About 100 Queensbury High School sophomores enrolled in AP World and English 10H classes visited Holocaust survivor Ruth Mendel in Albany. Mendel spoke about her experiences as a child living in Luxembourg during World War II and the Nazi occupation.
“As the number of Holocaust survivors continues to decline, listening to them now ensures their memories — and the lessons they carry — are not lost,” said social studies teacher Kerry Rodriguez. “Meeting a survivor and hearing her testimony transforms the Holocaust from words on a page in a history book into the experiences of real people with names, families and dreams. The personal connection builds empathy and understanding in a way textbooks alone cannot.”
Mendel recounted the many injustices she and her family endured, such as losing their beloved family store and being forbidden from attending school. She also shared the simple acts of kindness that she and her family encountered as they fled Europe and eventually immigrated to America. She encouraged students to “be inspired by kindness” and to remember that words matter and little acts of kindness can resonate long after they happen.