Eighth Grade Students React to "Sevek and the Holocaust"

“I really got into the book. I couldn’t put it down” Amanda

“Honestly within the first chapter I was already crying” Kayla

“Part of your book horrified me, and part made me happy, and at some parts I even wanted to cry.” Allison

“Our class read your book “Sevek”, and the great details it contained was captivating for all of us. It is interesting to see the Holocaust from the eyes of a young boy struggling to survive, instead of facts simply stated by some historian. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone interested in the Holocaust” Linda

“We were assigned to read three chapters a night, but by the third night of reading, I had to keep reading, I was hooked. It was definitely a book I enjoyed” Lauren

My name is Kayla and I read your incredible book. Yes, incredible. My reaction to your book was simple this: Honestly, within the first chapter I was already crying” Kayla

Letters of Gratitude
from Students at Schools that Sidney has Visited

Dear Mr. Finkel,

You probably don't remember me, but I sure remember you. You came to speak to the sixth graders of Whittier School recently, and I was one of those who heard your speech. Let me describe myself to you, so that you might remember me. That's what your story is all about, right? Remembering.

I am a 12-year-old girl with short, light brown blond hair1 brown eyes, and braces. The day that you came and spoke to us I was sitting in the front row, wearing a 'Star Wars' T-shirt and glasses. I probably asked a lot of questions, which is something I tend to do.

Your speech was an amazing thing to me. To come face to face with a man who had experienced all the fear, struggle, heartbreak and pain, and to have him say that by being able to talk it out, I had helped him. I can't even begin to comprehend it I don't thing I will be able to fully understand until I am older, being just 12 now. Still, this gives me sense of how you must have felt, 7 years old when your life was turned upside-down. I know that nothing that you say or do will let me fully realize the horror of your experience with the Holocaust, but I think I am beginning to understand.

I'd be very interested to hear more of what you have to say, but you are probably busy touching more young lives with your stories. Still,, if you get the chance to write me back, I would be very grateful. My address is below.

Thank you, Sidney Finkel, for giving me something I'll never forget.

Your friend,

Katie McNish

Dear Mr. Finkel,

I am a student at O'Neill Middle School. You recently visited our Social Studies class and related your Holocaust experiences, I'd like to thank you for that, it was a very moving experience. It brought a face to the millions of stories I've heard over the years. It also made me realize what a traumatic experience the Holocaust must have been. I've read many stories and accounts of life in concentration camps and ghettos, but this was a better learning experience than any of them because it left me with an understanding.
I related to your experiences on a small level as I am an African American and
growing up I have had to endure lots of prejudice. Your story gave me hope and courage to go on as well as was a living testament to the people who died in the Holocaust.
Thanks again for sharing a piece of your life with me. You are doing a
remarkable thing by telling others, seeing and hearing a firsthand account left me with something no book could compare to.

Sincerely,
ASHLEY JOHNSON

Mr. Finkel,

The story you told us was a sad one. The worst part is that it really happened. That someone would be cruel and uncaring enough to order the mass murder of millions. Not only Jewish people but all those other races and religions. It is so terrible it is almost unimaginable. People like you, those who have been through this and can still tell their story, make all the difference to people like me. My generation and myself are going to do everything we can to prevent something like that from happening again. We have enough problems in the world today. We don't need any more. Thank you.

Sincerely,

Kristin Mitchell

Dear Mr. Finkel

Thank you for coming to our school and sharing your experiences with us. I think that it helped us to better understand the holocaust, because without it being explained it is hard to comprehend. Nothing even close to that has ever happened to me or anyone I know, although I know I have ancestors who were on both sides. I thought that your story was very sad, and it is hard to believe that people would do such horrific things to others, especially little children. I think it is important for people to hear about the holocaust, though, because hopefully that way people will see how ridiculous the whole idea was and the holocaust will never happen again.

Sincerely,

Jessica Doinijan

Dear Mr. Finkel,

The story you shared with us yesterday was amazing. The holocaust never truly seems personal in the videos and books. However, what you told me yesterday made me realize the horror in a more personal way. Your courage and strength touched my heart. It must have been hard for you to share these memories with us and I admire the fact that you are able to. I know I'd probably never survive if I was living during that time but it is incredible that you did. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for making me realize and feel how awful it must have been. If I have anything important to do in the life that awaits me I will make it my business to never let that happen again. I never again will think about the holocaust with an attitude less than total remorse and respect for all that were sacrificed. Thank you so much.

Sincerely,

Lisa A. Donofrio

To the Honorable Mr. Finkel,

I just wanted to let you know that although you probably get letters like this all the time, I mean every word I write. Your presentation was phenomenal. You never really know how things are until you get hand on experience with them. Since we are about fifty years late, I suppose it's too late to experience the horrors that went on during the Holocaust. You, Sir, are who America's role models should be like. Strong at heart and courageous. Your presentation about your family and personal experiences really let us know how evil our world was, is, and probably will be. I greatly appreciated your visit at O'Neil Middle School, and wanted to thank you for further expanding our knowledge of World War II and the Holocaust.

Sincerely Yours,

Kurt Schlueter

Mr. Finkel,

I really enjoyed your presentation a lot. In fifth or sixth grade, we (Kingsley School here in Downers Grove) had a speaker who was from the Holocaust and was a little bit older than you. My point is, his speech was too lengthy and kind of boring and we were sitting on the floor, so pretty soon our backs got sore. Your speech, or should I say "story," was very interesting and your video about you and your family is kind of sad because you are never going to see your family again, at least not your parents, brother, or your sister that got shot in the hospital because she gave birth to a Jew. Wish you luck in the years to come.

Sincerely,

Jared Schaefer

Dear Mr. Finkel,

My name is Tiffany Chen, and I was one of the many eighth grade students who where there to listen to you at O'Neill Middle School.

I am so sorry to hear about your family. The story of your oldest sister and her baby infant especially devastated me. I could never imagine anyone who would be heartless enough to throw a baby boy that had never had a chance to live out a window. I didn't ask you this in the band room, but I had wanted to know whether or not you felt you could live any more. Whether you just wanted to curl up in a ball and die so you could he with most of your family. Did you believe in God, or had you given up faith in him. After all, how would he allow such a thing to take place? Your story inspired me and made me realize how lucky I really am. How lucky I am to be alive and how lucky I am to live in a time of peace without war.

Although I had read many novels of the Holocaust, I could never quite bring myself to believe that such torture and pain could befall on so many people, nor could I believe thatso many countries were blind enough to do nothing to stop it.

I do not know whether or not you get paid, but I applaud your effort to tell your story. During the movie, I saw you crying in the comer, wiping your eyes and nose. You were willing to resurface all those painful memories day after day in order to let us youngsters know what really happened[ Your and other speaker's unselfishness will guarantee that this will never again happen in the future. Give yourself a pat on the back for your sacrifice. No one should have been treated in such a way for something they had no control of, being a Jew.

I am glad that you have begun to forgive the Germans for what they did because I believe that everyone has some goodness in them. Still, that gave them no right to do what they did and after your speech I found myself wishing that guilt had burdened their hearts until the day they passed away.

Consider me a new fan,

Tiffany Chen

Dear Mr. Finkel,

Thank you very much for coming to our school and sharing your story. I have learned about the Holocaust and concentration camps before your visit, but I was glad to hear you speak about your experiences. Before your visit, I wondered why my teachers made me learn about the Holocaust. I felt sorry for the victims of the Nazis, but I didn't really see why our teachers put us through watching the heart wrenching videos on the concentration camps. Now I understand why our teachers made us learn about the Holocaust. We need to learn about history, and feel sorry about what happened, but most importantly, we need to prevent something this terrible from ever happening again. Like when you were asked if you've forgiven the Nazis for what they did to your family, and you said yes, I understood that for a better future for our world, we need to have forgiveness and understanding for one another. I also learned that anger and hatred will destroy us, and that our differences can't provoke hatred because innocent people might get hurt all because we misunderstood each other. Once again Mr. Finkel, thank you very much for coming to talk to us. Listening to your story meant a lot to me, and to a lot of other people as well.

Sincerely,

Julie Patterson

Dear Mr. Finkel,

Thank you for coming to our school and teaching us about the Holocaust. You have taught me a lesson about the Holocaust that I will never forget. I knew about how much hate the Holocaust had, but you taught me a new lesson about love and strength between families. The way your family risked their lives for each other really moved me. I don't know what I would do in that situation, I would hope that I would do the same as your family did and never give up hope.

I'm sorry about your sister. I know you must have really loved her. I'm also deeply upset that your mother died. I'm not sure of what feelings you have for her now, but I know that she must have truly loved you. When she laid on top of you she was giving herself for your safety. Being fourteen I have had only a little longer time with my mother than you did with yours. If she died, I don't know what I would do. I would pray that I never forget her, even as I grow now, I still hold on to my dearest memories of her and live for the day, because you never know what will happen in the future. Than you this life long lesson.

Stephanie Hayes