The Holocaust Writing Contest:
Education of the Head and Heart

Engaging and mentoring middle and high school students in studying the Holocaust and in grappling with its meaning and lessons for today is a vital part of the mission of the Rodgers Center for Holocaust Education.

The centerpiece of our work with schools is the annual Holocaust Writing Contest. In partnership with The “1939” Club, including Shoah Survivors of Orange County and Long Beach, one of the largest and most active Holocaust survivor organizations in the United States, the Rodgers Center annually sponsors a writing contest for middle and high school students.

The culmination of the contest is the awards ceremony in which students, teachers, and parents meet survivors of the Holocaust. For the hundreds of students who attend from private, parochial and public schools, this is an experience of a lifetime, giving faces and voices to the events about which students have written—transforming education into a matter of both the head and the heart, inspiring students to make courageous choices in their own lives.

At the spring 2002 awards ceremony, students heard Leon Leyson, the youngest Schindler’s List survivor, tell the story of his brother, Tsalig, who perished in the Holocaust at the age of 17. They met “Righteous Among the Nations” rescuer Irene Gut Opdyke, whose courageous efforts saved the lives of twelve Jews. At the reception that followed the event, students had the opportunity to have their copies of The Holocaust Chronicle: A History in Words and Pictures, generously donated by Publications International, Ltd., signed by the more than 75 survivors of the Holocaust who were present.

Each year the contest grows to include more schools, teachers, and students from throughout Southern California. The contest educates and inspires young people, encourages teachers to focus on the Holocaust in their classes, and demonstrates to Holocaust survivors that the lessons of the past will indeed be remembered in the future.

Leon Leyson, retired teacher and youngest Schindler's List survivor

"The catastrophic events of World War II and the Holocaust were an assault not only against Jews but the entire civilized world. No topic could be more vital for young people to study today. I commend Chapman University for taking up this awesome challenge and for furthering awareness among Chapman students and the Orange County community of the dangers of bigotry and hatred"

Elisabeth Mann, survivor of Auschwitz, signs books at awards ceremony.

Members of the "1939" Club with Chapman students