Today was one of the most moving and emotional days I've had of my teaching career. We had Holocaust survivor, Mike Jacobs, and his wife, Ginger come to our school today. The survivors are getting fewer and fewer, so it was rewarding to have him come to our school and relive his past so that he might influence the students. I was blessed to be able to have lunch with both he and his wife. When I first walked into the room and met him...I couldn't help but just imagine what he endured while I shook his hand. He was so fragile yet so strong. He was very hard of hearing, so his wife, Ginger, helped me out while I was visiting with him. He autographed my book and gave me a Dallas Holocaust pen, as he is the founder of the museum. All his immediate family died in the Treblinka death camp,(mother, father, brothers and sisters). He was the ONLY survivor from his immediate family, and he told the students that hope, faith, and thinking positive got him through this huge crisis in his life. He was there for five years before he was liberated, stayed in Germany another five years; then got his pass to come to America. He currently resides in Dallas with his wife.
I think I've done a great job this year educating the kids on the history of the Holocaust, but I think Mr. Jacobs coming in to speak to them really hit home for many of my students. I was so proud of how respectful and attentive they were for an hour and a half. They all got to shake his hand and give him a hug at the end. Here are the pictures that I got to document this unforgettable day.
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