An invite by John Carroll history teacher Michael Gadilhe, led to a powerful opportunity for John Carroll students to hear first-hand what it was like to survive the Holocaust. Holocaust survivor Marion Blumenthal Lazan recently shared her story during an assembly at John Carroll Catholic High School. Lazan has dedicated her life to delivering a message of racial and religious tolerance to both adults and children in the United States, Germany, Holland, the UK, and Israel. She told the students about how her family found themselves trapped in Nazi Germany, and how they immigrated to Holland hoping to reach the United States. Unfortunately, Holland was occupied by Nazi Germany, and they would spend the next six years in prison camps including Bergen-Belsen. Her enthusiasm is fueled by her knowledge that the current generations to whom she speaks are the last to hear about the Holocaust first-hand from a living survivor. Lazan’s message was one of both remembrance and love, and to accept people for who they are. Touched by her inspiring story, the students gave her a standing ovation. †
