I was just thirteen the first time someone asked me where my horns were. At that moment, I didn’t understand the question. That stereotype—that Jews have horns—has sadly been around for centuries, fueled by ignorance. It was my first real taste of antisemitism, but far from the last.
Recently, I faced another shock when I saw a student at Florida Atlantic University (FAU) holding a sign that asked, “Was Hitler objectively evil?” Students were invited to vote. Some chose ‘no.’ This made me realize how poorly Holocaust education is covered in local schools.
In December, motivated by these experiences, I took a trip to Poland through FAU Hillel, a Jewish campus group. This journey focused on Holocaust remembrance and education.
Visiting Auschwitz-Birkenau was beyond what any textbook could convey. No words or films can truly prepare you for the reality found there.
The trip included students from several Florida universities, including the University of Florida and Florida State University. Emily Starr, a senior from UF, shared, “Before this trip, I thought I knew a lot about the Holocaust, but what I learned in just one week surpassed everything I learned in 21 years.”
My own education about the Holocaust felt superficial. It seemed more like a checklist in my high school curriculum—brief and clinical—missing the emotional weight it carries.
My classes emphasized the six million Jewish lives lost but didn’t delve into the personal stories behind those numbers. There were no discussions about the individuals’ lives, the strength of survivors, or the aftermath of the Holocaust.
It’s clear that the Florida Department of Education isn’t adequately prioritizing Holocaust education. In 2023, they rejected a textbook that aimed to educate students on this vital history. Moreover, in 2022, the state allowed parents to challenge and remove Holocaust materials under a controversial bill.
This inconsistency in policies reveals how Florida’s education system is failing students by denying them essential knowledge of the Holocaust.
So, what does “Never Again” really mean? It’s about more than understanding the past; it’s about honoring the stories of survivors and actively opposing antisemitism today.
The entrance gate to Auschwitz-Birkenau.
Lauren Oback, the FAU Hillel director, emphasized the importance of experiencing the trauma firsthand. “Survivors of the Holocaust are rapidly disappearing. It’s up to us to keep their stories alive,” she said.
Sadly, antisemitism is still a major issue. Attacks on synagogues, people being taken hostage, and the spread of conspiracy theories all highlight that this problem is very real and still exists today.
Alan Berger, a Jewish studies professor at FAU, mentioned the role of the internet in spreading misinformation. “People get snippets of information that often misrepresent the truth,” he said. “It’s getting harder for them to think critically about what they learn.”
For many students on the trip, it was a chance to connect with their Jewish roots. Growing up, being Jewish was significant for me. My father’s family came from Morocco, and my mother had relatives from Ukraine and Russia. Despite my strong background, events like the one in October made me realize how little some people truly grasp about the Holocaust.
As Ilan Nedjar from Nova Southeastern University remarked, “In the Jewish community, we understand the Holocaust history well, but many in non-Jewish communities are left in the dark.” Many of his friends didn’t even know about the various concentration camps or the extent of the horror.
Nedjar felt a powerful emotional impact at Auschwitz-Birkenau. “Seeing the ruins of the gas chambers affected me deeply,” he said. “I had to step outside at one point because the reality became too overwhelming.”
Berger uses a questionnaire to gauge student knowledge about the Holocaust at the start of his courses. He found that most students could only answer around 18 to 20 questions correctly out of 100. Surprisingly, this knowledge seems to be declining over the years.
Holocaust education needs to be more than a brief lesson in school. Students should grasp the events and understand how society failed to prevent such tragedies.
“These were real people,” Spencer Gold, a student at FAU, noted. “We need education that reflects the humanity lost and reminds us how inhumane it was.”
After visiting the camps, many students gained a clearer perspective on why this history still matters today and how they can take action against antisemitism.
Nedjar reflected, “Standing at these sites, it hit me hard how recent and relevant this history is.”
As I stood at Auschwitz-Birkenau, witnessing the remnants of lost lives, I felt an obligation to share their stories. We owe it to the survivors to ensure their experiences are remembered and to work towards a future where “Never Again” holds real meaning.
Oback reiterated that it’s up to our generation to uphold the memory of the Holocaust. “When survivors can no longer share their stories, it’ll be our responsibility to do so,” she said.
In closing, I urge everyone to question what they read online. Think critically, have open discussions, and recognize biases when you see them. Educate yourself through trusted sources and be mindful of what you share. Ignorance can be easy, but it’s not harmless. We must strive to do better because the future depends on it.
Zoe Dahan is a contributing writer for the University Press.
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