum

From Pelham Schools: Eighth graders at Pelham Middle School spent two days in April hearing the stories of two Holocaust survivors and visiting the 9/11 Memorial & Museum in New York City.

The lectures and field trips helped reinforce the students’ ongoing units in their English and social studies classes by providing first-hand experiences regarding some of the most trying times in U.S. and global history.

On April 19, half of the 8th grade class attended a presentation by Dr. Moshe Avital, a native of Czechoslovakia who was imprisoned in six concentration camps during the Holocaust. At the age of 14, Dr. Avital was sent to Auschwitz and was separated from his family. He was eventually liberated from the Buchenwald camp by the American 3rd Army in 1945. Dr. Avital immigrated to the United States in 1950 and eventually earned a PhD in Hebrew Literature from Yeshiva University. To date, he has published 15 books, six of which are about the Holocaust.

The following day, the rest of the 8th graders attended a discussion led by Esther Geizhals, a native of Poland who was moved with her family to the Lodz ghetto when she was 10 years old. In 1944, she was taken to Auschwitz where her younger brother and mother were executed and she was separated from the rest of her family. Eventually, Mrs. Geizhals escaped with four others from the “death march,” during which prisoners were forced to march without food or water from the Rochlitze concentration camp where she was imprisoned to avoid the approaching allied armies. She was eventually reunited with her father, who survived, and immigrated to the United States in 1947.

The lectures coincided with the students’ reading in English class, which included “Night” by Elie Wiesel, a powerful autobiographical account of a teenager's experience during the Holocaust as well as their social studies unit on World War II. Both speakers shared their vivid recollections with the students, who also asked them questions following the lectures. The students then reflected on the experience when they returned to class.

“We are very grateful and privileged for the opportunity to hear from Dr. Avital and Mrs. Geizhals about one of the most difficult periods in our history,” said Dr. Maria Thompson, Director of Humanities. “It is important for our students to hear directly from the people who lived it and their courageous accounts are inspiring.”

Prior to the Holocaust lectures, the students went to The Picture House to see a screening of “Unbroken.” The film is an adaption of Laura Hillenbrand’s book about the life of U.S. Olympian Louis Zamperini who was imprisoned by the Japanese during World War II, which the students read this year.

In addition to the Holocaust lectures, the students traveled to New York City where they visited the 9/11 Memorial & Museum. The trips, which spanned April 19-20, were partially paid for with a generous $5,000 grant from the Lt. Joseph G. Leavey Foundation, which was created to honor the memory of the former Pelham resident and New York City firefighter who was killed in the 2001 terrorist attack on the World Trade Center.

“We are extremely thankful to the Lt. Joseph G. Leavey Foundation for their generous support in helping our students learn and gain an appreciation for the tragic events of September 11,” said Middle School Principal Dr. Robert Roelle. “Living only a few miles from lower Manhattan, it is important for our students not only learn about September 11th in their classes and textbooks, but to take the time to visit the site, read the personal stories, and pay respect to those who lost their lives on that day. These experiences are very impactful for our students and are instrumental in reinforcing what they learn in the classroom.”

Photos courtesy of PPS