Dear Mrs. Goren’s Class,

For starters I have to say that it is a wonderful pleasure to be a part of this project. My name is Collin; I am a fourteen year old student at Ballinger Junior High in Texas. This past year we have studied several things about the Holocaust.

We read the Diary of Anne Frank and watched the movie. It showed many horrible aspects of how the Jews were treated during World War II. We must learn from the Holocaust survivors so that history does not repeat itself .

Sincerely,
Collin B.

The Holocaust was a very sad time. People were scared of what was going to happen to them. Were they going to die, or would they ever see the outside world again besides the concentration camps? Families throughout the concentration camps were separated. Not knowing if their family was still alive or dead was agony. There was barely any food to eat, or even worse there was barely any time to sleep. People were hungry, tired, cold, and sick. They did not know what was going to happen to them, whether or not they were going to live when someday it was over. I can't believe that the Holocaust happened and I know that if we forget what happened that someday it might happen again.

Phillip L.

The Holocaust was one of the most horrible events in world history in my opinion. People were being dragged out of their homes and beaten, sometimes just for the fun of it. Four million Jews dies in the genocide of Hitler and those weren't the only causalities. Hitler started World War 2 in trying to take over the world, which, in turn, caused over 50,000,000 people to die. That's a lot of people. The Jews that were prosecuted were either sent to death camps or killed on the spot. I think it was a horrible time in our history.

Jacob A.

Freedom by Adam S.

Fantastic
Radical
Elegant
Excellent
Determination
Omniscient
Magnificent

Holocaust by Darien E.

I think it was dreadful

I wish it would have stopped earlier.

I hope it will never happen again.

I dream there is no one like Hitler.

I know people were glad when it was over.

The Holocaust by Jesse D.

Hundreds upon thousands perished.
Oblivious not to some.
Life ceased to exist.
Overcoming the fear of death.
Countless families were split.
All because of one man's idea.
Unions began to cripple and crumble.
Some but few survived.
The world stood still.

Holocaust by Tia D.

People cried and a few cried
Families tried to run and hide
Some families had to rebuild
The Holocaust struck the world
With the shortness of food
Some people were so rude
The people in camps treated so cruel
The one who ruled the Holocaust became the fool
Killing many innocent people
God Bless the world and all the people, pray so that we cry no deeper.

Holocaust by Guyman R.

Hundreds of thousands have died.
Oh how it caused pain to millions.
Loud the people cry of hate.
Of one man who caused these pains.
Can we stop it?
Again it could happen
Unless we learn about our mistakes.
So we will know that it's not right.
Tarnished the blood spilled will always stay to remind us of this pain once caused.

Holocaust (Haiku) Poem by Katy A.

Lying in our filth
We pray to God for some food
Help us through the night.

Coming into play
The sounds of pain and need
Look into the eyes.

Tired and weary
Standing for days at a time
In the rumbling trains

Darkness takes over
Bones sticking out of my chest
Where else can we go?

Dear friends at Ein Ganim,

I can only imagine what your ancestors had to go through. We learn about the Holocaust in Jr. High, we see movies, we read about it in many books, so we are very well educated about the Holocaust. I am told that all of the students in you school do a memorial ceremony for all of the kids that dies in the Holocaust. I think that is so neat, to remember the young ones that died in the concentration camps. IT shows that you truly care about your history and what the Germans did to the Jews. I know that as much as we learn about it in books and from our teachers, we could never learn about it the way you all do. Your ancestors that survived, and their stories would bring many thoughts and feelings to you. I can't wait to hear your stories about where you came from and your background. I would love to learn more.

Yours truly,
Samatha G.

Before I begin my piece, I will say I have never experienced the Holocaust and will never know the horror of it, and the closest I will know of it is from a book.

Hungry and sick people
People following the Nazi crowd
Yelling, mean Nazis
Hatred and despair
Sorrow and death
Children crying
People full of Deceit
Death, fear, hatred, and despair
And what is left is broken people with horrid moments burned into their memory.

No one will every know what it was really like [the Holocaust] unless they have experienced this terrible disaster in history. And so it will never happen again, the brave and courageous will protect the protected.

Tyler E.

Dear Students at Ein Ganim,

We are also learning about the Holocaust in our school. We have read books and watched movies about people who have survived and people that have died in the Holocaust. It is horrible that this actually happened. I don't know how it feels to have a family member that has been in the Holocaust but I know it must be a bad feeling. Learning about the things that Hitler did makes me sad but I know that we have to learn about it so it won't ever happen again.

Your Friend,
Kaci H.

Dear Friend,

The Holocaust is on of the world's worst events in my opinion. It is hard to imagine that on of God's creations could be so horrible to other people. To finally come to the point of actually harming or killing someone that didn't meet his standards of "perfection". I mean, how could someone just drag people out of their home, and treat them so horribly without having the common courtesy to treat them like human beings instead of like old rag dolls? Though we are not from Germany, and many of us do not have Jewish ancestors, we still learn about the Holocaust in School. We are hoping that the more we learn about the Holocaust, and the more we realize how bad it was, then may ours, and generations after us, will not allow history to repeat itself. What kind of activities does your class do to reflect, or learn about the Holocaust?

Sincerely,
Laura M

Dear Friends at Ein Ganim School.

I am glad that we have finally found a program to communicate to other countries. After reading about the Holocaust it was sad to know that so many innocent people died because they were part of he Jewish faith. To think that millions died in only a few months, is scary, because many kids didn't have parents. It mush be painful to think that one of your relatives may have gone trough this time of cruel punishment. Our teacher told us that y'all would be studying and remembering all the people who were lost in that short treacherous time. I hope everything is going goo in class.

Your friend from Ballinger Junior High,
Lance M.

Dear Students at Ein Ganim,

There were a lot of people and mostly Jews that had to of to concentration camps. I wouldn't have liked it if I ever went to a camp, I wouldn't survive. At our school we watched movies about the Holocaust, and how people had to survive and try to live. I really feel sorry for the people that lost heir lives. I really don't understand why they put children and elderly people in concentration camps. That is sad to loose about 3-4 million people in the Holocaust, but I'm glad that it's over and it won't happen again. OR at least I don't want it to happen again. Well, take care students at Ein Ganim.

Sincerely,
Brittany A.

Dear Friends at Ein Ganim,

These past few months at school we have been learning about the Holocaust and all of it's horrible tragedies. I really don't know how it feels to have a family member, or a friend, that has died in the Holocaust. Just reading about all that happened gives me the chills. It mush feel really horrible though.

I think that what happened to the Jews was so awful. There was nothing that they did wrong because all they were doing was worshiping their God and their religion. No man should be punished for what they believe in. Every man should have their own opinion.

I am very glad that you take the time to remember the Holocaust. If no one were to remember the Holocaust it would be able to be repeated. Everyone should take the time to remember the Holocaust, not just the people that had friends and family, but everyone.

I want to thank you for taking the time to read this letter.

Sincerely
Hailey T.

The Holocaust was, in my opinion, the most devastating act in history. All of the innocent people dies because one man believed something was wrong. Even though I have no Jewish heritage, I still think about he horrible things that happened all the time.

I feel bad for all the people that were in the death camps and any families who had people in them. It must have been a horrible experience to be in the going days without food and the diseases that went around. Anyone who lived through them had to be a really strong person, and not just physically because most were not, but mentally also. I have strong respect for anybody who lived through it, and those that didn't.

Skyler O.

Dear Students at Ein Ganim,

I think that the Holocaust was a horrible event that never should have happened and should never happen again.

I also think that it is really important and special that you have a special day to remember the Holocaust so that history will not repeat itself. Lack of tolerance is one of the reasons the Holocaust happened because people could not tolerate each other's differences and learn to coexist.

I don't know what it was like to live during that time or to be prosecuted for just being me, but I am sure that it is a horrible thing to have to go through. I if you have lost a loved on to the Holocaust I am sorry for you loss,and I am sorry for the pain and sorrow that people who have been in the Holocaust have had to go through.

Your friend,
Danielle F.

What happened between the Jews and the Nazis was a terrible thing. The way they were treated was awfully bad. It just wasn't fair how they had to live through years of struggle. When we study about the Holocaust, it reminds me of how African Americans were treated. Even though it was probably worse, I don't think anyone should be treated that way no matter what they do. I think the Holocaust was a very bad event that should never have happened in world history.

Renaldo G.

The Holocaust by Alice A.

Thought it happened many years ago,
Through many days, rain or snow,
We still remember o this day,
The millions of people that had to pay.

Just because they believed,
In something with which he couldn't agree,
He decided to make a perfect place,
Where everyone would have enough space.

What they didn't realize,
Is that their ultimate prize,
Of a perfect world has been here,
Since time began, every year,
As it was with diversity,
And everyone being free.

Questions by Kenneth M.

Why did the world come to this?
Why did those people die?
How many times must I ask myself...why?
What caused a thing like this to come?
Why did it last so long?
How many more will die?
What will be the sum?
Why were we so ignorant
That we let help come too late?
Why did we let then do their will,
While we would sit and debate?
But thank the Lord it ended,
Because hope is our only hope.
May we remember them,
As we ask the endless question,
Why?

Dear Friends at Ein Ganim,

Here at our school we are learning about he Holocaust. It was one of he worst events in history. I just don't see how anyone could be so cruel to thousands and thousands of people. I don't know what it's like to have a family member taken away or killed just because they were different. But I do know that it is wrong and it should never have happened. It's just terrible how innocent Jews were starved, imprisoned, and sent o concentration camps to work because they weren't blond haired, blue eyed. It shouldn't matter what you look like, it just matters what's on the inside.

Sincerely,
Breanna H.

Dear Students of Ein Ganim,

The Holocaust was one of the worst historical events that has every occurred. There is a famous saying that says, "Those who don't remember the past are condemned to repeat it." If we don't reflect back on all the suffering and Hitler's lack of tolerance, then millions of more people could be suffering in the same way that the Holocaust victims did. I'm very glad that y'all (that's slang for you all) take time to remember this life-changing event. The Holocaust Memorial prevents us from repeating everything that happened during the Holocaust. Hopefully Global Dreamers will allow people to understand how important tolerance is.

Your friend from Texas,
Paige S.

The Holocaust by Sabrina B.

It happened os long ago,
The cries
The tears
The unwanted fears

People leaving us one by one
Our family and friends,
The hopes of people surviving were lost

Killed unjustly
before their time had come

Many dies those couple of years
without anyone to hear their tears

Dear Friends,

I am an American and I will be writing to you about my feelings toward the Holocaust. I think the Holocaust was a disaster and the near extermination of your people. I don't know how your family survived it, but you pulled through wanting to live on.

The Holocaust to me was a very wrong thing to do. The Holocaust was a tragedy and a disaster I believe. The Holocaust is still to this day unimaginable. I can't understand how hard that was for your people and how they fought through it.

The Holocaust was a terrible thing and I hope it happens to no on else ever again. There is one good thing about the Holocaust though'; it brought one good thing about. IT brought us closer together than we ever could on our own.

Sincerely,
Justin S.

Dear Students at Ein Ganim,

What was the Holocaust to you? The word holocaust means total destruction of life. I think it was a devastating attack on the people who the Nazi's hated including the Jews, blacks, and he gypsies. What they did in the concentration camps was terrible, but when the war ended, many of he people had the freedom that they deserve. Because of he millions of deaths in the camps and the war, the Nazi's deserve to be punished for what they have done. The reason for me writing Nazi's a lot is because I'm German. I'm not a Nazi German, I'm a good one, because I believe it was a terrible thing that happened to the people into he camps. But now I'm glad that we have the freedom we have today.

Sincerely,
Paul N.

Dear students at Ein Ganim,

I's so sorry what happen to some of your family during the Holocaust it was a very terrible thing. It was very awful that they didn't really give the Jews any food or water, and how Germans would shave off the Jew's hair when they arrived and tattooed numbers on the Jews. It was also sad that the Germans would put the Jews in gas chambers if they were sick or ill.

The one thing that was very sad is that he Germans would separate the Jews and their families. Sometimes people would die because they were cold, and they would starve. I fee bad for all the innocent people that tried to help the Jews and all the Jews who lost their family during he Holocaust. It was a sad tragedy.

Remember the Holocaust and don't let history repeat itself.

Your friend,
Tina F.

Dear Friends at Ein Ganim,

The holocaust was a terrible thing. I think it's really cool that y'all (sorry I'm from Texas) have a Holocaust memorial day. It is important to remember and to learn from it. If we don't learn from our mistakes then we will repeatedly make the same mistake. Hopefully the Holocaust was all it took to learn that different is different, different is not wrong. And that we continue to treat everyone as equals.

So what do y'all do for Memorial Day? Do you have any kind of ceremonies? I would love to know more about it. Thanks.

P. S. I will be remembering the victims of the Holocaust on April 5th too.

Sincerely,
Ali T.

Dear Friends at Ein Ganim,

I really think that it's neat that we are doing this. I have never talked to somebody so far away from Ballinger, Texas. The fact that we have learned about the Holocaust makes me wonder if any of your grandparents were in a concentration camp. I bet it's really sad for them to remember all the devastating thins that happened to them and the people they loved. When I first really learned about the Holocaust I thought, "How can one man make that all happen?" How could all those people follow him? I really think that he was a horrible man. Also, I really want to thank Mrs. Goren for making this possible.

Your new friend,
Brenda D.

Before I begin my piece I want to say that I may not have suffered anything close to the Holocaust, but my people went through slavery.

Sick and young dying everyday S
ending people to Auschwitz was headed the wrong way
Nazis taking homes
Trying to hide the bones
The U.S. Liberating
The Germans not negotiating
Not forgetting the past
Will let it not recast

Michael M.

Stories Untold.

They took their families… everyone.
Nazis did their deeds thinking it was fun.

Whether they were rich or poor,
it didn’t matter anymore.

They were all destined to die,
no matter how much they wept and cried.

Innocent people young and old,
these places hold secrets and stories untold.

So, don’t forget the past,
or it may come back fast.

Samantha B.

Free at Last

Freedom
Hope, faith
Spirit filling, loving, forgiving
Overcoming all obstacles that come our way
Accomplishing, bonding, rejoicing
Reviving, celebrations Liberty

Jacie F

Holocaust Memorial

The Holocaust is such a meaningful yet awful thing in my mind. I have learned so much about it during school. I can just imagine what it is like to know someone who went through that horrific time, or to have a family member who didn’t survive it. I always seem to wonder why it happened. Why would someone want to go to the extent of destroying an entire population just because they’re not satisfied with them? A friend and I watched the movie “Schindler’s List”, and we both cried throughout the whole thing. We had never thought of anything so horrible happening before we were born. I think it is a wonderful thing to have a Holocaust Memorial Day dedicating all those who are still affected and want

Paige M.

Dear friends at Ein Ganim,

The Holocaust was such a horrific, historical event. It still affects people’s lives today. Hundreds of thousands of Jews lost their lives because so many people viewed them as “imperfect.”

I think it’s really awesome that ya’ll have a memorial day dedicated to the Holocaust. A Holocaust Memorial Day is very important because it allows people to remember the Jews that suffered, and all of the pain they endured. I wish we had a Holocaust Memorial Day.

It’s so amazing that students who attend Ein Ganim and Mrs. Goren have relatives that were actually in concentration camps during the Holocaust. Kids in America only know about the pain the Holocaust brought to people from books, movies, and even poems, but I think it would be really interesting to sit down and listen to a Holocaust victim tell stories about their traumatic experiences.

The Holocaust shows us all what can happen when people decide that being cruel toward others who are not the same as them is the way to go. Hopefully now we realize that differences between people are what make us unique.

Sincerely,
Katherine E.

Dear Mrs. Goren’s Class,

Over the last few days our class has studied about the horrible devastations of the Holocaust. Even though it has been years since the Holocaust, it is still a major aspect of your lives.

I really think that it is great that you have a memorial for all of the victims of the Holocaust. Having this memorial will hopefully always remind the world of what happened during the Holocaust, so that this horrible past cannot repeat itself. It is so amazing that some people lived to tell about their experiences and it is even more amazing that some survivors were your relatives. I can’t even begin to imagine what your relatives or friends went through during this time! Hopefully this memorial will help people everywhere have tolerance for the people who are not perfect.

I hope everything goes great with the Holocaust memorial, and thank you for taking the time to read my letter.

Sincerely,
Kelci Z.

Holocaust Memorial

It is really amazing that someone can go through as much as the Jewish people went through during the Holocaust. I hope that the past never repeats itself ever again.

I think that we need to constantly reflect and remember the brave and heroic people who made it through the Holocaust, and honor the equally brave and heroic people who died during the Holocaust. It is sad how so many people died because of their race but amazing how so many people survived such cruelty. It’s also sad that someone can be that cruel to someone else because they are different. Also amazing is the fact that the Jewish people could recover from such hard times. I can’t even imagine living in constant fear of dying by the Nazi hand. So let us all pray that history doesn’t repeat itself.

I look forward to sharing stories and experiences with everyone at Ein Gannin .

Taylor C.

Holocaust

I never knew what the Holocaust was until I read The Diary of Anne Frank. It really taught me about how the Nazis treated the Jewish people. They were treated badly because of what they believed in or what there religion was. The Diary of Anne Frank really educated me about how people were treated. I never knew that the people in a different country were being treated like they were back then. I personally think that the concentration camps were the worst thing about the Holocaust. People should not have been treated like that because of their religion. I am so glad that I read The Diary of Anne Frank because if I hadn’t then I would not have even known what happened to all of the people. I would like to end this with a famous quote. “Those who don’t remember the past are commended to repeat it.”

Misty F.

Holocaust

All the people that get hurt and all the things that get taken, They hurt others that are part of there life and that are in the position that they are in.

In the Holocaust people got treated badly and they didn’t deserve to be treated the way they were and just die. Personally what I think is that the people that were in the Holocaust shouldn’t have been treated the way they were. They were loving and caring and never did anything to hurt others. The only thing is that one man did all the things to them and changed everything.

I think this was wrong. What I tell myself is why live if we are just all living to die. I’m just glad that none of the things that happened before happen now because the past and the future are two different things if we don’t repeat our mistakes. I guess living the future would only give me my answer.

Kristina A.

Unbelievable History

When I heard about the Holocaust, I was shocked. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. I was devastated about what had happened, and I wanted to know more. To me, words couldn’t describe what had happen in Jewish history.

At first, I didn’t understand why Jewish people had holidays, and remembernce days about something so horrible in their history. Growing up in a safe community in America all of my life made it hard for me to understand the misery and sorrow Jewish people faced. When I found out that there was a possibility that it could happen to my country, I understood. I read the Diary of Anne Frank, and watched movies about survivors and people who didn’t make it. It was a disturbing, yet very educational thing to me. I now understand why freedom is so important to the Jews. It is devastating to me that some people have to remember a history like that.

I hope that nothing like this ever happens to my country or any other country for that matter. My hope is that maybe one day the world will find peace, and everyone will be equal in each other’s eyes

Melaine B.

Honor Them

By: Randal B.

Many have died
We will honor them
They were sent away on trucks and boats
We will honor them

We can’t imagine the pain
The pain they went through
Their lives, there were so many
Many didn’t get to finished the journey of life
They have skipped an important stepping stone
Millions have died for what?
We will honor them

They might not hear our words
But they know we are here
We will honor them forever

Many have lived to tell their story
To tell their horrible story
We will honor them

Of all their feelings
We know what they went through
I write this poem to honor them

Nazis came and Nazis went
To take the lives of others

They sat and watch while the innocent were taken
Taken from there homes, friends, and family

All the pain, all the sorrow
That won’t be gone tomorrow

Some were hurt
Some were lost
They did nothing to deserve this disastrous cost

They came together
They fought each other

Many went in
Few came out

Lives were taken
Some forsaken

In memory of all those who lost friends, family and loved ones in the holocaust.

Holocaust Memorial

When I read Anne Frank’s Diary I couldn’t see myself living through what she did. To stick with what I believed in even though people around me were getting killed. When she went to the concentration camp she was beaten, and starved to death. I can’t even bear it if I get a paper cut, and I have to eat at least a little snack every now and then. So, I really look up to Anne Frank and anybody else who stood up for what they believed in during the Holocaust.

Gina S.

Dear Mrs. Goren’s Class,

My class has recently studied about the holocaust. I have read many of books and seen movies and pictures about the holocaust. I can’t imagine having to go through the death camps .

During the holocaust, innocent people died because the Germans had zero tolerance. There were many horrible things that happened in the holocaust that I will never be able to forget. I wish I understood more about the holocaust. I am so glad that you celebrate a day to remember the six million people who died.

Sincerely,
Taylor T.