Somers Holocaust Memorial Commission Hopes to Work With K-L School District

The Somers Holocaust Memorial Commission is fairly small by some measures, with 11 board members whose work culminates with the annual Evening of Reflection and Remembrance, called Yom HaShoah. 

But the work of the commission is anything but small. With the goal of educating children to remember the Holocaust and other acts of genocide, the organization promotes the understanding of human rights worldwide, regardless of religion.

Based in Somers, the commission works with John F. Kennedy Catholic in Somers, and North Salem and Somers High Schools. Students participate in Holocaust Human Rights Studies and create art projects in response to their studies. The top three projects from each district are displayed at the Evening of Reflection and Remembrance. Now the Somers Holocaust Memorial Commission is working to add Katonah-Lewisboro to the list. 

"The value involves not only teaching about the past and the horrors of genocide but focusing students on the fact that bigotry and hate crimes continue to exist throughout the world and unfortunately throughout our communities," said commission president Steven Waldinger.

"Hopefully through educating and students actually participating in the projects and our event they will come to recognize that hate, bigotry exists even today that they’ll mature into responsible people who fight against it." 

In addition to its work with schools, the commission supports a collection of materials on human rights at the Somers Library and grants scholarships for high school seniors. 

Former Katonah-Lewisboro Board of Education member Michael Gordon, who was on the BOE for 6 years, believes the commission would provide valuable lessons for students, opening their eyes to understanding the root of current government-sanctioned genocides like in Darfur.

"It takes something that occurred in the past ... and it makes it real for kids who are Jewish or not Jewish," said Gordon. "There are certain people in our society who will never learn a lesson. There is nothing you can do, you cannot teach them. There are people out there who ... are sick and disturbed. But for the vast majority of people I think the lessons about the Holocaust do have tremendous value to sensitizing people to what Jews went through in WWII and what has happened in other parts of the world where governments have sponsored attacks on citizens."

A little more than one year ago, . The incident , some believing the teens didn't understand the symbols they were using, others condemning them for spreading hatred.  

Patch was unable to reach officials from the Katonah-Lewisboro school district to find out if plans to work with the Somers Holocaust Memorial Commission have been finalized in time for publication. According to Waldinger, the board has expressed interest in the program over the last two years.  

For more information on the Somers Holocaust Memorial Commission, visit it's LinkedIn website.