Utilizing Survival Stories in Holocaust Education and Building Empathy
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Rebecca Snyder
College:
The College of Health Professions and Human Services
Major:
Holocaust and Genocide Studies
Faculty Research Advisor(s):
Adara Goldberg
Abstract:
In 2024, there are only approximately 2,000 Holocaust survivors remaining in New Jersey. Many survivors, beginning in the 1980s, began to share their stories of survival with the public, particularly students. They speak to students, adults, or are interviewed by Holocaust Resource Centers for documentation purposes. Holocaust survivor speakers advocate for Holocaust education to prevent horrific situations again, to allow future generations to avoid their own accounts of survival—preventing future generations to avoid another Holocaust or horrific event. However, once all Holocaust survivors pass, who will pass on these stories? Is it expected for just their children, grandchildren, and other family members to share these stories? This research explores how non-Jewish people can share the survival stories of the Jewish community to aid the prevention of another genocide against Jewish people. Teachers, parents, leaders, and celebrities who are non-Jewish have the platform to share these stories and educate younger generations, who are not Jewish to create an environment that does not allow for minorities to be targeted. In the classroom setting, teachers have the opportunity to educate future generations on acceptance and kindness. Lessons can allow time to hear the stories of survivors and how we as a society can prevent another Holocaust. Driving questions of this paper are: How can non-Jewish people utilize the survival strategies of Holocaust survivors to break the cycle of antisemitism? What is the role of teachers and education?