My Incredible Friend, Rose

I couldn't think of a better way to end this horrific news week than to have lunch with Rose Williams. She was a daughter, and granddaughter. She is a sister, wife, and proud grandmother, but she is also a Holocaust survivor who has spoken to our 8th grade students the past few  years. She recently celebrated her 89th birthday and as a gift this year we created a scrapbook of thank you letters from our students.

She was moved to tears as she browsed through the letters that explained the lasting impact her story had on so many of our students. This tiny, but strong, woman witnessed the worst kind of evil at Auschwitz and at the hands of Josef Mengele, but her message to our students is one of forgiveness and love.   Most of this week I've been at a loss for words and just profoundly sad to see the divisions in our country. The hateful rhetoric carelessly tossed about by citizens and some former elected officials is just staggering. I feel like we could all learn from Rose, this brave woman who not only survived the most hateful period the world has seen, but has actually chosen forgiveness. She is the example our children so desperately need to steer away from hate and revenge. She told our students that a lifetime of hate is too much to bear and we are seeing right now in our country what happens when the burden of hate overtakes some. Bringing her message to my students is one of the greatest gifts I can give them.  

 As an educator, mother, human being, I will strive to continue to spread Rose's message to the young lives I encounter. I am so blessed to know this amazing woman and I wish we all had a Rose in our lives. Our world needs her voice more than ever.