DEWITT, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) — It's been seven months since the Oct. 7 attack on Israel, and anti-Semitic behavior has really increased since then, including in central New York. Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon is currently working with local leaders and county schools to end anti-Semitism.
Onondaga County is partnering with 3GNY, a nonprofit organization founded in 2005 by the grandchildren of Holocaust survivors such as 3GNY Executive Director Dave Reseth. Mr. Lesses is the grandson of Holocaust survivors from Poland and Russia.
“My grandmother was 16 years old when the war began. For the next six years she endured horrible conditions. She survived near the Lublin ghetto, where she was on the verge of starvation. She lived in the Majdanek concentration camp. “Thanks to her courageous actions, my grandmother was able to survive the three-and-a-half years she was hidden in a small apartment by a Polish Catholic family,” Lesses said. .
Like Reckess, many of his grandchildren are third-generation descendants of Holocaust survivors and are part of 3GNY. The organization works with grandchildren to train them to convincingly share their family history and the stories of their families who survived the Holocaust. Once the training is complete, the grandchildren of Holocaust survivors will visit schools and other communities to share their testimonies with students and the public.
“Telling them what happened to their grandparents, how they survived, how they were helped by others, the resilience they showed, and how they built their lives after the war… It's an incredibly personal moment. The speakers also talked about how it felt to them as grandchildren of survivors who grew up knowing this part of our history, this part of our identity. I also share what it means to be a Jewish American with a history of the Holocaust in my family. How do we communicate it? In some cases, anti-Semitism feels even more poignant and painful because we know all too well what will happen if we don't stop it,” Lesses said. Ta.
This year alone, 3GNY partnered with 15 schools in Onondaga County. The Syracuse City School District began a partnership with the organization four years ago, with speakers visiting social studies classrooms to share personal stories. Since the partnership, the district says it has made a huge impact on students.
“We have really seen a huge difference in terms of bringing life to social studies education. When we hear personal stories or have visitors come to our classrooms, we We call it place-based social learning, and it's really about engaging and engaging students and getting them to become critical thinkers and ask quality questions about specific topics that interest them. It's a powerful tool. We're learning about it,” said Nick Stamoulakatos, director of social studies education for the Syracuse City School District.
3GNY also partnered with 40 additional schools in Central New York this year. Through this new funding, the county hopes to reach every neighborhood in hopes of uniting communities to end anti-Semitism.
“Our speakers will share family stories of what the worst examples of anti-Semitism we know have resulted in. And in many cases, our speakers will then “I'll be asked some questions and share a little about my personal experiences over the past few months since the 7th.” Recess.
Leseth says that while speakers' presentations at schools have a huge impact on students, it's still not enough.
“Our goal is for our students to carry their grandparents in their hearts and remember the stories they heard as they go through their day, week, year, and life,” Lesses said. said.
We encourage students to think and act with courage and compassion.
This program is typically offered to middle school and high school students.
Click here to learn more about 3GNY and its mission.