“One of the most important reasons for sponsoring this contest is to make sure that the lessons to be learned from the Holocaust are disseminated to everyone,” explained Assemblyman Cymbrowitz. “That’s why I am happy that so many different ethnicities, cultures and religions were represented by the hundreds of entries we received.”
“The Holocaust is history and unfortunately, there is nothing anyone can do to alter any of the atrocities that occurred. We can, however, use the Holocaust experience to vividly demonstrate the dangers of discrimination, hatred and prejudice,” Cymbrowitz continued. “Students need to learn through history lessons, as well as seeing adults modeling the appropriate behavior, that it’s important to include rather than exclude, and to view the differences between one another as something to explore and celebrate, not condemn or be prejudiced against.
In addition to the awards, each winner or group of winners received a cash prize and the schools of the first place winners will get a computer. The winning artwork, including paintings, drawings, sculptures and three-dimensional models, were displayed throughout Holocaust Memorial Park during the ceremony, along with the winning essays, poems and scrapbooks.
“As time moves on there are fewer Holocaust survivors to share their tales firsthand. Even the vivid recollections of personal experiences told to second-generation Holocaust survivors, by parents and grandparents, begin to fade as the years go by. It is important that we illuminate the past as a way to enlighten our future generations. There are many lessons to be learned from the Holocaust. We must be creative in our approaches to passing this important information on to our young people. My Art, Essay and Poetry Contest is one way of involving today’s young people with the lessons of the Holocaust,” Cymbrowitz said.
In addition to sponsoring the Holocaust Art, Essay and Poetry Contest, Assemblyman Cymbrowitz speaks regularly to school assemblies and community groups, discussing his family’s Holocaust experiences and fielding questions from the audience. He was also the sponsor of an Assembly Resolution proclaiming April 21st as Holocaust Remembrance Day in New York State.
“I think that we should be proud of our young people. Looking at the work that was submitted to the contest, we can see that this community is blessed with bright, talented young people who really grasp the lessons to be learned from the Holocaust and can share that knowledge with others,” Cymbrowitz commented.
The contest, sponsored by Assemblyman Cymbrowitz, the Lena Cymbrowitz Foundation and the Holocaust Memorial Committee, was designed to increase our children’s understanding of the Holocaust and encourage further education about the tragic event.
“This contest not only serves as a living memorial to Holocaust survivors, but it gives our young people an opportunity to reflect on the Holocaust and to deepen their understanding as to how its lessons impact their lives today, over 60 years later. We want our young people—Jewish and non-Jewish—to understand that the hatred that fueled the Holocaust unfortunately didn’t end with the liberation of the concentration camps, but exists, in various forms, to this day.”
Assemblyman Cymbrowitz reminded the students that, “Winning in this contest is less important than remembering the Holocaust and helping to perpetuate the lessons that can be learned from it.” In addition to cash prizes for the winners, each entrant will receive a New York State Assembly Certificate of Merit from Assemblyman Cymbrowitz.
