The Third Annual Holocaust
Writing Contest
Witnesses to Humanity:
Choices of Courage
History is the result of choices made by people at a particular time. The Holocaust occurred because individuals, groups, and nations made choices to act or not to act.
Those individuals and groups targeted by the Nazis and their collaborators were confronted with choices that could at times mean life or death. Those individuals and groups who were not targeted also faced choices. In some cases, they could choose to remain bystanders or could help the oppressed, becoming rescuers or resisters.
In the dark days of the Holocaust, many people made choices of courage. Diplomats, sometimes disobeying orders from their governments, issued visas to desperate refugees. Ordinary people helped those in need by offering them food and sanctuary. These acts of human kindness could result in death for them, their families, and even their community. In the United States, far away from the terror, some individuals and groups chose to reach out as rescuers to those in need.
Those who were persecuted often faced grave challenges and made choices of courage. In the ghettos and camps, simply struggling to live another day was a choice of courage. Sharing one’s meager ration of bread with another hungry person was a choice of courage. Choices of courage took many forms, including both physical and spiritual resistance.
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Middle School Competition
First Place Essay: Sarah Kalen
Second Place Essay: Jillian Theil
First Place Poem: Aletheia Miyake
Second Place Poem: Meggan Dyer
High School Competition
First Place Essay: Tan Michael Nguyen
Second Place Essay: Rachel Marks
Second Place Essay: Lauren Williams
First Place Poem: Miriam Scatterday
Second Place Poem: Elaine Inoue
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