A month-long remembrance of the Holocaust through literature capped-off with one generation honoring another.
The program, which spanned the entire month of March, was closed-out with an event at Holocaust Resource Center at Queensborough Community College on Friday, March 26.
The Big Read, a National Endowment of the Arts (NEA) program designed to bring reading back to the forefront of American culture, partnered with Parker Jewish Institute this past month to celebrate The Shawl by Cynthia Ozick.
With fifth graders from P.S. 203 in Bayside on hand, Holocaust Center Director Arthur Flug spoke about the importance of reading in the fight against discrimination.
“The Holocaust was a tragedy and the more we educate young people about it, the more likely they will be to speak out when they see injustice,” said Flug. “Education is so important to fighting discrimination.”
City Councilmember Mark Weprin was also on hand to stress the importance of reading, not only in order to pass a test, but to expand the mind with a literary journey.
“Too many kids just read so they don’t get into trouble,” said Weprin. “Reading a book is a journey that can take you anywhere, and this program helps kids learn to love reading and not just do it because they have to.”
Weprin also remarked that The Big Read also engages children’s interest in reading with fun and interactive teaching methods. This, Weprin said, is important to the children holding onto what they learn.
“When you teach kids in an interesting format, they are more likely to remember,” he said. “There is something special about the things I remember from school. It’s the interesting and fun things that stick with you.”
Carole Nussbaum, principal of P.S. 203, said that her kids are incredible readers and that learning about the Holocaust was a way to teach the children about equality.
“We are all very similar on the inside,” said Nussbaum. “The more you learn, the more you see that differences are on the outside and that is what we want the kids to get from this.”
The children also received a lesson in courage as they were joined by Holocaust survivors at the capstone event. One of those survivors, Sara Balsam, 84, said that she is very happy to teach children about the tragedy because it may prevent future atrocities from occurring.
“The entire race of people was wiped out, and children should know about it,” said Balsam. “I decided I wanted to live. It is a good story and I like telling it.”
