Holocaust survivor Judy Meisel returns to TAHS

By Jennah Meek

Holocaust and Civil Rights activist Judy Meisel will be returning to TAHS on Monday, November 2nd, 2011 from 7:30 AM-9: 30AM

During advisory 9th students grade will watch the documentary Tak for Alt which is about her life in their advisory a week before. Then jazz band will lead into the assembly and any questions from the 9th grade class will be answered.

This is at least Judy Meisel’s fourth time coming to TAHS. At first Judy was only a guest speaker to Ms Dobrowolsky’s 9th grade English classes. Now she speaks to the entire 9th grade class.

To go along with Judy’s story 9th grade will read the book “Night” by Elie Wiesel.

High school teacher Ms Dobrowolsky said, “I am excited for Judy returning, because she is an amazing person. It is important for students to learn and even see a holocaust survivor.”

Sarah Ammerman now an eleventh grader said “It’s a very education experience for all students to learn about the holocaust.”

Judy Meisel was born in 1929 in Jasvene Lithuania. She was one of three siblings that were born into a Jewish family. The Jewish community flourished before World War II. She was part of a large extended family were 146 of them were killed during the holocaust. At the age of twelve Judy and her family were forced into the Kovna ghetto. She was there until she was 15. Later she was moved to the Stutthof concentration camp where she and her sister escaped a death march. After escaping Judy traveled to Denmark were a Danish family nursed her back to health. She moved to Canada in 1949 and then later to the United States. Eventually she settled into Philadelphia in 1954. Judy raised three children and attended Temple University. While attending there she got her degree in early childhood education in 1967.

Judy began sticking up for the rights of others in 1963. She has committed herself to speak out against hate for over 40 years. She travels all throughout the United States talking about her “No Room for Hate.”

Judy Meisel and her story were in the book Escape by, Allan Zullo. It was published in 2009 to honor her tragic and inspiring story.

Hunter Meek an 7th grader who has seen Judy Meisel’s presentation during his Diversity Week said, “I enjoyed hearing her story because it made me think about how lucky I am for what I have.” “I know if I had to go through that I wouldn’t be able to handle it like she did.”

Give special thanks for The Greater Altoona Jewish federation for providing background information on Judy Meisel and organizing her to come to Tyrone. Also thank the teachers and the staff for allowing students to experience something like this.