Holocaust Youth Essay Contest Accepting Entries

With every passing day, the Holocaust becomes a more distant memory, but not any less important in a modern world of change. 

As yet another way to ensure younger generations "never forget," a Holocaust Youth Essay Contest has begun accepting entries. Students are asked to describe two lessons they have learned from studying the Holocaust. Students are encouraged to provide historical information and background of an event, group or person from the Holocaust that inspired each of these lessons.  The essay contest is open to all students in grades 7-9 (Division I) and 10-12 (Division II).

This year’s topic for the Holocaust Youth Essay Contest is: “There are many heroes of the Holocaust: victims, survivors, righteous gentiles, resisters and liberators. Choose one group and explain why they were heroes and what lessons have they passed on that are still relevant today.

Only essay form entries will be accepted.  Entries cannot exceed 1,200 words and must represent the independent effort of the writer.  Essays must be typed or printed, double-spaced, on one side of the paper only. They will be judged on originality, content and quality of expression. 

The essay must be accompanied by a title page containing the following information: student's name, home address, telephone number and e-mail; name of school, address, telephone number, teacher's name and the grade.  No pages in the essay should include their name or any family names or personal identification.

Entries must be postmarked no later than March 1, 2012 by 4:00 PM and mailed to:

Harry & Rose Samson Family Jewish Community Center, 6255 N. Santa Monica Blvd., Whitefish Bay, WI, 53217, Attn: Judges.

The top two winners in each Division will win a trip to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C.  Their school will receive a book.

The awards winners will be announced and presented on Sunday, April 22, 2012, 2:30 PM, at the community-wide Yom Hashoah Commemoration (Day of Holocaust Remembrance) at the Harry & Rose Samson Family Jewish Community Center, 6255 N. Santa Monica Blvd., Whitefish Bay.

The Holocaust Youth Essay Contest is sponsored by the Habush Family Foundation and is a program of the Harry & Rose Samson Family Jewish Community Center.   It is chaired by Esther Ancel.  For more information please call Dorene Paley, Director Community Services, at 414-967-8217 or at dpaley@jccmilwaukee.org.