News Release
For Immediate Release
Date: March 17, 2022
Contact: Jonathan Fu [email protected]
Local District Northwest Hosts Online Classroom Seminar Featuring First-hand Accounts of Holocaust Survivors
Los Angeles, California (March 17, 2022) – Los Angeles Unified’s Local District Northwest will host an online seminar with survivors of the Holocaust for students on select dates from March 16 to March 25. Presenters in the virtual seminar come from a variety of backgrounds, providing students within Local District Northwest with a multifaceted understanding of the Holocaust from the perspective of several Holocaust survivors.
“I survived 12 camps and I had a family with three sisters and two brothers. I am the only survivor from my family,” said Holocaust survivor and seminar presenter Joseph Alexander. “Every school should be taught about the Holocaust.”
Schools across Local District Northwest will be given the opportunity to join these seminars, which will be presented online. The speakers will present their stories in virtual sessions on March 16, 17, 18, 23, 24 and 25. Participants include Joseph Alexander, Harry Davids, Dana Schwartz, Lea Radziner, Phil Raucher, David Lenga and Herb Murez.
“The unprovoked cruelty and death that we are seeing today in Europe reminds us what was possible during World War II when an authoritarian, barbaric, and genocidal regime was able to systematically murder over six million Jewish people and others considered to be undesirable human beings,” said Los Angeles Unified Board Member Scott M. Schmerelson. “I am so very grateful that our students will have the opportunity to learn about the history and horrors of the Holocaust because I am very fearful of what could happen if we ever forget this history.”
“We’re thankful to our presenters who are willing to share their harrowing experiences from the Holocaust with our students,” said Local District Northwest Superintendent Joseph Nacorda. “It is our hope that by sharing these stories, we can prevent similar atrocities from occurring in the future.”
Joseph Alexander, born 1922, survived 12 different concentration camps, including Dachau and Auschwitz-Birkenau. Harry Davids, born 1942, was saved by his parents after he was hidden with a family in a Dutch town through the Dutch resistance. Dana Schwartz, born 1937, was forcefully relocated to a ghetto in Lvov, Poland, now Lwow, Ukraine. Lea Radziner, born 1938, survived the Holocaust after she was saved by a family arranged through the Dutch resistance. Phil Raucher, born 1927, was sent to the Markstadt and Funfteichen concentration camps after initially being sent to his relatives to escape the war. David Lenga, born 1927, was liberated in 1945 by the American Army after losing nearly 100 family members to the Holocaust. Herb Murez, born 1924, escaped from Nazi-occupied Austria, but many of his family members were killed by the Nazis.
“We are incredibly honored to hear from the Holocaust survivors whose message is of hope and integrity for human race despite their extremely traumatic experiences,” said Local District Northwest Administrator of Instruction Dr. Margaret Kim. “We look forward to another profound learning session at this year’s seminar, meeting the Holocaust survivors (via Zoom) and listening to their testimonies and reflections.”
“What an emotional experience to hear first-hand about the Holocaust from its survivors,” said Reseda Charter High School Principal Melanie Welsh. “Through this priceless and heart-wrenching presentation, we continue to honor the victims and survivors by educating our students.”
Information about the seminar may be found at www.lausd.org/northwest. Interview opportunities for members of the media are available with the speakers and with Dr. Margaret Kim.
Local District Northwest is one of six local districts within Los Angeles Unified, serving the northwest portion of the District with 126 schools and over 70,000 students. You may learn more about Local District Northwest by visiting www.lausd.org/northwest or by following @LASchoolsNW on social media.