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Some of our Y11 students were privileged enough to attend a Holocaust Memorial Day event a few weeks ago at Northwood Synagogue. The day consisted of two sections; a workshop held by some members of the local Jewish community and a talk by Susan Pollack – a Holocaust survivor. The report below was written by two of our Y11 students:
“On arrival we were greeted in the main sanctuary and given an induction talk about the Holocaust featuring the 2015 video from the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust. The video summarised the stories of individuals who have survived the traumatic persecution and segregation that took place. The sobering video reminded everyone that persecution still exists in our world today and is a problem that could affect anyone.
“On arrival we were greeted in the main sanctuary and given an induction talk about the Holocaust featuring the 2015 video from the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust. The video summarised the stories of individuals who have survived the traumatic persecution and segregation that took place. The sobering video reminded everyone that persecution still exists in our world today and is a problem that could affect anyone.
NB! This is not the video watched by students on the day
Susan Pollack Following this we were split up into groups of about fifteen students and took part in an interactive workshop led by members of various local synagogues. Sometimes people forget the real meaning behind the word ‘Holocaust’, so when we began with the definition: “Total Burning” it was extremely poignant. We were encouraged to share our initial ideas as to when, where and who was involved in the Holocaust. It was evident from our answers that whilst our general knowledge was strong, we had a lot more to learn. After some discussion, we came to the conclusion that during the years of 1933-1945 Nazi-occupied countries such as Germany, Hungary, Italy and Poland, were taking part in discriminatory acts against various minorities like the Jewish community, homosexuals, disabled people, Roma and black people. This was a fitting introduction to the fascinating talk that we were later to receive from Susan Pollack – a Hungarian Holocaust survivor.
Susan was born on 9th September 1930 in Felsögöd, Hungary. She had one brother, Laci, and lived with her mother and father. Susan experienced anti-Semitism in her hometown from a young age. She delivered her story passionately to us, recalling how even when she was in primary school she was segregated from all of the other non-Jewish children. Then she went on to explain how her father was brutally beaten in front of her eyes, after attending a meeting about the ‘proposed resettlement programme’, enforced by the Hungarian government. This was the last time she saw him. The candid manner in which she spoke of how she, her mother and brother were shipped off to a ghetto before being taken to Auschwitz concentration camp, was thought-provoking. On arrival at Auschwitz she described how they were separated into the fit and the weak, the weak members being murdered in the gas chambers and the fit being made slaves. At this point she recalled how a stranger whispered to her that anyone below the age of 15 was put to death, so she lied about her age to the guards in order to survive. Susan was experimented on as part of a large group of women the infamous by Dr Mengele and was deprived of food before being taken on a death march to Bergen-Belsen, where thankfully the allies liberated them. Susan and her brother were the only ones of her family to survive.
Susan was born on 9th September 1930 in Felsögöd, Hungary. She had one brother, Laci, and lived with her mother and father. Susan experienced anti-Semitism in her hometown from a young age. She delivered her story passionately to us, recalling how even when she was in primary school she was segregated from all of the other non-Jewish children. Then she went on to explain how her father was brutally beaten in front of her eyes, after attending a meeting about the ‘proposed resettlement programme’, enforced by the Hungarian government. This was the last time she saw him. The candid manner in which she spoke of how she, her mother and brother were shipped off to a ghetto before being taken to Auschwitz concentration camp, was thought-provoking. On arrival at Auschwitz she described how they were separated into the fit and the weak, the weak members being murdered in the gas chambers and the fit being made slaves. At this point she recalled how a stranger whispered to her that anyone below the age of 15 was put to death, so she lied about her age to the guards in order to survive. Susan was experimented on as part of a large group of women the infamous by Dr Mengele and was deprived of food before being taken on a death march to Bergen-Belsen, where thankfully the allies liberated them. Susan and her brother were the only ones of her family to survive.
“Having a chance to listen to such a courageous and positive woman was an amazing experience. Susan helped us to remember that discrimination and persecution still occur today and that it something we all need to work to prevent. The focus on evil and suffering in the world deepened our knowledge about these issues and strengthened our understanding of how important standing up for Human Rights is today. We believe it was a once in a lifetime opportunity and we are extremely grateful to have been a part of it.”
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