Siena hosts Holocaust programs: Exhibits, seminars and talks

"Anne Frank: A History for Today, Lessons for Humanity," which runs through March 24, will feature many programs, including a special seminar for educators on March 18.

The exhibition will recreate the world of Anne Frank, who hid in the attic of an office building in Nazi-occupied Holland for two years before being arrested. Only Otto Frank, Anne's father, survived. He published her now-famous diary.

On display

"The exhibit is a history for today," said Shelly Shapiro, director of the Holocaust Survivors & Friends Education Center in Latham. "It has new lessons for us in the 21st century, particularly after the incidents of Sept. 11."

Ms. Shapiro told The Evangelist that the exhibit emphasizes the unique voice, strength and intelligence of Anne Frank, who wrote her diary in the face of horror but kept a sense of hope.

Bigotry

Numerous schools in the area, including Catholic middle and high schools throughout the Albany Diocese, have reserved dates to tour the exhibition.

One such class, the fifth grade religion class at St. Helen's School in Schenectady, is scheduled to view the exhibit on March 22 with their teacher, Alan Schick, who said, "I think it is very important for our children to be exposed to the topic [of the Holocaust] for an ecumenical education."

Lessons

He also feels that it is important for students to personally identify with the stories of those that survived by meeting and listening to them.

"At this age, children are very interested in stories," he noted. "When the survivors tell their own personal stories, the kids can relate to what they went through. Hopefully, as they mature, the students will be able to recognize prejudice and intolerance when they see it."

Mr. Schick recalls listening to a personal story told by Miep Gies, who helped the Frank family hide from the Nazis. He said that her story made a lasting impression on him.

"She couldn't speak English very well, but I do remember her message. She said that if you can do one thing to stop prejudice and racial intolerance, it is to tell children 'never hate.' Those words have stayed with me ever since," he said.

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