FEBRUARY 2011

WJCS Holocaust
Survivors Legacy

By Lorraine Thomas Sherman

Working with ongoing support groups for Holocaust survivors, Halina Rosenkranz, Westchester Jewish Community Services Counselor for the Holocaust Program, is also actively involved in developing and promoting education on this topic. The child of two Holocaust survivors, her interest in researching and learning about it is lifelong. She developed a Holocaust curriculum and program for grades 8-12, which has been utilized since 2006 by Ardsley Middle School’s 8th grade English Department, and is trying to include the Holocaust as a standard part of education in all public schools. “That is the goal,” she stated. “I work with teachers on how to incorporate the Holocaust in their curriculum.”

This spring Rosenkranz will be teaching, “Creating a Comprehensive, Relevant and Engaging Course on the Holocaust,” for educators at the Hudson River Teacher Center.

At WJCS she facilitates three monthly support groups: The Survivor Group, Child Survivor/Second Generation Group (born before 1950), and Second Generation Group. Rosenkranz is planning a Third Generation Group of Holocaust Survivors’ grandchildren.

“The meetings encourage conversation. A lending library has been developed, with documentaries on family background, for those whose parents did not speak about their past or who are deceased. Sometimes different people attend; there are close to 50 on the mailing list. At scheduled study groups, 30 may attend.”

In her work as facilitator of the support groups, Rosenkranz not only counsels them, but meets individually with those who wish to do so. Second or third generation descendants of Holocaust survivors interested in attending or holding courses in their schools may contact her at: hrosenkranz@wjcs.com or call 949-7600, ext. 541.

 

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