Understanding the gravity of the Holocaust is a critical component of Heather Price's Facing History and Ourselves course, and her Upper School students gained a deeper understanding of the period recently when Dorothy Goldwin, a second-generation Holocaust survivor, stopped by to share her parent's life and legacy.
Teary eyes filled the room as Mrs. Goldwin told the heartwrenching story of how her mother was only 12 years old when she and her family were forced into a Polish ghetto and had to endure unimaginable starvation, abuse and multiple near-death encounters. The students continued to listen intently and emotionally as Mrs. Goldwin followed with her father's tragic and very different experience as he had to live through the Death March from Auschwitz, which began with him and 4,000 others on the march and ended with only 300 survivors.
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| Mrs. Goldwin brought different parts of her story to life through pictures taken over the years, including this family photo of herself as a child with her mom, dad and brother. |
Mrs. Goldwin also provided valuable insight into the variation in experiences of healing and outlooks on life for survivors and their children after the Holocaust.
"We are so thankful for the incredible opportunity to hear Mrs. Dorothy Goldwin share the experiences of her mother and her father during and after the Holocaust," price said. "We are in the middle of our unit on the Holocaust, and their stories allowed students to hear first-hand accounts of what it was like to live through the devastating trauma and start over in America after the Holocaust. We are forever grateful for Mrs. Goldwin's generosity and willingness to revisit her parents' trauma to share their stories with students at Lausanne."
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| A handwritten note Mrs. Goldwin found in her late mother's desk – Although she does not know when or why her mother wrote it, the message is nonetheless powerful. |