Eighth grade students had a rare opportunity to attend an assembly with guest speaker, author and Holocaust survivor Marion Blumenthal Lazan. The students are currently reading her book “Four Perfect Pebbles” about Mrs. Blumenthal Lazan’s experience in a concentration camp when she was only nine years old.
Mrs. Blumenthal Lazan was greeted by hundreds of crafted and decorative butterflies placed on boards to send the reminder that there are heroes among villians, upstanders among bystanders, and that both survivors and victims should be remembered and recognized. The Butterfly Project also represents what is right and urges individuals to choose kindness and acceptance.
Mrs. Blumenthal Lazan spoke about the Nuremberg Laws, Kristallnacht (The Night of Broken Glass) and her trip to the infamous Bergen-Belsen concentration camp at the height World War II. She also explained the true story behind her book: If she collected four perfect pebbles, all of her family members would survive.
Mrs. Blumenthal Lazan told the students she has separated herself from what happened but realizes the importance of sharing her experiences. She also appealed to the students to share her story with others.
“Please share the stories of the Holocaust,” she said. “It is you who will have to bear witness.”
The assembly commenced with Mrs. Blumenthal Lazan asking students to have love, respect and tolerance toward one another, to look for similarities and respect differences, and to never generalize a group by the actions of others.
Date Added: 6/5/2023