HMD 2024

Ceramic shoes made by Jenny Stolzenberg to honour the victims of the holocaust.

Ceramic shoes made by students from Dutsche Schule, London in response to Jenny’s work.

Survivor Gerald Granston 88 years

You are the future of this country; you are the future of the world. 
Be kind and stand up for what is right.

Survivor Elsa Shamash 96 years

Tolerance, you can’t live a good life without tolerance. It is the most important thing.

Survivor Steven Franks 86 years

You can cut down the tree, but the roots will survive and grow back

Survivor Peter Lantos 84 years
We should cherish our freedom and we have the responsibility to make sure the people who have power in this
country defend it

After hearing survivors’ stories, students learnt the story of Irene Sendler who saved over 2,500 children from the Warsaw ghetto. Her parents had taught her that ‘if a man is drowning, no matter what his religion or nationality, you must help him, whether or not you can swim yourself’. The students gave their own response to this statement:

You should help someone, even if something bad might happen to you.

If you are on the streets watching, then you are in a better position so you should always help.

Irene Sendler, recognizing the importance of human identity, kept record of names of the children she saved,
and buried them in jars.
 
Individuals have hopes and dreams that you can’t always see.

We might all look a bit different but we’re essentially all the same.

Empty jars might represent lost stories and forgotten dreams.

The jars don’t have labels this might represent identities being washed away.

With the upside-down jar – the lid is the only way to open it so it could represent somebody who couldn’t escape.

John Hajdu, survivor speaker, watches as educator Louise Heilbron holds a candle for a student to light. Then once all candles were lit, we stood together in silence, and remembered.

 Gerrard Crosby - Deputy Headteacher – Mount House School

Today has been precious. Hearing a survivor like Mala becomes a very precious moment in all our histories. You now have a responsibility of carrying this knowledge, this history.

Liam Urtone - History Teacher - Finchley Catholic High School

It is such a privilege for the students to listen to people who were eyewitnesses to such a terrible time in History. 

Phil Jefferies – Senior Lecturer in Primary Education – University of Middlesex

We all commented on how welcoming and inclusive everyone is when we visit and how valuable and thought provoking the experience is. Particularly showing the many roles of the synagogue, immediately highlighted the importance of community and tolerance. 

Niamh Arnull – Headteacher – Finchley Catholic High School

The workshop’s activities, from the introduction to the concluding ceremony, provided our students with a comprehensive understanding of the Holocaust and its impact. It is invaluable in enriching our students’ educational experiences and we are truly appreciative. 

Claudia Wolff-Lieser – Deputy Headteacher – Deutsche Schule London

The highlight for many was the opportunity to hear from a survivor (Gerald Granston). His personal recollections brought a human face to the history. His talk was not only enlightening but deeply moving, leaving a lasting impression on our students and staff. 

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