Learning from the Past

Holocaust survivor Werner Reich visited Port Jefferson Middle School students in Kayleen Everitt’s eighth-grade English class and Earl L. Vandermeulen High School students in Philip Giannusa’s Holocaust elective course on March 7. Prior to his visit, the classes studied Eliezer Wiesel’s Holocaust novel “Night” and read articles about Reich for a richer understanding of his past.

“These human, personal experiences are needed for a deeper, more complex knowledge of history, a knowledge that textbooks alone cannot provide,” said one eighth-grader. “Learning about the Holocaust from the eyes of someone who has experienced this intense hatred is perhaps most important because hatred still exists in our society. Many people experience it every day because of things that they cannot change about themselves.” 

The presentation outlined Reich’s personal experience as a teenager who survived the Terezín, Auschwitz II-Birkenau and Auschwitz I concentration camps. “I am lucky to have survived,” he said. “It is my responsibility to ensure that nothing like this ever happens again.” Reich also urged listeners to be “JUST” people who follow four simple steps when faced with an adversity: judge the situation, understand the problem, solve and take action. “Indifference kills,” said Reich. “Do not tolerate bullies or allow them to silence you.”

“We are very grateful to have Mr. Reich, a longtime friend of our school, here to give us an account of his experiences,” said one student. Members of the National Junior Honor Society, who were also in attendance, made and distributed yellow ribbons to promote genocide awareness.