Speak Up, Speak Out from Holocaust Memorial Day Trust

ARCHIVE for HMD2010: The Legacy of Hope

The case studies and related education resources for HMD2010, The Legacy of Hope, have been archived. The Holocaust Memorial Day Trust is currently focusing on the theme for this year, Speak Up, Speak Out.

HMD 2010 Secondary Assembly

Begin with recorded sounds of phones ringing and computer keyboards tapping. All presenters should be on their mobile phones, sharing texts, sending and reading messages. Then switch off the sounds and enjoy the silence before the leader speaks.

Leader

Have you noticed how easy it is to get hold of news these days? We are so good at gathering information. If an event happens somewhere in the world, it can be on our our mobile phones and our computer screens and around the globe in seconds. Sometimes I am tempted to switch my phone off because I am sent adverts for things I don’t want to buy or given news about celebrities I don’t really need to hear.

Student A (challenges the leader)
But sometimes getting news quickly is important. We are lucky to be able to find things out almost as soon as they happen. Then we can react quickly and let people know what we think.

Student B (continues the challenge)
That’s true and it’s good when we respond to news. Something takes place and within moments people all over the world stop and think about it.

Student C
Sometimes the news is good, like when a pilot avoids disaster by landing a plane safely after engine failure, the signing of a peace treaty after years of conflict, but often it is sad, like a major accident, earthquake or flood. We stop and think about these things because they affect the lives of human beings just like us. This is the news that makes us reflect on the value of human life.

Leader
65 years ago a piece of news took longer to travel round the world but it certainly made people think long and hard about the actions of human beings. We are thinking about it especially today. It was news of the retreat of the Nazis and the liberation of camps where they murdered people and held their prisoners.

Student D
65 years ago, on 27th January, Russian troops entered Auschwitz-Birkenau, a Nazi death camp.

Student A
There were no mobile phones and they couldn’t send emails but millions of people around the world were shocked when they heard the news from the soldiers who witnessed for themselves the results of the Nazi-organised genocide against the Jews of Europe – the Holocaust.

Leader
The Nazis were prejudiced against the Jews and other people who did not fit their image of a “perfect” human being. They believed in discrimination. They acted with hatred. Yet those who followed Nazi policies were human beings. It might be uncomfortable for us to think about this but their actions were human actions. Today, all around the world millions of people of all ages are taking time to reflect on the effects of human action. We are joining with them to commemorate the victims and survivors of the Holocaust because although these events happened all over Europe 65 years ago, commemorating them today reminds us of the terrible results of discrimination and encourages people to work together against prejudice.

Student B
Thanks to the courage of eyewitnesses who survived, spoke and still speak about it today we know what happened. It is important that we use the knowledge we have of these events, to be watchful in our own society, and to condemn all racism and prejudice.

Student C
Today, even though they are growing older and more frail, many Holocaust survivors are determined to share their stories with as many people as possible. They don’t do this to become famous but they would like their stories to be remembered. They want to use them to help human beings of all ages to learn important lessons for our society. They call this their Legacy of Hope and they want us to become a part of it.

Student D
Some survivors share their stories with their grandchildren and great grandchildren. Others have recorded their testimony for museums and libraries around the world. In the UK many survivors travel many miles to speak to audiences large and small. Ibi and Wal Ginsberg live in Leeds. They travel to schools and colleges all over the Country telling their stories and using them to encouraging young people to challenged discrimination and hatred.

Leader (Give your commentary over a powerpoint presentation of Ben’s story)

Ben Helfgott is 80 years old. He lives in London. He says he is fortunate to have lived a full and meaningful life. When he was 9 years old the Nazi invaded Poland. Ben and his family were ordered out of their homes and had to live in a ghetto. Many of Ben’s friends and family were murdered by the Nazis. Ben was sent to a camp. After liberation Ben came to England. He became a champion weightlifter and represented Britain in two Olympic Games. He was also a respected businessman and raised a family.