Remembering The Legacy Of The Holocaust

Heritage Celebrates Holocaust Remembrance Week

Remembering+The+Legacy+Of+The+Holocaust

With recognition and reverence, students and teachers honored Holocaust Remembrance Week from January 24th to January 28th. Throughout the school, measures were taken to pay respects to such an important moment in history.

“For Holocaust Remembrance week we made sure that there would be special announcements every day highlighting the importance of this week,” Student Council member and Diversity Committee President Henley Barnes (12) said. “As well as having a reminder outside of our school on our marquee reminding everyone who drives by that this isn’t just a normal week, it’s a week that needs to be remembered.”

In the classroom, teachers made sure to include lectures on the Holocaust and the lessons that can be learned from it.

“My sophomores have begun reading Night, a Holocaust memoir,” English teacher Megan Ross said. “There is nothing more important than reading a first-hand account of the atrocities committed on the Jewish people by not only evil perpetrators, but bystanders – regular people who see atrocities happening and make the choice not to intervene.”

The lesson of not being a bystander was a major theme throughout many teachers’ sessions on the Holocaust.

“In my history classes, I often refer to the Holocaust throughout the year when discussing different events and how we as humans can easily be persuaded to have an ‘us vs them’ ideology,” AP world history teacher Ivy Martin said. “I try to focus on being an Upstander and calling out wrong doings, than just being a bystander, which is what many of the Holocaust Museums around the world also focus on.”

A large part of being an Upstander comes with learning from past experiences, mistakes, and catastrophes. There are many resources available in the community and the Internet that can educate the public about the Holocaust.

“The Dallas Holocaust Museum is an incredible display which incorporates artifacts and visuals to aid in the realization of such unbelievable crimes. It is a beautiful, heart-breaking, educational experience,” Ross said. “I also recommend reading first hand accounts by survivors. There are so many incredible memoirs available, including in our library. But if you are the TikTok type, there is an account (@lilyebert) by a survivor who spends her time educating all of us on her experience.”

Much can be learned about the Holocaust and its survivors, but the importance of acknowledging the Holocaust goes beyond recognizing past tragedies. Educating youth also enables growth in society.

“As humans, if we want to be productive members of society we should be constantly educating ourselves about not only current issues but past events that have had a great influence on our society,” Barnes said. “When something so impactful such as the Holocaust happens, I believe that it is essential to educate not only ourselves but our later generations on the topic.”

By honoring Holocaust Remembrance week, one can also learn more about the world they live in and how to prevent any similar catastrophes in the future.

“We must reflect on this week with goals in mind: attempting to understand the depths of humanity, how the decisions we make affect future generations, the spread of propaganda in the digital age, the danger of creating our own echo chamber, and the ‘perils of indifference’ according to Eliezer Wiesel,” Ross said. “Reflecting on the Holocaust on the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz remembers the victims, and forces the rest of us to confront the results of human desperation and baseness.”

Even though the week has ended, anyone can honor the Holocaust at any time through their own choices and by remembering that dark point in time.

“The Holocaust, as horrible as it was, should never be forgotten. I believe that we need to continue to honor the heroes and people affected by the Holocaust and continue to honor their memories,” Barnes said.