Chosen excerpts will be read during annual remembrance event April 27th
ROCK ISLAND, IL - The Holocaust Education Committee of the Quad Cities (www.holocausteduqca.com) proudly recognizes three area students for their winning entries in the "Ida Kramer Children and the Holocaust" Essay Contest. The winning selection will be read during the 2014 Yom HaShoah (Yahm ha-SHOW-uh) Community Remembrance event Sunday, April 27th - 7:00 PM at Tri-City Jewish Center (2715 - 30th St., Rock Island).
Alex Bare of Eldridge authored the winning entry entitled, "I Wasn't Even Eighteen - Pierre Seel's Holocaust as a '175er.'" Grace Hipple of Davenport receives accolades for her essay, "The Sun Still Shines - Sophie Scholl and the White Rose." Cassie Berta of Bettendorf is recognized for her profile of Malvina Fried Lefkowitz.
"As an educator, it is both important and uplifting to see how students take on this subject," said Dr. Marrietta Castle, Chair of the Holocaust Education Committee of the Quad Cities. "Relating to children the same age as these students puts a face on the Holocaust for them. It provides a basis for ongoing study and awareness of this pivotal period in our world's history that continues to be felt."
Yom HaShoah is observed as a day of commemoration for the six million Jews (nearly 11 million people total) that perished during the Holocaust. It began in 1953 with the signing of an Israeli law by Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion and President Yitzhak Ben-Zvi. The essay contest bears the name locally of Ida Kramer, former Executive Director of the Jewish Federation of the Quad Cities and a longtime Holocaust educator.
The Jewish Federation of the Quad Cites (www.jfqc.org) is a non-profit, 501c(3) Illinois corporation founded in 1980. With other local organizations, JFQC addresses a broad range of needs to include cultural, religious, educational, family welfare, care of the elderly and interfaith relations. The Federation combats hate and anti-Semitism by supporting religious liberty and civil rights for everyone.
Its core mission is to preserve, protect, enrich and enhance Jewish communal life and the well-being of Jews locally, in Israel and throughout the world. It is a proud member of the Jewish Federations of North America (www.jewishfederations.org). The Jewish Federation of the Quad Cities is also on Facebook at www.facebook.com/jewishfedqc.
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