To the Editor:
I would like to invite everyone who is willing to give their time to attend this Holocaust education presentation at the WEPCO church complex (48 New Canaan Rd.) on Wednesday, June 11 at 7 p.m.
Even though it is a difficult topic for a warm summer evening, I think there are compelling reasons to attend.
First, if you have avoided presentations/stories about the Holocaust in the past, this is your last chance. Survivors are in fact dying out.
Second, it is our duty to bear witness and listen to these stories. We cannot let certain history repeat, and we must know history, both good and bad, as well as from different perspectives. This is not easy nor fun, but it’s important.
Third, we must educate our children. This affects everyone, not just Jews.
Finally, consider that your Jewish friends have the Holocaust very much in the forefront of our minds, as we recoil from a global rise in antisemitism. It’s not just about the little things, it’s that ‘little’ things lead to bigger things, and that’s very scary.
Your presence at this event is taking a stand, listening to someone’s story, learning about a perspective, and supporting understanding and compassion here in Wilton. Honestly, I would love to see many non-Jews in the crowd, as allies, and it’s very generous of the WEPCO church to host this conversation.
I will not be speaking, I do not have a lot of stories to share (my grandparents thought this topic was much too depressing and unfortunately many of my family’s stories are lost), but if you want to contact me to learn about the few stories that I have, I’m happy to do so personally.
Thanks,
Sharon Kesselman