Education Disrupted

“The Holocaust goes far beyond the common cruelty of murderous wars. It was a total annihilation of Jews — the elderly and the babies, the intellectuals, the rich and the poor. I think of what could have become of these over one million children killed, who never had a chance — scientists, musicians, writers.”

Martha Salcudean, author of In Search of Light

School can be a place to learn, make friends, achieve goals and create a better future. But what happens when a catastrophic event denies children those opportunities? Jewish youth growing up during the Holocaust experienced persecution, war and the destruction of their families and communities. And between 1933 and 1945, while chaos was all around them, Jewish students were also deprived of the school experiences that are such an important part of childhood. They faced discrimination in classrooms and were often barred from school entirely. Risking their lives to learn under the worst conditions imaginable became an act of resistance. After the war, education played a vital role in rebuilding their lives.