Holocaust survivors speak to RE students

During a remote upper school assembly on April 5, Millman described how she and her mother escaped Germany’s labor camps and fled to Italy, where they hid until the end of the war. "I cannot tell you the atrocities I saw," she said. "I saw babies torn apart by Nazi officers in front of our eyes ...The Holocaust was a genocide like no other." 

Selly spoke to middle school students virtually on April 8, explaining how he grew accustomed to seeing families loaded on cattle railcars and sent to Auschwitz, or marched to the shoreline of the Danube River where they faced rifle fire. “They didn’t care whether you were children or not,” he said, “they would kill you just the same.” The morning Selly and his family had been told to line up outside their building, Russian soldiers knocked on their door and informed them they had taken the street from the Nazis.

“Had it been one day later, I would not be here today to tell you my story,” he said.

The survivors’ visits were part of the school's ongoing commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. Millman’s visit was organized at by the Jewish Students Association, and she was introduced by JSA president Bruce Leight '21.  Selly was introduced by history and social sciences teacher Joe Mauro.

For the last 25 years, Millman has spoken to students about her experiences. Besides sharing his story, Selly has worked to capture portraits of fellow Holocaust survivors.