-First in a series-
By Cheryl Rattner Price
SAN DIEGO — This summer I had the unexpected privilege of visiting Cottbus, Germany and Warsaw, Poland. Together with one of our Board Members, educator Maren Oom Galarpe, we witnessed the remarkable results of true education and planted many more seeds for the future. We began in Cottbus and met the students, parents and teachers of a school that have been deeply involved with The Butterfly Project in a way that we never dreamed was possible.
A powerful moment occurred while walking up to Bewegte Grundschule in Cottbus as the school’s stunning butterfly installation became visible. The commitment to participate in The Butterfly Project was prompted by the remarkable relationship that was born through the courage of San Diego Holocaust survivor Max Schindler z” l of blessed memory to go back to his hometown of Cottbus in 2015. The connection that blossomed between descendants of former enemies is nothing short of profound, led by school parent and journalist Nicole Nocon in Cottbus and Steven Schindler in San Diego. The collaboration broadened in 2018 when Jonathan Shulman, Director of the Center for Excellence in Citizenship, and Dr Amy Schindler from La Jolla Country Day School developed a sister school relationship with Bewegte Grundschule.
Next we traveled to Warsaw to POLIN The Museum of the History of the Polish Jews and presented The Butterfly Project at the The Olga Lengyel Institute’s (TOLI) Poland Seminar. Thank you to Dr. Angie Gascho of Our Lady of Peace of North Park San Diego for her custom lesson unit written for The Butterfly Project specifically for this Poland seminar. We listened to testimony from Three Generations and had the opportunity to share deeply with 32 dedicated Polish educators who signed on to increase their competency with teaching the Holocaust. Our expressive arts and educational programming was warmly welcomed.
Remembrance. Education. Empathy. Hope. If this can happen on the ground where so much violence and bloodshed occurred, it can happen anywhere. Our hope lies with these teachers who are on the front lines both locally and abroad. Our commitment is strengthened by these incredibly dedicated teachers and communities.
I am grateful to hear direct feedback from Holocaust Survivor Ben Midler. Ben was born in Bialystok Poland and has been involved with The Butterfly Project since 2007. He says, “It is incredible to get the Polish children talking about the Holocaust and painting butterflies.”
In the next two installments of this series, we share with you two stories about this special trip – one written from Maren Oom Galarpe and the second written by Nicole Nicon. May we all rise to teaching the truth and finding hope with the next generation.
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Cheryl Rattner Price is executive director of The Butterfly Project.