Jewish American Heritage Month

Posted By richards on June 20, 2017

In all the years he had Holocaust survivors speak to his students at Avon High School, Stu Abrams saw it as a way of ensuring that their stories would not be forgotten.

The importance of doing that was driven home after Abrams organized a program for students in March with Margot Jeremias, a survivor and West Hartford resident. In May, he received two envelopes, one at his home and another sent to the school, that were filled with Holocaust denial material. That material was also sent to the high school's history department and to Jeremias.

This was a first for Abrams and he reported the incident to two groups that track antisemitic activity and the FBI, which sent an agent to interview him. The material was sent anonymously and authorities have not tracked down who sent it. Abrams recalled what happened at a recent student awards dinner.

But the incident still sickened Abrams and he wanted to do something more. For that, Abrams turned to Abby Weiner, another Holocaust survivor who lives in West Hartford and has put a human face and an individual's story on the Holocaust for students at the high school. Weiner has spoken at the high school at least six times, most recently in December, and Abrams estimates that as many as 1,000 students have heard him speak.

When the high school holds its commencement ceremony on Tuesday, Weiner will receive an honorary diploma. Abrams said this honors a man whose story has changed the lives of students who heard it, a man who sends a message.

"I wanted to do something that represents what Avon High School and the Avon community is about," Abrams said. "The high school is not a community of denial, revisionist history and hate. We are a community of integrity, compassion and love."

Tuesday's ceremony is at 5:30 p.m. at the high school.

Weiner said he was surprised at the idea of getting a diploma but agreed that it reinforces what he has tried to tell young people for years.

"My guts were turning," Weiner said about seeing the Holocaust denial material Abrams received.

Monica Jorge / Hartford Courant

June 19, 2017 - West Hartford, Connecticut: Abby Weiner holds a photograph of himself from when he first arrived in America in the living room of his home in West Hartford, June 19, 2017. Weiner, a Holocaust survivor, will receive an honorary diploma at this year's graduation commencement ceremony at Avon High School after speaking at several programs on the Holocaust and his experiences to students throughout the years.

June 19, 2017 - West Hartford, Connecticut: Abby Weiner holds a photograph of himself from when he first arrived in America in the living room of his home in West Hartford, June 19, 2017. Weiner, a Holocaust survivor, will receive an honorary diploma at this year's graduation commencement ceremony at Avon High School after speaking at several programs on the Holocaust and his experiences to students throughout the years. (Monica Jorge / Hartford Courant)

Weiner, who is originally from Romania and was 15 when he was liberated from the Buchenwald concentration camp, never graduated from high school. That did not hold him back from starting a successful business designing window displays for stores after immigrating to the United States in 1948, marrying and having two children.

Weiner said when he first came to the United States, he avoided talking about his experience. But once he did he often dealt with people who did not believe him or knew nothing about the Holocaust.

"I got very upset at professional people who had education in their brains but would deny it," Weiner said about the reaction of some people. "I want to get the message out that the Holocaust happened. There are very few of us left and some don't want to talk about it. I just don't want it to be forgotten. I made a vow that never again will the Holocaust happen."

Weiner and his family were deported from their home in 1944 and both of his parents died in concentration camps. He credits the bravery of another prisoner, who pulled him out of a line of people who were preparing to leave the camp, for saving his life. Weiner said he saw things like other prisoners committing suicide by throwing themselves against electric fences and abuse from guards, including being forced to stand for hours in an open space to be counted regardless of the weather.

"They would count you hundreds of times to break you down and put fear in you," Weiner said.

Monica Jorge / Hartford Courant

June 19, 2017 - West Hartford, Connecticut: Abby Weiner holds a photograph of himself with his parents in his home in West Hartford, June 19, 2017. Weiner, a Holocaust survivor, will receive an honorary diploma at this year's graduation commencement ceremony at Avon High School after speaking at several programs on the Holocaust and his experiences to students throughout the years. MONICA JORGE|mjorge@courant.com

June 19, 2017 - West Hartford, Connecticut: Abby Weiner holds a photograph of himself with his parents in his home in West Hartford, June 19, 2017. Weiner, a Holocaust survivor, will receive an honorary diploma at this year's graduation commencement ceremony at Avon High School after speaking at several programs on the Holocaust and his experiences to students throughout the years. MONICA JORGE|mjorge@courant.com (Monica Jorge / Hartford Courant)

Weiner had spoken to many school and youth groups about his experience when he moved to West Hartford from New York City to be closer to family. He met Abrams at a local synagogue. Abrams, who teaches a class on genocide at the high school, said he was eager to have students hear Weiner's story.

"He has had more impact in the few hours he has been at the high school than I have had in all the time I have been a teacher," Abrams said. "When you hear someone's story, the Holocaust becomes something, it makes it believable."

Although initially reluctant to talk about his experience, Weiner said he realizes now it can be an antidote to ignorance and hatred.

"I love to see kids learning something, to me that is the best medicine," he said.

See the original post:

Holocaust Survivor To Receive Honorary Diploma At Avon High School Graduation - Hartford Courant

Category: Holocaust Denial
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