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Holocaust Remembrance Day

Holocaust Remembrance Day marks the anniversary of the liberation of survivors from the Auschwitz concentration camp in 1945.

Given the upsurge in Holocaust deniers and loud, media-seeking attention of anti-Semites and Nazis, we can’t let this horror fade into a dusty part of history.

Weirdly, all the books I can find about anti-Semitism take place at least 50 years ago, including stories about modern heroes, such as I Dissent. So make sure as you discuss these books on discrimination with kiddos, to point out that these are not ‘problems of the past‘ as if they’ve magically dissipated and resolved. Modern Jewish people are still targeted as scapegoats, discriminated against, and attacked today.

How can we make space for this remembrance and post-traumatic growth? How can we support families who directly impacted – and shadowed by, the effects of genocide?

Let’s start with the truth.

When is it?

• Annually on January 27th

Read:

• Oskar and the Eight Blessings (ages 4.5+)
• The Cat Who Lived with Anne Frank (ages 4-8)
• Hidden (ages 6+)

Discuss:

• When do students in your family’s district learn about the Holocaust?
• How extensive is this discussion in the classroom? Is it a bullet-point, or are students invited to humanize the victims and recognize the effects of the Holocaust on people today?
• What other world genocides do they learn about?
• What modern currently existing genocides are world governments orchestrating today?

Dig Deeper Into This Topic

• Looking for the Good in People with Oskar and the Eight Blessings