Holocaust Remembrance 2007

Holocaust Reflection ~ Mrs. Brevard’s 8th Grade Class ~ Ballinger Junior High

Sharing in the Holocaust Memorial with our friends at Globaldreamers is one of the most significant lessons we learn all year. My students learn about differences, tolerance, and brotherly love through the study of Holocaust. By sharing our thoughts and feelings with friends across the world, we discover how much we have in common. What a blessing! Thank you friends at Ein Ganim!

Sincerely,
Elaine Brevard

Some students from the 8th grade

HOLOCAUST
CONCENTRATION CAMPS
TORTURE, SUFFERING, CRYING
VERY BAD
BIG CRISIS
JEWS
~ Edward C.

Holocaust Reflection ~ Mrs. Brevard’s 8th Grade Class ~ Ballinger Junior High Sharing in the Holocaust Memorial with our friends at Globaldreamers is one of the most significant lessons we learn all year. My students learn about differences, tolerance, and brotherly love through the study of Holocaust. By sharing our thoughts and feelings with friends across the world, we discover how much we have in common. What a blessing! Thank you friends at Ein Ganim! Sincerely, Elaine Brevard
Some students from the 8th grade
For several years we have learned of the Holocaust in school. We have learned of this terrible tragedy since fifth grade. We learned that the Jews were sent to ghettos, the Nazi swastika, the star of David, how the Jews wore them and the list goes on and on. But we also learned how we can prevent this from happening again. We can tell the story and when we hear of hatred, we can stop it right there. ~ Clay K. The Holocaust is a terrible tragedy for the Jewish community! The Jewish are a brave, heroic people. ~ Juliana A.	What is the Holocaust? The Holocaust is the name used to describe the attempted genocide of Europe’s Jewish population in WWII. This a poem in tribute to those victims. Hiding from killers Keeping their religion The Jews died The Jews survived Now they rest We hear their stories To remember them. ~ Giovanni H.	I have read the book and watched the movie Diary of Ann Frank. When I watched the video, I felt sad to see what they went through and how they were tormented. It made me cry. I think it is wonderful to have a Jewish Memorial Day once a year. We study about it in our reading classes. ~ Brittany O.
Some students from the 8th grade
First of all I would like to say that I think that it is great that you have a Holocaust Memorial. Not very many counties have that. Our reading class studied about the Holocaust last six weeks and I would have to say I learned a lot. We read the Diary of Ann Frank and that is a great book. I hope when I get older I will learn a lot more. ~ Karri P. The Holocaust was a terrible time in history. The day we started learning about it put a lump in my throat. Everyone knows about it, but never thinks about how to keep it from happening again. Learning about it showed me how to help others understand. When anybody asks me about it, I am going to tell them everything I know to help them understand. ~ Victoria K.	Last six weeks in reading class we studied the Holocaust. I heard many tragic stories from survivors and it made me realize just how awful it was. I learned that people actually deny that it even happened. We can do something to try to not let it happen again. I am going to try and let as many people know what I know and encourage them to tell others. ~ Katie C. I think what Hitler did was awful. How someone could have so much hate in them to try to kill the Jewish race? ~ Chelsea H	HOPE ~ About a month ago I wouldn’t have known what true suffering was, that is until I studied the Holocaust in Mrs. Sykes reading class. A man once said that through all the pain there is always hope. That is partly true, but how can you be hopeful waiting in a line to die? When you think of it that way, it is very hard to have hope, but for one girl named Anne Frank it is a different story. Her diary has inspired many people to never give up. It also stated that if there is a problem, you can always dream yourself out of it. I learned that having hope through the hardest of times can show what a brave person you are. ~ Lisa B.
Some students from the 8th grade
Dear Students at Ein Ganim, My name is Jace F. and in the past twelve weeks my mind has changed rapidly about the way I feel about the Holocaust. Before, my mind was fixed that the Holocaust was something very bad and killed a lot of people, but when I heard about six MILLION Jews… well, it caught my attention. I’ve learned about the life of Anne Frank and her harsh life. I only recently thought about how it could come again and how we could counter it.	I have read Number The Stars and The Diary of Anne Frank. Each time I study the Holocaust, I learn more and more. The Holocaust was inhumane. Honoring the innocent men, women, and children that were persecuted is a great thing. ~ Courtney G.	Dear Friends, We have recently been learning about the Holocaust. I personally think that what Hitler did was horrible! I hope that the sickening times like the Holocaust will never happen again. I can’t even begin to imagine the fear and pain. ~ Haley S.
Some students from the 8th grade
Dear Friends, It is sickening to imagine how people could be cruel to each other just because of their religion. It depresses me to imagine what it would be like to be unwelcome in my own country. To always be on the run and fear of being captured. It deeply disturbs me, but it taught me a valuable lesson: to judge a person by what is in their heart, not by the way they look. It frightens me to imagine the Holocaust occurring again. I realize the only way to prevent this horrible event from occurring again is to love and respect one another. Your friend, Travis H.	Dear students at Ein Ganim, My name is Spencer R. I am a 14 year old at BJH. These past few weeks my classmates and I have been learning about the Holocaust and The Diary of Anne Frank. I think both stories are tragic and sad. I want you to know that they have changed me and they have also taught me that we should judge others by the content of their character instead of the person’s race or religion. ~ Spencer R.	Dear Mrs. Goren’s Class, When I was learning about the Holocaust in the last few weeks, it was a major turning point in my life. Never did I know the kind of hatred that Hitler felt toward the Jews. Ever since then, when I have a problem in my life, the first thing I think is that “It could be much worse.” ~Ian Sirmans
Some students from the 8th grade
This past semester in Mrs. Sykes class we started our lesson about the Holocaust by reading The Diary of Anne Frank. When we finished reading the book, it really hit me hard how much pain and suffering that the Jewish people went through. I think it was wrong for Hitler and the Nazi’s to kill all of those innocent people and just because they didn’t share the same religion. The Jewish people didn’t deserve to be treated like they were, and the sad part of it is that everything that happened could have been prevented. Six million people could have lived longer lives. I think that is what worries me the most, I mean, if it has already happened once and no one tried to stop it then who is going to stop history from repeating itself again. ~ Kelsey L.	Dear Mrs. Goren’s class, My name is Taylor J. from Ballinger, Texas. Six weeks ago we studied about the Holocaust. I can’t imagine the terror that the Jews had to endure. I think people can make a difference, but if we forget it could be possible for history to repeat itself. Remember the Holocaust! When we read the Diary of Anne Frank it made me so sad and wonder … Why did all of this happen? ~ Dora J.	Dear students at Ein Ganim, What went through my mind when I learned about the Holocaust is completely unfathomable. As you can imagine and know, the practice of Nazism and the acts of Hitler has turned the tables of being a nice world into, at that time, a degenerate society. ~ Sincerely, Steven R. I want to stop it from happening again. ~ Kaitlyn B.
Some students from the 8th grade
The Holocaust was a tragedy that I hope will never happen again. It is very fearful to think that it could happen again ifit is not prevented. It is very important to remember what happened and try to prevent hate and not let hate destroy the world. We need to be friends with one another and not let hate turn into such a tragedy again. ~ Melissa M. T REMEMBERING ~ I believe Hitler was evil and I think it is honorable the way you are remembering the Holocaust! ~ Samantha R.	Dear friends, People should not be hated for religion, or color, or their skin… ever. Hate is something I hope will one day be something no one will do. ~ JW K. I was so sad that I cried while watching the movie and reading the play. I could not stand to hear of all the people being murdered and no one doing anything about it. I am also clueless of how someone, Adolph Hitler could do all that. I am very glad that he is dead, even though that may seem bad. He can never hurt anyone again. ~ Judy V.	When I read the Diary of Anne Frank I felt sad and upset. Sad because millions of families died during the Holocaust, and upset knowing that because one man lived, millions died. We learned a lot during the time of the Holocaust. I feel like if it happened again, we could stop it before so many lives were lost. ~ Natalie M.
I think what Hitler did was cruel! Punishing someone for their race or religion is unfair and wrong. Having a memorial day is really cool! ~ D’Shay L. I read and watched The Diary of Anne Frank. It blew my mind. I am so sorry for what happened and I am glad that it is over. ~ Will I. o me the Holocaust was the worst destruction of people I have ever heard of. All the Jewish people have to be brave and courageous. ~ Nolan E.	FEAR ~ Hate and fear gives me chills. The Holocaust of the 1940’s was a frightening thing. I read Number the Stars and The Diary of Anne Frank. It made me notice how rude and cruel some people in the world are. It helped learn how not to hate and judge people. It helped change me in the way I think of others and the world. It also helped to not think of people as different. ~ Kelsey A.	The Holocaust is a very bad memory that I am sure people can’t just get rid of. It is something we have to prevent. ~ Kyle S. HOLOCAUST HORRIBLE, PAINFUL DANGER, CAPTURE, HUNT WE MUST ALWAYS REMEMBER PREVENT, REMEMBER, SAVE WORK, HELP SAD
Some students from the 8th grade
The Holocaust has affected so many people including me. Learning about the Holocaust and what the Jews had to go through really caught my attention. It really made me think about a lot of things. Could it happen again but to a different race? It really makes me mad how people hurt someone so badly. ~ Lacrisha J.I would love to learn more!	The killing of six million Jews is hard to read and think about because it is so sad. To think that Hitler had so much hate! It is hard to believe. It makes me feel so bad that it happened just to them and nobody else just because of their religion, and that it’s not their fault that they were born at that time. ~ Josh D.	Dear Mrs. Goren’s class, What I have learned and felt about the Holocaust after reading The Diary of Anne Frank is similar to our civil rights movement in the 1960’s. We all know many indescribable things happened, and it was all because of hate and no tolerance. Let’s set aside our differences and be friends. The Holocaust took all these people’s lives and changed all the people after that lived. All it takes is one person to change everything. ~ Jeremy F.
Last six weeks we studied the Diary of Anne Frank and the Holocaust. Back in sixth grade we read Number The Stars. We know plenty about the Holocaust, but we want everyone to know. Having a Holocaust Memorial Day is a great way to express your feelings about this tragic event. Nobody knows why it happened. All we know is that Hitler and the Nazis were bad people. We also have a Memorial Day to remember all those who died in wars. We can just hope we learn from it and it never happens again. ~ Kyle H.	My name is Jesse H. and we have learned all about Holocaust. I think it is really scary. It is scary how one man can have so much evil inside of him. I mourn for the six million Jews that lost their lives to that deceiving man. Hitler was a liar and deceiver. No man like him should deserve a happy life.	The Holocaust has made a great impact on my life. Just eh idea of one man’s hatred of religion and race. The way they starved and tortured people barely giving them any food or water! I think it is so great to have this memorial day for the ones who were killed. You are making a great impact in our world! ~ Keith M.
Some students from the 8th grade
I have learned from teachers and the books I have read that the Holocaust was a very devastating event. I can’t even imagine what it would be like if I was in that situation. It is great that you have a memorial day remembering the six million. I believe that Hitler was a deceiving and hateful man. I know when I am older I will teach my kids about the Holocaust just as I learned. ~ Skylar S.	I think it is great that the teachers here in Ballinger are teaching the Holocaust. Hopefully we can stop it from happening in the world again. I think it is wonderful what you are doing to remember the lives taken from this horrible time in history. ~ Logan M.	For the past two months we have been learning about the Holocaust. Until now, I never realized what had happened. I am very glad our teachers are incorporating this into their lessons. We will never know every detail, buy by learning as much as possible, we can make a difference. ~ McKenze M.
It was a horrible time for Jews when Hitler came to power. I think it is amazing to have a special day dedicated to remembering all who suffered and the survivors. Everyone should learn about the Holocaust because when more people know about it, we can make sure it won’t happen again. ~ Jamie P.	I feel for those who got separated from their family and never got a chance to say, “I love you,” or “Good bye.” One thing is for certain. We can not let history repeat itself. We have got to put an end to hate in the world. One way to do this is to tell the story of the Holocaust. ~ Myranda F.	When my class read the Diary of Anne Frank, it made me wonder how someone could be so cruel like Adolf Hitler. I still don’t understand… It makes me happy that some of the Jews survived the concentration camps and whatever else Hitler threw their way. To know that there are people in the world that could stand up and fight for what they believe in makes the world a better place. ~ Erica H.
Some students from the 8th grade
HOLOCAUST CONCENTRATION CAMPS TORTURE, SUFFERING, CRYING VERY BAD BIG CRISIS JEWS ~ Edward C.	I think we need to be strong and care for one another. There is no reason to hate someone just because they feel like it. I believe we are all people, just different in many ways. ~ Randy D.	I tried to imagine being a Jew during the Holocaust. It was too painful. I can’t describe how bad it feels. I am sorry for all of the Jewish who died and suffered. I could and would try to never let anything like the Holocaust happen again. I think it is great you have a day of remembrance. ~ Caleb V.
DON’T TAKE LIFE I LIVED IN VAIN YOU LAUGH AT MY PAIN I’M ALWAYS SUFFERING WHEN YOU DO NOTHING IF YOU TAKE MY LIFE TELL MY BELOVED WIFE THE JEWS ARE ONE NO ONE HAS WON THE HOLOCAUST IS GONE ~ Lauren T.	When I first learned about the Holocaust as I read Number the Stars and The Diary of Anne Frank, I didn’t know Hitler was such an evil man. It must have been painful to lose your family and to be separated from your parents. ~ Allie R.	I read The Diary of Anne Frank with my reading teacher Mrs. Sykes. It was a very moving story. It taught me not to hate others. Did you have family in the Holocaust or that lived through it? I tried to see myself in the Holocaust but it was too painful. I don’t see how Hitler could be so hateful to others. All we can do is help prevent it from happening again. ~Gilbert B.