Notes From The Director

"Dear Dr. Hertling--Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to visit our students. They are looking forward to the next time! See you soon" writes a local teacher from a Washoe County middle school whose students I visited two weeks ago."

When I went into her classroom, I brought with me some photos of children and our special video The Shuffle of Little Feet left Behind (see earlier in the CenterNews) because I wanted to speak about the impact of the Holocaust on young people. To amplify my point, I also read to the twelve and thirteen-year olds from Sonia Levitin’s award-winning book Journey To America in which she describes her family’s flight from Germany. Levitin’s text captured the students’ imagination to such a degree that they asked me spontaneously if I would consider coming back with a Holocaust survivor along...and would she or he also have a number...? More than 40 expectant eyes were directed at me...waiting for my reply.

Upon my return to the office, I called a man who recently moved to Reno--an ordained Rabbi--who was 15 when he was taken to Auschwitz in 1944. He also happens to remember all too well how the rusty needle broke when he was being tattooed and the horrible pain ensuing from the infection. I am sure he will be able to handle the seemingly crass request of our adolescents and their pubescent curiosity about tattooing then and now....And to become sensitive toward the difference is also part of a Holocaust education for our kids today. We never know what exactly it is that makes kids pay attention or turn they heads away.

If you are interested in having someone from the Center or one of the Holocaust survivors speak to your school, your social organization, your club or your church, please call us at: 784-6767.

Viktoria Hertling