Letters for Ralph

Earlier this spring, Holocaust survivor Ralph Samuel shared his story with students at Valley View Middle School in Pleasant Hill as part of the JFCS Holocaust Center’s William J. Lowenberg Speakers Bureau.

The following comments make up just a small sample of some of the feedback that we received from the students at Valley View Middle School:

“It’s hard to imagine what my life would be like if I was in your place, 80 years ago. I can’t tell you how grateful and sincere I am to you for coming to our school and sharing your life story with us. It is really brave of you to go to schools around the world, talking about your griefs, memories, and joys. You really show kids all around the world that no matter what life throws at you, life goes on. You’re a perfect role model to anyone dealing with a rough path in their life.”

“I’ve read many, many books about the Holocaust, and heard all about the torture, the pain, and the agony. Yet, when I heard your story it hurt more than anything in the world. Hearing someone who has personally been impacted by something so awful almost brought me to tears.”

“During your presentation some of the topics you spoke about stood out to me. One that stood out to me the most was when you told us how Brian was calling you names. This stood out to me the most because last year there was this girl that was saying awful things to me and I understood what it was like.”

“Your presentation left me feeling sad and a little bit angry. It impacted the way I thought of humanity. How could people murder so many innocent people and not even blink an eye?”

Read these student letters in their entirety >

To learn more about how you can bring Ralph into your classroom, contact Nikki Bambauer, Program Coordinator, at [email protected] or 415-449-3717.