Horror of the Holocaust remembered at Bob Jones

The Holocaust Museum at Bob Jones included exhibits for survivors Sonja Adelberg Bromberg and Robert May. (CONTRIBUTED)

MADISON – Study of World War II led to a Holocaust Museum by several classes at Bob Jones High School.

The social studies and English departments collaborated on the effort. The museum idea originated In November when several history and English teachers attended the “Echoes and Reflections” at the main branch of the Huntsville-Madison County Library.

“In history classes, students are learning about circumstances (leading to) the Holocaust,” modern U.S. history teacher Leah Faris said. “In English, students are reading various works, such as ‘Night,’ and applying historical knowledge to literature.”

As a result, the Bob Jones students realized the relevance of the Holocaust as it related cross the curricula.

The work at Bob Jones coincided with Holocaust Remembrance Day on April 8, a global reflection for 11 million people, including 6 million Jewish individuals, who were killed at Adolf Hitler’s command.

The traveling exhibit “Darkness into Life” was the collaboration’s centerpiece. Classes created museum exhibits on Judaism, concentration camps and the Holocaust’s portrayal in literature and film.

Madison resident Vic van Leeuwen spoke to several classes about his family’s experience during the Holocaust and also fielded questions. “This further deepened the project by allowing students to further empathize,” Faris said. “Mr. van Leeuwen bridged the material to real-world application by relating the Holocaust to bullying.”

The Holocaust Museum allowed cross-curricular connections for the Bob Jones students in history and English. (CONTRIBUTED)

For Faris, the most poignant displays were about individual Holocaust survivors. “Their stories were not only impressive but moving. It was an honor and pleasure to learn all of their stories,” she said.

Numerous teachers helped the endeavor. Robin Dauma and Faris reserved and transported the exhibit and arranged for the speaker. Kurt Yancey reached out to other departments and motivated others to enhance the exhibit with their class’ displays. Jan Krell, Bridget Drummond and Cory Wright also assisted.

“The Holocaust was an unfathomable event for senseless reasons,” Faris said in an interview with “Patriot Pages” staff. “It’s important for students to learn about it because it’s a lesson in tolerance.”