Oh Holy Speaker

Yesterday was our last Ho-Ho-Hum day at school, and normally a day to avoid. I drag myself through this day each year, shackled like Marley's ghost, thinking about what in the world to do with all these students!!! Candy canes dripping all over them and the floor, finals have been over for awhile, they have seen every movie known to man, what can a person do??? Someone did it right, and Oh Holy Night, the children were perfect!!! We had a holocaust survivor come speak to the entire 8th grade classes. In fact two speakers, but I only saw one. The LAST DAY of school before Christmas!! I know, I thought the same thing, how will this work??but work it did. We were all held in the palm of Mr. Benjamin Hirsch, as soon, as he walked into the library. He walked in with a slow gait, and a lifetime of memories, waiting to be told. You knew he had a story to tell, and no one moved. He softly told of his family's saga during wartime, and being Jewish. How his father and mother, and some siblings died in the gas chambers. He said kind words about his mother, who packed up some of her younger children, and placed them on a train, bound for who knows where, for safe keeping. Her babies went to neighbors or relatives, and the younger three boys went on the train to freedom. If you were over sixteen , you could not travel on the train, so I think a brother and sister stayed behind to die with their mother. My heart was racing with each word, that poured out of his soul. How does a human, a child grow up like this and survive, and flourish? Where is his grief, where did it go? He was six years old, and knew people wanted him dead, he was scared. How did his mother let some go, and keep the others, I felt myself about to hit the floor, wailing. Ben would not have allowed this in me, his strength and courage demanded me to be strong and listen. Which I did, and forever will be so grateful to have met him, shook his hand, and kissed his cheek. I cannot give this story justice, I can only say, we need to always remember the Holocaust, even on the last day of school, before Christmas.