Westchester Day School eighth-grade students had the privilege of hearing from a special guest speaker Mr. Elliot Zelinger, who is a third-generation survivor, and trained by 3GNY, a New York-based educational organization founded by descendants of Holocaust survivors. He shared his grandfather’s poignant story, highlighting the significance of January 27, a date chosen by the United Nations General Assembly in 2005 to commemorate the Soviet army’s liberation of Auschwitz, the largest concentration camp and killing center during the Holocaust.

International Holocaust Remembrance Day serves as a crucial moment for reflection. This day not only marks the end of a tragic chapter in Jewish history, but it also serves as a reminder of the Jewish community’s ongoing responsibility to combat antisemitism. Mr. Zelinger’s visit provided WDS students with an opportunity to connect with history, fostering understanding and empathy. Mr. Zelinger discussed why it was important for him to preserve his family’s memories and how WDS students can also begin to share the Holocaust testimonies they collected in December as part of “Names, Not Numbers©.” Additionally, his speech thoroughly connected to the novel “Maus” that the 8th graders are reading and the WWII unit they are studying in social studies class.