Holocaust Survivors Speak in North Caldwell

“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”

This sentiment from philosopher George Santayana was a central theme of special assemblies at West Essex Middle School in North Caldwell on March 23, when several Holocaust survivors imparted firsthand experiences and lessons to students.

Presenters included Fred Heyman of Morris Township - who witnessed his school and synagogue burn down - Vera Chapman of Verona - who fled Austria with her family after Adolf Hitler rose to power - and NJIT Engineering Professor Peter E. Engler of Berkeley Heights.

Barbara Wind, director of the Holocaust Council of Greater NJ, served as the moderator for the presentations.

Josh Kupferberg, an eighth-grader from North Caldwell, said it was interesting to hear the survivors share their experiences before the class trip to the Holocaust Museum and Washington D.C.

“People think about it like it was so way back and can’t happen again, but it can happen at any time and you have to remember so we can’t let it repeat itself,” said Kupferberg.

Photo 1: Vera Chapman, right, a Holocaust survivor from Verona, speaks to students about her experiences as an infant, as survivor Frey Heyman of Morris Township and Barbara Wind, director of the Holocaust Council of the Jewish Federation of Greater Metrowest NJ, listen.

Photo 2: From left, Barbara Wind, director of the Holocaust Council of the Jewish Federation of Greater Metrowest NJ, NJIT Associate Professor Emeritus Peter E. Engler, a Holocaust survivor from Berkeley Heights, Vera Chapman, a Holocaust survivor from Verona, and Fred Heyman, a Holocaust survivor from Morris Township, and West Essex Middle School Principal Vee Popat.

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