YOUNGSTOWN Federation sponsors contest on Holocaust

The national contest marks the 60th anniversary of the beginning of the mass slaughter.
YOUNGSTOWN -- Many young Americans might think the Holocaust has nothing do to with them. The Youngstown Area Jewish Federation is out to change that notion with a national writing contest for area pupils.
The Jewish Community Relations Council, in conjunction with the Youngstown Area Commission for Jewish Education, sponsors the contest each year to interest youth in learning more about the Holocaust.
"People need to learn the lessons of the Holocaust so as not to have them repeated," said Bonnie Deutsch Burdman, council director. "When it comes to educating young people, there is no better way than to have them write, read and research beyond that they are taught in school about the Holocaust."
Not studied much: Burdman said that most schools do not have a strong emphasis on Holocaust education.
"I have found that most schools barely study it," she said. "It seems to be taught as a footnote at the end of the year or during a World War II chapter."
This year's writing theme is "Remembering the Past for the Sake of the Future." Pupils from public and private schools are encouraged to submit an original piece of poetry or narrative writing.
The theme was chosen at the National Holocaust Museum for pupils across the country in commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the beginning of the genocide.
Burdman said she hopes the pupils take away a lesson from their work.
"I'm hoping they'll come away with the notion that there is hatred and bigotry out there," she said. "It didn't happen in their lifetime, but it may be in the lifetime of someone they know. This wasn't something that happened in ancient times, far, far away. It happened in a Western nation only 60 years ago."
The contest is open to pupils in Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties and western Pennsylvania. The poetry and narratives will be divided into 7-8, 9-10 and 11-12 grade level categories. All entries are due by April 10. Further questions and submission instructions can be directed to Burdman at (330) 746-3251.
Local winners will be recognized at the Community Yom Hashoah Commemoration Ceremony at noon April 20 in the Mahoning County Courthouse, 120 Market St.