The response from students and teachers throughout Northern California to The Children of Willesden Lane BAY AREA BIG READ has been incredible! This past week the JFCS Holocaust Center has received over 120 thank you letters from students at Lowell High School in San Francisco. Each heartwarming letter serves as a reminder of the importance of educating youth about the Holocaust and genocide, and inspires us to continue thinking BIG for future programs.

Read excerpts from some of the letters:

“My mother has also been a refugee in times of violence. Mona made me realize that what I’ve been dreaming for a few years now could be a reality. My dream is to create a film or documentary about my parents’ journey and culture for the world to see […] Thank you for teaching the importance of the Holocaust to youth and for inspiring us all.”

“Learning about the Holocaust has never felt so personal and awe-inspiring. Thank you again for your generosity and for this memorable learning experience of the Holocaust. I enjoyed every part of this adventure.”

“[Mona Golabek’s] story was so full of hope and it has become a favorite of mine. Thank you for giving me a new favorite book.”

“I realize the importance and necessity of the JFCS Holocaust Center, and I am so grateful that you all exist. Thank you for this experience, and thank you for everything that you’ve done for survivors and the community. Thank you for inspiring us to never give up and to never forget our families, our homes, our pasts, and our identities.”

“For me personally I both enjoy and dislike learning about the Holocaust and its ramifications. I dislike it because it’s hard to think about and it showcases the absolute worst of humanity. But I think that it’s really really important to learn about though because we have to recognize the atrocities of this time period in order to avoid something like this from ever happening again. Thank you so much for this truly immersive and wonderful program; it’s given me a new a valuable look into the Holocaust.”

“Thank you guys so much for the opportunity for me to learn about the Holocaust. I don’t think I will have another chance for such a big learning moment. This is really big for me because it gives me the drive to keep going. Eventually I will get there.”