POSITIVE REACTIONS FROM YOUNG PEOPLE

Our Dutch friend Mr. Gomarus Snelten from Boxtel, Netherlands forwarded a collection of letters from pupils of the basic school "de Vorsenpoel” to Simon Wiesenthal. These young people express their thoughts on the Second World War and on Anne Frank´s fate. We felt great satisfaction when we read these letters, for they showed us that the educational work on the events of the Second World War and the symbolism of Anne Frank's character had fallen on fertile ground. In a letter to the teacher and the pupils Simon Wiesenthal emphasized his great pleasure and satisfaction over the fact that such young people – each of them at the age of his grandchildren – feel so much involvement in the tragedy of the Second World War. He encouraged them to share their thoughts with other young people who might think differently and to discuss themes with them.

***

Simon Wiesenthal´s book “The Sunflower” is read in schools of many different countries. The problem of guilt and forgiveness and the right to forgive are discussed in the classroom in connection with this book. The Documentation Center received hundreds of letters from young people who wanted to share their opinion on “The Sunflower” with the author. Thus we also got a collection of 20 letters from 14- and 15-year old pupils from a school in Hagen, West Germany, who had given these themes serious and comprehensive thoughts. Simon Wiesenthal expressed his gratitude to both teachers and pupils.

“The Sunflower” has been published in 14 languages (U.S. publisher was Schocken Books, New York) and it is used again and again in schools and in religious education when moral issues are discussed. Last year it was also employed as mandatory reading in Israeli schools.

From:

BJVN Bulletin of Information no. 27 (1987), January 31, pp. 10-11.

POSITIVE REACTIONS FROM YOUNG PEOPLE

Our Dutch friend Mr. Gomarus Snelten from Boxtel, Netherlands forwarded a collection of letters from pupils of the basic school "de Vorsenpoel” to Simon Wiesenthal. These young people express their thoughts on the Second World War and on Anne Frank´s fate. We felt great satisfaction when we read these letters, for they showed us that the educational work on the events of the Second World War and the symbolism of Anne Frank's character had fallen on fertile ground. In a letter to the teacher and the pupils Simon Wiesenthal emphasized his great pleasure and satisfaction over the fact that such young people – each of them at the age of his grandchildren – feel so much involvement in the tragedy of the Second World War. He encouraged them to share their thoughts with other young people who might think differently and to discuss themes with them.

***

Simon Wiesenthal´s book “The Sunflower” is read in schools of many different countries. The problem of guilt and forgiveness and the right to forgive are discussed in the classroom in connection with this book. The Documentation Center received hundreds of letters from young people who wanted to share their opinion on “The Sunflower” with the author. Thus we also got a collection of 20 letters from 14- and 15-year old pupils from a school in Hagen, West Germany, who had given these themes serious and comprehensive thoughts. Simon Wiesenthal expressed his gratitude to both teachers and pupils.

“The Sunflower” has been published in 14 languages (U.S. publisher was Schocken Books, New York) and it is used again and again in schools and in religious education when moral issues are discussed. Last year it was also employed as mandatory reading in Israeli schools.

From:

BJVN Bulletin of Information no. 27 (1987), January 31, pp. 10-11.