2G Next Generations
One of many legacies that survivors of the Holocaust gave us is powerful lessons on identifying and confronting evil when we see it. Since October 7, 2023 these lessons have become vital and timely. As the Executive Director of HERC, I want to remind you that the survivors horrific struggle to stay alive through the inhumanity they faced teaches us the dangers of unchecked antisemitism and hatred. It is now our responsibility to do something, to confront this vile disease spreading in our midst, and work towards its eradication. This is what HERC is about through outreach and education.
I am pleased to announce that HERC is supporting the formation of a group called 2nd and 3rd Generation of Holocaust Survivors in Tallahassee. Its aim is to bring together all generations of children of Holocaust survivors to speak the words directly conveyed from their parents and grandparents. The new group all too well understands what the horrors of hatred can become when left unchecked and not confronted.
The first meeting of 2nd and 3rd Generation of Holocaust survivors was held January 28, 2024, one day after the International Holocaust Remembrance Day scheduled each year at the infamous death camp of Auschwitz in Poland. This commemoration is held to remind us that the origins of the Holocaust were planned step by step in dehumanization of individuals over a period of time starting in 1933 by banning Jews to continue working in the field of sciences, the arts, and educational institutions. The 1939 invasion of Poland by the Nazis was particularly aimed at full annihilation of the Jews, physically and mentally disabled persons, and other groups of people deemed inferior in race or religion by people seeking to gain power. This history of WWII continued unabated and the result was the murder of six million Jews, and millions more through the act of war.
Eleven 2nd and 3rd generation individuals came together, and decided now was the time to be unified and bring forth the messages of tragedy and warning sounded by their parents and grandparents. They have met several times and in the process of creating power point presentations for schools, which expands on the first programs started by Rita Blank and myself. These new voices have now joined the voices that have been silenced by death and age. One such person, Avi Pelc, a 2G has said
“Few survivors of the Holocaust are still alive. Even if they had been young adults or children, then today they would be in their 80’s and 90’s. Sam Pelz was the last survivor in my family who passed away in 2023. He left behind his testimony detailing what our family went through due to actions by the Nazis and their willing collaborators. It is incumbent upon us that we must take up their cause to make sure the world never forgets what happened to them. If we fail to do what the world will likely see it happen again. We cannot allow that.”
Remarks by Avi Wygodski, “Another Holocaust was instigated on October 7, 2023, and we are witnessing the distortion going on in the media and campuses across the United States with anti-Israel protesters undeniably using hateful rhetoric that is deafening, reminiscent of venomous language used by the Nazis. Calling for the elimination of Jews. Now these protestors who support terrorists are calling for the elimination of Jews. We must refute and resist these deceptive posts, biased educators, and radical ideologies or we will be adding to our Holocaust Museums with the next catastrophe.”
The 2nd and 3rd generation voices are riveting, and a warning to all of us. If you wish to join our group, please contact me. I am proud to say that I am the daughter of Holocaust survivors and I join, and endorse this initiative.