I just got home from a Yom Hashoah event, Holocaust Remembrance, that was pretty intense.
You know that when folks come up after you speak and squeeze your hands that you have made a favorable impression. Teachers in the audience come up to say they feel inspired.
But they know that it is not about me.
I let the liberator and the survivor do the talking (see link below), then spoke about our obligations as the new witnesses to carry on the story.
Of course the event is about those who perished. But we must listen while we can to the survivors and become the new witnesses.
For those of you who came out, I re-post the narrative here-scroll down to the bottom for the NPR story, in 3 parts, from You Tube. To those of you who may be curious, do it. You don’t even have to watch, just turn it up and listen. Set aside a few moments of time to recall, together, the moment of liberation and the aftermath.
But also remember that if we let the liberator’s final message go by the wayside [part 3], then we have learned nothing. Our kids, our students deserve better. Trust me, if you are an educator, or an educational administrator {my emphasis} puzzled with how to get kids to DO ANYTHING for you, they will respond for you with this, if presented correctly.
And as a final aside, the three candles pictured above, Red, White, and Blue, are for
Dr. (SGT) George C. Gross, tank commander,
and Judge (SGT) Carrol S. Walsh, tank commander.
I kept alive their stories tonight.
Thanks to survivor Bruria Falik for thinking of this, in addition to the six candles for the millions lost and the candle for the 2nd generation. It was my honor to explain their significance. To those of you who offered your support and feedback, in person or on line, thank you. It is what I kind of need sometimes to know that I am making a difference.
Feel free to leave response!
MR
April 7, 2013
Teaching History Matters 
Matthew, you certainly do make a difference! Your work keeps alive for us and for future generations that the term “Holocaust” is ultimately about human beings–and we must always remember it. The painful, awful memory of the Holocaust must be kept alive so we do not forget that, first, last and always, we are all human being and we are all our brothers’ keepers. Keep up the good work! –Joe Cutshall-King
thanks Joe. There were several teachers in the audience, which was gratifying. MR