Local library spreads the word to youth during Holocaust Education Week

November 7, 2019 · 0 Comments

Written By ALYSSA PARKHILL

This past Wednesday, Caledon Public Library Bolton branch opened its doors to four schools to listen and learn about the Holocaust.

This year marks the 39th year of Holocaust Education Week, hosted by the UJA Federation of Greater Toronto.

The crowd consisted of four schools in Caledon – Holy Family Elementary School, Allan Drive Middle School, St. Michael Catholic School and some students from Alton Homeschoolers. Members of the community also attended to listen.

Mayor Allan Thompson was a special guest to the event and reminded students and those in the community, the importance of Holocaust Education.

“It’s extremely important that all of us listen to what has to be said here today, understand what the survivors (lived through). We’re fortunate to meet some survivors. We even had some Holocaust survivors live in Caledon,” says Thompson. “Their whole outlook in life, and what they value and why Canada is so special, we owe it to them to continue on with those values, that we never compromised ourselves, this kind of hatred that we’re going to talk about in a little bit. “

The program was presented by Corey Margolese who is a teacher himself in the York Region and a Holocaust Education Week educator. Margolese owns his own training company which makes him an accurate presenter for this specific topic.

JTeach is a non-profit training that is dedicated to providing knowledge and information about Jewish culture and traditions along with educating about antisemitism and the importance of the Holocaust.

The presentation began with some history on the Holocaust, leading up to a 20-minute film about two Holocaust Survivors. The film told the stories of Sally Rosen and Manny Langer, two Holocaust Survivors who lived in the Lodz Ghetto as children during the Second World War. Rosen and Langer lost the majority, if not all, of their family during the Holocaust.

Following the film, attendees were given the opportunity to ask Margolese questions. Several members of the community shared their own personal stories, whether it be through their own family history or stories that they’ve heard.

“This is an extremely important messagethat needs to be delivered, and needs to be perpetuated so we can make sure that this kind of thing never happens again,” says Margolese during his presentation. “In this time, when international surges and antisemitism and intolerance are occurring, we have to pose a difficult question. 75 years later, why should Canadians learn about the Holocaust?”

For more information about Holocaust Education Week, visit holocaustcentre.com.