Thursday, May 16th, WHSAD had the honor of hearing from Holocaust survivor, Mrs. Toby Levy. The talk has become an annual event thanks to Project Witness, an organization dedicated to educating the world on the stories of survivors and victims alike.
Growing up Jewish in Nazi occupied Poland, Mrs. Levy’s struggles were immense, and unfortunately not uncommon. She was one of millions who suffered the effects of the Holocaust, including 8 of her friends and family she went into hiding with. But despite all she’s been through, she still works to spread love. It is incredibly brave and inspiring how she looks back on her life with only gratitude to those who were there for her, instead of hate for those who were not. Mrs. Levy had been kind enough to speak to us the past couple years, and each time students are inspired by her words and her story.
Using Project Witness’ curriculum, Project H.E.A.R.T., and Mrs. Levy’s words, numerous students chose to create artwork or written responses inspired by Mrs. Levy’s story, hoping to capture the bravery she possessed during her time in hiding. Below are some of those pieces, along with artist statements that relate how Mrs. Levy’s words influenced the students’ artistic choices.
Evan De Freitas, Sophomore
In the drawing it shows a person lying and covered in a pool of blood and surrounded by roses. This person is a male Jew, who died from being shot by the Nazis. There was a specific assignment we had where we had to read about a Mrs. Levy’s life and had the option of drawing something. In this specific reading it was mostly talking about someone else’s experience in the Holocaust, but I decided to capture the moment and show someone who was unfortunate enough to not be able to get away from the opposing danger. I decided to make his expression as lifeless as possible due to him supposed to be looking dead and I put roses due to roses being connected to deep emotions and I put it there due to it showing life, death and sacrifice. There are also sharp needle vines that are around him holding him down symbolizing he never had a chance of escaping this inescapable, brutal death.
Jonathan Mendez Diaz, Sophomore
WHY WE MUST REMEMBER HORRIFIC EVENTS SUCH AS THE HOLOCAUST
Remembering horrific events such as the Holocaust is crucial to ensure that the atrocities committed during that time are never forgotten and are not repeated in the future. Toby, a Holocaust survivor, emphasizes the importance of remembering the Holocaust and the blessings of freedom in her life. She states, “Her revenge over Hitler, she said, was to have Jewish children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.” This quote highlights her determination to defy the hatred that fueled the Holocaust and build a future filled with love and resilience. Additionally, Toby’s father instilled in her the understanding that “hatred of your fellow man only comes back to you.” This quote underscores the dangerous consequences of hatred and its potential to lead people down a path of destruction. Toby’s father’s teachings serve as a reminder of the need to foster compassion and empathy in society.
The significance of remembering the Holocaust is further exemplified through the actions of Stephanie Struck and her son Tadjick, who risked their lives to save Toby and eight other Jews. Stephanie’s selfless act of hiding the nine people in her barn showcases the power of compassion and the potential for individuals to make a difference. Toby recounts, “Toby documented her family’s rescue by Stephanie Struck and her son Tadjick, she made sure that they received the honor of this designation.” This quote demonstrates Toby’s determination to ensure that those who risked their lives to save Jews during the Holocaust are recognized and honored for their bravery. The two years spent hiding in the barn were arduous, with little movement and the constant need for silence. Toby reflects, “I never thought we would make it – I thought we would starve to death.” However, her father’s unwavering hope and resilience kept them going. He believed that someone had to survive, and why shouldn’t it be them. This belief in the possibility of survival in the face of unimaginable hardship is a testament to the human spirit’s ability to endure.
The Holocaust serves as a haunting reminder of the consequences of hatred, discrimination, and indifference. By remembering the Holocaust, we honor the millions of lives lost and ensure that their stories are not forgotten. It is through remembrance that we can learn from the past, strive for a more inclusive and compassionate society, and prevent such atrocities from happening again. As Toby reminds us, we should be grateful for the blessings of freedom and seize every opportunity to make a positive impact in the world.
Yusuf Alqaifi, Sophomore
Daria Matula, Sophomore
WHY WE MUST REMEMBER HORRIFIC EVENTS SUCH AS THE HOLOCAUST
History is an important factor of our planet. It’s what shapes us, what shapes our future and what creates us as humans whole. A term that’s often used is “history repeats itself”, I truly believe these are powerful 3 words together because if you look at racism, sexism, religious discrimination, or even simple things like trends, etc. they still exist but in different forms. It’s important to be educated on what brought us to where we are today and what happened for so many changes to become.
Events like the Holocaust show us an insight of how different parts of the world lived and what the effects of their history changed. In the Project H.E.A.R.T. article about Mrs. Toby Levy’s life, we see an example of a family who survived the Holocaust living in a city called Chodorow in Poland and the hardships they had to overcome to stay alive. The Eisenstein family had some advantages that helped them unlike many unlucky families that dealt with the same issues. The text states, “A Polish friend of Toby’s father was also working in the lumber yard and warned him that soon they would begin arresting jews and sending them away from Chodorow.” Many families were unaware that an establishment of a ghetto in Lvov began where Nazi soldiers would take jews from their homes in Chodorow and move them into. They were unlucky and taken away in November of 1941. If not for the good heart of Toby’s father’s Polish friend and the connection built between them, the Eisenstein family would end up like the rest. This is an important view of how friendship between people no matter the differences between them can impact on great causes. The text also states, “Stephanie Struck was the name of the woman who agreed to hide nine people.” Another person with a beautiful heart. Stephanie not only helped the Eisenstein family but she sacrificed herself and her family to save another. She took the next step to help them in an important matter. The Eisenstein family had nowhere to go and no one to take them in but Stephanie allowed them to create a hideout from the Nazi soldiers in her barn. Doing so, if she got caught she would probably be punished just as hard as a jew. These points are extremely important because they show how people with so many differences help each other although the effect on their life or reputations.
Darleny Olivo, Sophomore
We read Toby Levy’s biography in English class, and it gave us a great understanding of the terrifying situations that families went through during the Holocaust. Their lives were ruined by continuous conflict and constant fear of being persecuted for being who they are. People came together despite the increasing hatred, holding onto strength and hope in the face of darkness.
We were tasked with expressing scenes from the biography. I chose the moment when Toby and her family faced imminent danger while in hiding. In a cramped basement, eight family members trembled behind a false wall as Nazi soldiers stormed in. Toby’s small noise threatened to expose them, but a sudden, unexpected distraction a cat leaping out saved them. The soldiers, momentarily amused, left without discovering the hidden family.
As I imagined this scenario, I could feel the family’s desperate scramble for safety and quiet and the evident horror overwhelming them. But even in the middle of the horror, there was a light of optimism because of each other and the cat’s fortunate intervention, which gave them the confidence that they could survive even the worst of circumstances. In my drawing, I portrayed them huddled closely, looking at one another for comfort and safety. While a faint light suggested the strength and hope that kept them going, the dark shade highlighted the weight of their terror and the uncertainty of their circumstances.
It’s vital to learn about and hear about survivor’s experiences because they highlight the importance of hope and show the extent people would go to keep one another safe. And I did my best to capture it in this sketch using the colors and facial expressions I chose to highlight and tell their story.
Darliza Olivo, Sophomore
In my artwork, I depict a dove reaching its wing towards three children, symbolizing hope and protection. My art piece is inspired by the story of Toby Levy, a Holocaust survivor who showed resilience and hopefulness regardless of the traumatic events she endured, especially in the darkest time period of human history. She believes in hope and positivity.
The dove represents hope but also the idea of protection. The white roses that surround the dove from behind symbolize purity and resistance. They serve as a way to show the unstoppable strength and resilience of those who lived through such traumatic experiences. The children who are seen reaching towards the dove are depicted in a setting with light, calm colors that can give others a sense of innocence and tranquility. The children each wear a Star of David, a reminder of their identity and the discrimination they went through. The dove’s gentle gesture towards the children illustrates hope and protection, giving them a sense of safety and comfort. It’s almost like distracting the children from the horrors so they can be children.
I created this illustration on my iPad using an Apple pencil. I first did some research because I wanted to create something respectful for the survivors and to the victims and found out that doves symbolize hope, freedom, and protection. I added the white roses because there was a non-violent resistance group in Nazi Germany that was against the Nazi regime and what it was doing to the Jewish community. The White Rose movement encouraged students to rebel against the Nazi regime. The group used the white rose because it was intended to represent purity and innocence in the face of evil, and I think it was important to add this because it taught me and many others to stay vigilant against oppression and bigotry. I drew this illustration in a positive way because Toby Levy’s story involves hope more than anything else. I find it so inspiring how she smiles and talks about her story with strength. I hope this piece honors the survivors and the victims who suffered.
Brianna Rosario, Sophomore
This artwork emphasizes the importance of children’s well-being. The parents can be seen holding each other with their children behind them. However, by putting the parents in front of the children, this shows how the first thing on a parent’s mind is sacrificing themselves for their children. Especially because in the black text it says, “As long as the children are all right, that is what is important.” This comment shows that the parent is more concerned about their children than they are for themselves. Furthermore, the red line stands out to represent a united family, connected hand-in-hand. The background is white, allowing the red drawing and black writing to stand out. Overall, this suggests the collective responsibility in ensuring that children thrive.
I wanted to explore the concept of familial unity through the symbolism of hand-holding. Yet, I used the ‘one line method’ in art to signified the unbroken chain of hands that can be reinforce the idea that family remains a constant presence throughout life’s trajectory. “Infinite Hand-Holding” should reflect to show others of the enduring ties that blind us, transcending time and circumstance. This should be a celebration of shared experiences, resilience, and the beauty found in simplicity.
Yarethzy Molina, Sophomore
WHY WE MUST REMEMBER HORRIFIC EVENTS SUCH AS THE HOLOCAUST
Throughout history there’s been a series of events in which hundreds to thousands of individuals have suffered due to horrific phenomenons, one of them being the Holocaust. It’s important to recognize their experiences. With the remembrance of such occurrences it’s a reminder of how much the human spirit can endure in difficult times. Although these events aren’t our proudest moments of human history, it prompts the right course of action that we should be taking not only as a nation but as a united society in order to fight against unjust systems. Admiring the people that had the strength to move forward from these traumatizing ordeals gives many hope, that no matter what comes about, there will always be a before, during and after. Education is also an important aspect to consider. It is essential to know the truth of events, not lies so that we can educate future generations about consequences from unmarked hatred opinions. Education is a tool that we can use to prevent repetition of past historical mistakes.
“There was no room on the trains as everyone pushed to enter. When her family could not board the train to go east, they rented a wagon to escape the invasion, but soon the roads were too crowded to continue.” Toby Levy recounts as she describes the anxious moments as multiple families attempt to escape from German aggression. The usage of imagery helps paint a picture for the audience. The severity of the traffic speaks to readers the emotions of these folks, showing how horrifying they must have felt in the moment. Pieces of writings as such help us recognize the impact events can have on not only humans but countries as well.
Jake Kadar, Sophomore
The Holocaust is something that I strongly believe must be remembered. It was a terrible event and if we forget it, we can’t learn from it. Holocaust survivors are starting to die off now but we cannot let their stories die with them. Antisemitism is an enduring issue that has occurred throughout history since before the birth of Christ. They were enslaved by the Egyptians, persecuted by Babylon, the Seleucids, the Romans, Tsarist Russia, the Soviet Union, Nazi Germany, and even more. We need to remember the Holocaust so that we don’t forget the persecution of the Jews. We don’t talk much about the other instances of persecution so we have to talk about one of the most important ones at least. According to an article on Wbur.org, “…a survey found 23% of Dutch youth believe the Holocaust is a myth, or that the number of Jews killed has been greatly exaggerated.” To put it simply, this is absurd. How can over 1 million of the population of the Netherlands, a country that Nazi Germany took in only about a week, not believe that the Holocaust happened? Another thing this article mentions is the increase in antisemitic hate crimes in Massachusetts. It states, “We can’t ignore well-documented warnings like the recently released Anti-Defamation League statistics that show antisemitic incidents in Massachusetts went up 41%” Forty-one percent is a lot. All of this just goes to show how important it is that we teach about the Holocaust. We need to prevent things like these from happening through the education of our children. Overall, antisemitism has been an enduring issue throughout pretty much all of history, ancient and modern, and we cannot let the stories of survivors of the Holocaust die with them.
Samson Caballero, Sophomore
I made this illustration to depict what the Nazis did to the Synagogue of Chodorow.
The Eisenstein family lived in Chodorow and unfortunately had to endure the Invasion of Poland. The Nazis ravaged the town of Chodorow, killing civilians and destroying infrastructure. One of the many buildings that was destroyed was Chodorow’s synagogue. The Nazis burnt it down, leaving no trace. Standing since 1652, 287 years of history, gone in an instant.
We’re lucky to have people such as Mrs. Levy still around to share their stories.