On January 28th, Eric Cahn came to speak to the DC and Europe 2009 groups. He first spoke to my class in 1993 and has been inspiring students ever since. Here are two pictures from the day.
I also want to share some quotes from their thank you letters to Eric Cahn. They still talk about the impact he had on them. I am sure that Trip 2009 students of the Westwood neighborhood will remember Eric for a long time!
One 8th grader, Norma, wrote this to Eric, “I know it isn’t easy to come and talk to a group of middle school students about such a painful time in your life. The horrible truth of the Holocaust didn’t really hit me until today when I got to meet you. It’s amazing that I will be one of the last generations to meet a Holocaust survivor, to meet history! It meant a lot to me and my friend taht you did come to Kepner to talk to us…thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
Lauren shared this about Eric’s talk, “I think that your speech changes the way I think about my life. I talk to my brothers about you and what you said. We realize that we are lucky to not have had to go through this. They were surprised that I, the little sister, got to meet you!”
Laura still has questions that her teacher can’t answer, “It is hard to me to imagine that 6 million Jews and 5 million others died during the Holocaust…but the only thing I still don’t get is how could all the other people know about this and not do anything?”
Julia made a connection between a book we’re reading and Eric’s experiences, “When you were telling me about your experience, I thought of the book Jacob’s Rescue that we are reading in the DC class. You were like Jacob…thank you for coming to share your story with us.”
Jessica had similar thoughts but had a hard time expressing them, “I just want you to know that I really admire you and how you came to talk to us. You are cool. But my words won’t come out right….I feel more familiar to the Holocaust now and it’s because of you…thank you!”
Many commented on Eric’s search for his rescue family. To date, he has not been able to find them. They also commented on Eric’s parents’ decision to give him and his sister to rescue families. The students could not imagine being parted from their families.
To read more about Eric’s story, please see The Collegian and the Holocaust Awareness Institute.
Dear Ms.Olson i am Guadalupe Avitia and i wanted to tell you i was really amazed by Eric Cahn. I am one of those persons who dont cry very easyly, but when i was lising to him and how he said his dad went to the right and his mom went to the left that made me feel really touched. I also imagend if i was there and my parents decided to give me away to another family i would not want that but i know it would be the right choise, because if his parents would of not given him away he would not be her right now, i imagend being hidden in a basment for not just moths years! with no one to talk to and berly any food to eat. Also the way he said “i was there” was a real hard thing to say thats when i broke down and just could not handel keeping my tears, i think it was really hard for him and harder for his sister that she cant even talk about it. Well i hope he will keep talking to kids about how it used to be. So people can appreciate what they have right now and be glad that war was over.
it was amizing what he was talking about, it was also really sad.
he is awesome
he is sooo cool! very sad story
he iz soooooooo cool!!!!!!!!!!!!!
you are so cool
It is amazeing what this guy knows can’t wait to see him!!!!!!
Your story was really sad, and I hope that you find your parents.