Special thanks to our guest contributors at the Ohio Holocaust and Genocide Memorial and Education Commission (OHGMEC) for writing this month's blog on International Holocaust Remembrance Day.
“I believe firmly and profoundly that whoever listens to a witness becomes a witness, so those who hear us, those who read us must continue to bear witness for us. Until now, they're doing it with us. At a certain point in time, they will do it for all of us.”
-Elie Wiesel
On January 27, we will commemorate the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz. The day is also recognized as International Holocaust Remembrance Day, established in 2005 by the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 60/7 in memory of the victims of the Holocaust.
As we commemorate this significant day, we reflect on the loss of those murdered during the Holocaust. We also remember those who survived and came to Ohio to rebuild their lives and community. Not every survivor gave testimony, but those who did left us with eyewitness accounts of what they experienced and gave a voice to those they lost.
One of these survivors was Morris Dach, who lived in Columbus. Dach was born in 1923 in Plonsk, Poland, and experienced many hardships, including being sent to Auschwitz, where he received the number 83988. He spoke about facing “a different torture every day,” and the pain of losing his family, remembering the last time he saw his mother and father as they got on the train to their deaths. He recalled his mother giving him a blanket she was carrying and telling him, “I do not need anything, you, you are going to live.” Reflecting on this moment, Dach said, “Somehow, she knew, and told me to live.” He willingly told his story to schools and organizations, as well as in several recorded testimonies, until his death in 2003.
Mr. Dach impacted many, as a witness, speaker, businessman, father, friend, and neighbor. Since his passing, his daughter, Debbi Sugarman, continues to tell his story so future generations can learn about his experiences and reflect on how his story connects to their own lives.
Research has shown that students who interact with survivor testimony build critical thinking skills and empathy for others. We are fortunate in Ohio to have several organizations committed to bringing speakers to the classroom, and the Ohio Holocaust and Genocide Memorial and Education Commission (OHGMEC) is currently funding opportunities to bring these speakers to schools throughout the state.
Eighty years is not a long time, but the firsthand witnesses are now almost gone. To students, the events of the Holocaust seem far away, but speakers like Debbi and other survivor family members can help make a personal connection to history. They also help students understand the value of using their own voices to become witnesses for themselves and others.
To book a speaker in your classroom, please visit the OHGMEC website. The staff will help connect you to speakers in your area and fund their visit.
