Although I have visited a number of ghettos and camps in Poland, I struggle to picture the sheer numbers of people involved, so, when I consider the impact of the Holocaust, I find case studies of individual families much easier to comprehend and with whom to connect.  I draw on the story of Sir Ben Hegloff and his family whenever I talk with children.  Splendidly, Ben’s story and words were also echoed by Debbie Benstien, an Israeli Jew, who kindly joined us by video link.  She talked about the impact of the Holocaust on her family and how much smaller it was as a product of this process.  She reflected on that fact that her father growing up in a labour camp as a small child meant that he did not know how to play with his own children, as this had been largely absent from his own development.  Furthermore, Debbie told us she has six names, so that the names of those family members who were killed never disappeared entirely from within her extended family. 

Like Ben, she emphasised that, even as young people, we have agency, a voice and the power to bring about change, even if our sphere of influence expands as we grow.  Referring to the tale of David and Goliath, Debbie told the story of a boy with a small voice who beat a giant in battle.  She stated: 

“I believe even young people have a voice.  If you see something that is not right, that should not be happening, perhaps somebody is getting picked on, somebody is saying some that is just plain wrong, unkind or racist, we all have to speak up.  If we do this, something like the Holocaust should never, ever happy again.”   

We finished our assembly this week with the words of Ann Frank in our minds, “How wonderful it is that we do not have to wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.”  How true!