Holocaust Survivors Speak At Summit School

SUMMIT, NJ - Weeks after a swastikas and other hate graffiti were found in Lawton C. Johnson Summit Middle School and Summit High School, Holocaust survivors who were represented by The Holocaust Council of Jewish Federation of Greater Metrowest spoke to middle school students in the district.

On Jan. 16 they addressed the 8th grade student body through a program entitled "Survivors Speak," and shared their experiences, along with moderator Rebecca Lubetkin.

At the time of the graffiti incidents Superintendent June Chang said the district would be working on programs and assemblies to help combat the bigotry displayed.

"As a Holocaust educator, I understand the impact these incidents have on individuals and communities, and I am disgusted by the hate and intolerance demonstrated by these acts," Chang said.

The timing of the program, created for the Morris Museum as part of their outreach to schools, may be coincidental as this was Summit's seventh year participating.

Along with their language arts teacher Grace Buonpane, 8th grade students read The Diary of Anne Frank, and researched the background of that time period. Additionally, Buonpane said she organized the “Survivors Speak” program, because there is nothing more powerful than hearing first hand accounts of history.

Fran Malkin and Robert Max, a Summit resident, each shared their Holocaust experiences and stories of resilience. Fran Malkin was born in the town of Sokal, Poland, to candy store owners Lea and Eli Letzer. She and her family were thrust into World War II with the invasion of Poland by the Nazis in 1939.

They were uprooted and forced to live in a ghetto. Robert Max, an American Jewish soldier, spoke about his three major battle campaigns across Europe in World War II and his ultimate capture during the climactic Battle of the Bulge when he was forced into slave labor. He shared his experience in the war and his upcoming book. They are models of strength and courage; it was a privilege for students and staff to hear them speak.

Following the presentation, Summit High School students from Lauren Wells’ Holocaust & Genocide class set up small discussion groups for high school and middle school students to debrief about the personal accounts. Organizers said the collaboration was extremely beneficial and gave the 8th graders an outlet to reflect upon what they heard and the overall impact of the presentation.

(Photos courtesy of the Summit School District)

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