Neither Yesterdays Nor Tomorrows

by George J Elbaum

Lowell High School is a public magnet school which opened in 1856 and is the oldest public high school west of the Mississippi.  With enrollment of approximately 2,600 students (50% Asian, 18% White, 14% Hispanic, 8% Filipino, and 10% all other), the Lowell admission process is competitive and based on a combination of standardized test scores, GPA, a writing sample, and extracurricular activities.  As a result, its students’ test scores have historically ranked among the Top 10 Public Schools in California, making it the 2nd highest ranking school in California with over 2,000 students, and #85 in National Rankings. 

In addition to its stellar academic performance, Lowell has one of the most active student bodies in San Francisco, with over 84 academic organizations, athletic teams and student interest clubs.  In athletics, Lowell has competitive teams in 17 sports plus cheerleading, and these teams claim more city championships than any other public high school in San Francisco.

My talk to 500 9^th and 10^th grade students was my 2^nd time speaking at Lowell, and it was again organized by Modern World History teacher Erin Hanlon-Young.  It was arranged by JFCS Holocaust Center’s Director Morgan Blum Schneider and Office Manager Patrick Dunne.

STUDENT LETTERS

Three weeks after my April 18 presentation I received a very large & thick padded manila envelope containing letters from students who attended our event.  Because of a busy schedule and the intimidating thickness of the envelope, I did not dare to open it until a few days ago, when I finely had time to plunge into reading its contents which proved to be 225 letters from students attending my talk.  I plunged into reading these, highlighting sentences and/or phrases which resonated with me in 70 of the letters.  Furthermore, almost a dozen of these deserve an “honorable mention” for their artwork: creative, imaginative, or simply lovely to look at, and these are shown at the end here in 2 photos.

• Thank you so much for being vulnerable and sharing your story with us.
• You’ve taught & educated so many young minds, including my own, & have inspired us to be upstanders & best versions of ourselves.
• It takes a lot of bravery to speak of something so personal and sad.  I will carry this story wherever I go.
• Thanks for coming and inspiring many people.
• I am so honored to have gotten to hear your story in person and to get to know you.  It must be hard to talk about this topic which makes me so very grateful that you came to our school to share this with us.
• You inspire many people to open out about this and truly make an impactful difference.  As you said yourself, you are very lucky and you used your luck to build an amazing life.
• I’m sure it must be so difficult to share such traumatic part of your childhood and I am in awe of your braveness.
• Your mom was very beautiful and such brave woman.
• I appreciate how you were able to talk about your experience and how you were able to grow from it.
• May you tell your story 1 million times and be heard.
• I found your story very inspiring, and hearing you present it today made me want to learn more about history or my family’s history.
• As a Jew I found what you said to be as equally horrifying as it was inspiring.
• I think oftentimes people struggle to fully comprehend how horrible and real the Holocaust was, but with you on that stage it was impossible to ignore.
• I will definitely be sharing your story with my family…. with all due respect, admiration and appreciation.
• Your words of wisdom and experience will always stay with me as I continue to grow as a person.  One thing that I will live by is to “look towards the future and not regret anything until the day you die.”  You have truly touched me, so thank you for that.
• The way you live your life is inspiring and you have shown us a new way to lead ours.
• It’s remarkable how you navigated such difficult circumstances with bravery and resilience.
• Your story has opened our eyes to the unimaginable horrors of that time and serves as a powerful reminder of the strength of the human spirit.  Thank you for your bravery in speaking out and educating others.
• Thank you for your wonderful and inspiring life story.
• You didn’t have to tell us your traumatic past but you did, so thank you.  I have learned a lot from your story about the Holocaust history.  I hope you continue to share your story to encourage others, because you have encouraged me.
• I loved hearing about your mom’s story.  She sounded like a strong, smart, courageous and independent woman that I hope to be like her one day.
• The message you gave at the end of your speech really resonated with me.  I agree that it is a great idea in many situations to forget the past and the future and just live in the present.
• With history, often times the impact is lost without first hand accounts of those who actually experienced it.
• The “Sugar Miracle” story was also such a nice addition.  I hope you have many more sweets in your life.
• Thank you so much for giving me that special, amazing time.
• It’s been a while since I wanted to tell my parents something I learned in school, so you have made a great impact on me.
• This is something that I will forever cherish in my heart.
• I hope you can share your story with others and help positively impact their lives as you have to mine.
• Your stories have captivated me.  Thank you for sharing.
• Your aspirations to become an aircraft flyer inspired me to turn traumatic events into opportunities to grow and better myself in life.  You are truly a legend.
• You inspired us to stand up for ourselves or for other people if they are bullied, for example.
• What you said about and focusing on the moment really stuck to me.
• Your words are very encouraging and have inspired me to learn discipline and push through all of my toughest battles.
• Your story inspires me to be kind.
• Thanks to you I realized how lucky I was & to appreciate my life as it is.
• I appreciate your story because it helped me realize how lucky I am and that anything can be achieved if I put my all into it.
• You have come so far in life despite all your challenges, which you have inspired me to do the same.
• You inspired me to get through pain and hardships, to do what you love, and that it will get better.
• Your quote about focusing on the moment and not the past or the future is so inspirational.
• I will be sure to share your story to my family members when I get home
• You are courageous and brave and I am grateful to have the opportunity to attend and to learn not just about your childhood but also the impact and lessons you have learned throughout your life.
• You touched many hearts with your words and I am personally committed to living my life without any regrets.  Thank you for how much you have given back to the community, and I hope you will continue to give others the opportunity to hear your life story – I know it will change their life.
• Your story about the shed was harrowing but it’s fascinating how you found your passion for aviation then and there.  Your belief of living in the moment and letting go of past negative events resonated with me greatly.
• Your resilience to all extreme & terrifying conditions you faced in the Warsaw ghetto was truly inspiring to me.  After school I went home and shared your story with my father because I know how important it is we don’t let this story die.
• Thank you so much for sharing your terrifying yet valuable experiences.
• I will keep your experiences in my mind, and hope to share them with the next generation so that history doesn’t repeat itself.
• You made me cherish more about what I have now, and give more motivation in my life.
• THANK YOU for sharing your story and spreading awareness.  You are very brave.
• Please continue to share your story.
• The fact that you became an aerospace engineer and achieved your goal of becoming a pilot made me believe that I could do anything.
• I hope you know how much your story helps others.
• Thank you for going through the preparation and planning to share your experiences with us.
• I did not think I would ever have an opportunity to hear this history aloud, but I found it transformative and very, very good at putting things in perspective.
• Your story truly touched my heart and opened up the stories of the Holocaust in a way that no history book ever could.
• Your story makes me more compassioned to people who have gone through traumatic experiences like yours.
• Thank you for being vulnerable and sharing your story with us.
• Your story means SO, SO much to me.
• Listening to your account helped me to better learn about my ancestry.
• What really resonated with me is the life lesson I got from you.  Worrying about today and not yesterday nor tomorrow helped me open a new perspective.  This has lifted me from a dark place where I was constantly on-edge from my past troubles and future problems.  Thank you for this life lesson.
• Your thoughtful insights and personal stories really helped bring this important historical event to life in a meaningful way.  I was deeply impacted by the first hand accounts and historical details you shared.
• Your presentation was a poignant reminder of the importance of standing up against hatred, intolerance, and injustice.  I appreciate your sharing history with us and inspiring us to be upstanders in our own lives.
• In the face of rising hatred, your existence serves as a reminder of the importance of remembrance that even in the darkest times there’s still good, compassion, and hope…..With heartfelt appreciation.
• The lesson I took from this experience is to always speak out, & to tell your story.
• Thank you for continuing to teach others.
• I resonate with your “do it now” sentiment but love the way you keep an open mind because everyone is different.
• As a Jewish person myself, I found it very moving that you now embrace your identity and share with the world what you have been through.
• Your story led me to believe that you are the luckiest man on earth.
• Your strength and resilience in the face of such unimaginable adversity has touched us all.  Thank you for educating and inspiring us with your powerful story.
• It’s an honor to have met you and learned from you….with heartfelt thanks.
• The way you dealt with everything is amazing and truly heart-touching.  Although you were too young to realize, you still found ways to make good out of it.
• You reminded me to live in the present and not in the past or future.
• It’s very inspiring to hear your story, telling the world to never forget history and never give up surviving.
• I think I speak for all of us when I say I’m honored that you chose us to listen to your experience.
• Yesterday was so very interesting and compels me to think deeper about the world we live in.
• From a teacher:  Your speech was an incredible experience for my students, and I am now confident that after listening to you, students now understand how much both valiant resistance AND sheer luck led to the survival of the Jewish people.  Thank you so, so much for sharing your experiences not only with my students, but with me.        

by George J Elbaum

Summit Charter High School is a public charter school in grades K-12 with enrollment of 2,309 students and high diversity: Hispanic 77%, White 16%, two or more races 3%, Asian or Pacific Islander 2%, Native American 1%, and all other 1%.  Of the total, 18% of the students are learning English and 62% are from low-income families.

Despite these difficult demographics, the school’s GreatSchools Summary Ratings are approximately California state  average in several categories, including graduation rate,  Test Scores, Academic Progress, College Readiness and Equity.  

My presentation to 50 10^th grade students was organized by teacher Alberto Gasca, whose World History students were in the middle of the Holocaust unit and will have covered the history of antisemitism in Europe, and the different stages of the Holocaust (antisemitism, Nuremberg Laws, Kristallnacht, the ghettos, camps, and liberation) by the time of my presentation.  The students are also reading Night by Elie Wiesel in their English class.

Arrangements for my talk were made by Lexi Jason, Education Program Manager at Seattle’s Holocaust Center for Humanity

by George J Elbaum

Front Range Community College (FRCC) has a total enrollment exceeding 19,000 students of wide diversity: 62% are White, 23% are Latino, and 15% are of several other races or multi-racial.  Of the total, approximately 4900 students attend the Boulder County Campus at Longmont, and although many enroll right from high school, 24 is the median age because more than 40% of students are 26 years old or older.

My talk was organized by Mary Ann Grim of the History and Women & Gender Studies Faculty, as part of her Western Civilization class which includes 3 weeks on the Holocaust, reading of Survival in Auschwitz, etc.  My initial contact with Mary Ann Grim resulted in my  first presentation to her students on November 11, 2011

After my talk Mary Ann Grim sent me FRCC’s statement on its philosophy of inclusion, which I appreciate for its calm and even-handed description and feel it worthwhile to include below.

“We recognize that the success of students and employees grows from a culture of inclusivity, equity, and excellence. We believe that our diversity, which includes a full spectrum of attributes, backgrounds, cultures, identities, abilities, beliefs, and ideas, enriches lives in the entire college community. We know that including and respecting our diverse experiences and values in all of our interactions at the college is the best way to promote student success. We also recognize that our differences do not have equal impact or consequences, and we acknowledge that our differences affect how we behave, how we are treated, and how we interact.”

In January 2024 Mary Ann Grim contacted me again about making a presentation to her current students.  We agreed on April 2, 2024, and she arranged for a very creative flyer (below) made to advertise the presentation.

by George J Elbaum

Somerville High School (https://somerville.k12.ma.us/schools/somerville-high-school)  has an enrollment of 1215 students in grades 9-12 and very diverse demographics: Hispanic 46%, White 35%, Black 11%, Asian or Pacific Islander 6%, two or more races 2%, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander <1%, Native American <1%, and 73% of its students from low-income families. 

More unusual, however, is the organization of its student body: the students are divided into 4 Communities designed to meet students’ academic and social needs and also language limitations through a comprehensive, collaborative team approach.  For example, I learned that the audience to my talk of approximately 350 9^th graders had a Portuguese translator and a Spanish translator for 2 smaller groups whose English was limited. The 4 Communities, each with a Multilingual School Counselor, are:

“ELM Community: Newcomers in the Multilingual Learner Education Program

BEACON Community: Students with last names starting with A-F 

HIGHLAND Community: Students with last names starting with G-N

BROADWAY Community: Students with last names starting with O-Z”

The school counseling staff is dedicated to practicing preventative, proactive counseling which includes discussing academic and adolescent issues, pre-college planning, career exploration, and post high school planning. Communication is key; we encourage family members to call their student’s Community Team with questions.

My presentation to the 350 9^th graders was organized by Dave diPietro and ??? and my participation therein was arranged by Jeff Smith of Facing History and Ourselves.

Notes from Students

Several weeks after my talk at Somerville HS I received a large envelope with several dozen Thank You notes from students, and during the subsequent weeks I read these, excerpted statements that most resonated with me, and these excerpts are shown below.

• The Holocaust was born in a faulty democracy that allowed a dictator to come to power.
• Hearing about your experiences during the Holocaust reinforced within me the idea that Democracy is a vital part of society and must be protected at all costs
• You are so inspirational and so much of your story resonated and connected – especially about your mother.
• Thank you for your important message about the Golden Rule and being against all hate and prejudice.
• I loved your message about the Golden Rule, and holding an optimistic attitude.
• Learning about the Holocaust through personal experiences of people is necessary to truly understand the gravity of it. 
• The Holocaust has changed my view not only of what happened in Nazi Germany but also more generally of government and politics.
• I hope that with your story we can make the world a better place for future generations.
• I have a speech to present in 2 months and am very anxious to do so in front of 300 people.
• Your story shows me how little we can truly change as humanity.  Even today we still cannot stop killing each other.
• I keep thinking about those families who hid you, how it was very dangerous for them, but it helps us realize the value of standing up for others even when it’s dangerous or difficult.  It’s the only way progress can be made, after all.
• It seems like luck knows of your innocence and was willing to protect you from all the tremendous tragedy surrounding you.
• All my respect is in you and your story.  I felt compassion, but at the same time I felt devastated, I felt scared.
• I do know what it feels like to constantly move around and have that to be “the normal.”  I hope you are satisfied with where you are in life right now.
• I will especially remember the advice you gave us about not letting others discourage you.  It kind of applied tome and really helped me, so thank you.
• I thought that I knew a lot about the Holocaust, and I did in terms of history, but I feel more enlightened now about the personal experiences of the victims.

by George J Elbaum

North Creek High School has an enrollment of 1700 students in grades 9 – 12 with high diversity: 39.2% White, 39.0% Asian, 10.4% Hispanic, 7.8% two or more races, 2.5% Black, 0.4% all other, and 14% of students are economically disadvantaged.  It is ranked 20th within Washington by US News & World Report, as its students’ participation in Advanced Placement® program is a commendable 57%.

 The school sits on a 60+ acre campus featuring numerous wetlands and a state-of-the-art facility for student learning, unlike most high schools in the United States.  The buildings are heated and cooled by geo-thermal energy, and solar power provides additional energy.  Each building was designed so that almost every space could be used for teaching and learning.  Classrooms have movable glass walls and the hallways have furniture that invites small group work.  There are also designated rooms called Collaboration Cubes where students can work together and learn in a comfortable space outside the classroom. 

The students study the Holocaust within a larger unit on historical causes and manifestations of war. This includes the Pyramid of Hate, scapegoating, the rise of the Nazis, a more general lesson about perpetrators and bystanders in genocide, and a lesson on Jewish cultural and spiritual resistance.  Today’s event was organized by Social Studies teacher Deanna Armstrong and my participation was arranged by Lexi Jason, Education Program Manager of Holocaust Center for Humanity

by George J Elbaum

California High School (CalHigh), San Ramon, CA, has current enrollment of
2814 students in grades 9 thru 12, of which 64% are minority and 6% are
economically disadvantaged.  CalHigh’s academic record is excellent: while
attaining a 4-year graduation rate of 98%, its US News/Best High Schools Rankings are #1311 Nationally, #205 in California, and #37 in San Francisco Bay area.  This is reflected by student scores of 76% English vs. 47% state average, 52% Math vs. 35% state average, and 50% Science vs. 30% state average – an enviable record.  CalHigh’s demographics are White 38%, Asian 40%, Hispanic 12%, two or more races 8%, and Black 2%.

My presentation was to 55 students in 10^th grade English and History class of teacher Christina Haaverson (English Literature and Positive Psychology) who’ve been teaching World History between the two World Wars.  The students’ Holocaust and genocide history curriculum included the following readings, major topics and events: Maus 1 & 2, Joseph Mengele, Auschwitz history, World War II overview, Pyramid of Hate and stages of genocide.  Teacher Haaverson organized the event while my participation was initiated by Sadie Simon of the JFCS Holocaust Center and concluded by its Office Manager Patrick Dunne.

by George J Elbaum

La Scuola is a private (PreK – 8) educational enterprise based on the concept that the world has changed, and it’s time for education to catch up.  At La Scuola we believe that to shape the future, we must believe that children are innately intelligent and curious. The provocative questions they ask ignite a process of arriving at answers with peers and teachers, not an opportunity for us to tell them the answer.

Founded in 2002, La Scuola International School is an International Baccalaureate (IB) and Italian language immersion school with a mission to inspire brave learners to shape the future. Every day, it is the students at La Scuola who ask provocative questions and lead their learning across languages, across cultures, and across subjects.  The IB program began as an academically challenging program for high school students and has evolved into a curriculum framework used by over 5,000 schools worldwide in PreK-12 that encourages critical and creative thinking, expression of knowledge in various modalities, global perspective, and foreign language acquisition. IB students are known for having a growth mindset, developing strong cognitive skills, high executive function, and are generally psyched to learn new things and solve problems

 To begin the process, children do not need to speak Italian!  We aim for our students to develop being bilingual. By learning English and Italian simultaneously, they develop better attention, decision making, and planning skills than monolingual students.  Italian also  benefits students by imparting an increased appreciation for art, music, food, and history. Speaking another language develops a child’s empathy and connectivity to the world.

My presentation to 50 6th, 7^th and 8^th grade students was organized by Jake Kaplove, Middle School Dean of Students, and my participation was arranged by Morgan Blum Schneider, Director, JFCS Holocaust Center, with support by the Center’s volunteer Jim McGarry.

by George J Elbaum

“The New School of San Francisco is a tuition-free public school designed in partnership with local educators, parents, and community leaders. Inquiry, equity, and personalized learning are at the heart of how our students learn, grow, and thrive. We are currently serving Kindergarten through 8th grade.  Our mission is to demonstrate a holistic 21st century education that instills a love of learning now and prepares students and families for success in the future.  We believe in “Inquiry for All”—all children should go to school where they can drive their learning, ask big questions, and take risks. This belief fueled the creation of our school in 2015.”

Arrangements for my presentation were initiated by Sadie Simon of JFCS Holocaust Center and concluded by Patrick Dunne, its Office Manager.  The 3/6/2024 event at the school’s campus was organized by teacher Claudia Martinez (see 3rd photo below).

Notes from Students

A few weeks after my talk at The New School I received several dozen Thank You notes, and as is our custom, my wife Mimi and I read these together after our dinner, excerpted statements that most resonated with us, and these excerpts are shown below.

• You are so inspirational and so much of your story resonated and connected – especially about your mother.
• Thank you for your important message about the Golden Rule and being against all hate and prejudice.
• I loved your message about the Golden Rule, and holding an optimistic personal perspective even in the face of how awful humanity can be.
• You help us restore identity and humanity to everyone who can’t share their story.
• I learned about people who would risk their lives to provide Jews with a roof and food.
• I am sad that you weren’t able to live the childhood you wanted to live.
• May your woes be little and your happiness be many.
• I truly mean that your story is life-changing. It made me take a deep dive into history, and knowing your story I can understand how the wrath of the Holocaust impacts today’s society.
• Your story was a moving experience that helped open doors to what anti-Semitism is & how it happens.
• Your story impacted me in such a strong way that I won’t take a moment for granted.
• I appreciate your openness and the wisdom you brought to our class.
• Your story taught me so much & made me wonder more.

by George J Elbaum

Libby Center is a public school with enrollment of 488 students in grades K-8.  Student demographics are: White 70%, Hispanic 13%, two or more races 9%, Asian or Pacific Islander 6%, Black 1%, and 1% unspecified, and 24% of students are from low-income families.  The school rates very high in academic performance: student scores in Math are 84% vs. 40% state average, in English 90% vs. 53% state avg. and in Science 95% vs. 49% state avg.  Math scores of low-income students of Libby Center are at or above the state average for all kids, suggesting that this school is doing a good job of teaching low-income students.

My presentation was to 8^th grade English class whose current unit focused on learning about Holocaust history using resources on the US Holocaust Memorial Museum website and Seattle’s Holocaust Center for Humanity.  It involved reading and analyzing narratives about people during the Holocaust, and discussing how the people in the texts show that self-expression communicates identity from the perspective of displacement.  My audience was 17 gifted and highly-capable students (and all of them musicians!).  Learning this, I was simultaneously pleased and disappointed: pleased because I could expect intelligent and even challenging questions, which make the Q&A the most satisfying part of any presentation; but disappointed because the total time allowed for the event was only 40 min. vs. the typical 55 – 75 min. I usually request, and that meant much less contact with the students.  (Indeed, the key question asked was very broad: what were the difficulties of “adjusting to a normal life” after a Holocaust childhood?)

The event was organized by Andrew Olmsted, English Department Lead of Libby Center – Odyssey Program, and my participation was arranged by Lexi Jason, Education Program Manager of the Holocaust Center for Humanity.

(Photos to follow)