Masha Pearl, CEO of The Blue Card, a charity that supports Holocaust survivors, told me New York has America’s “largest number of Holocaust survivors remaining, 14,700 approximately.” Steigmann is among the very youngest survivors. Other survivors are in declining health or don’t do public speaking. And an April 2024 Pew Research Centre survey documented that Jews over age 65 overwhelmingly support Israel, with 95% of those respondents telling Pew “Israel’s reasons for fighting Hamas are valid” and 92% saying they have a “favourable view” of “the Israeli people.”
Steigmann accurately reflects his cohort. As it shrinks, though, The Blue Card has begun piloting bringing a lifelike “hologram of a Holocaust survivor directly to schools” that “can answer questions,” Pearl said. “We think that is the next stage because there are so few survivors remaining.”
Pearl described Steigmann, who is part of The Blue Card’s speakers bureau, as “a real champion,” who “really loves children.” Steigmann’s “talks are about his experience,” history, and “second chances.”
“Holocaust survivor testimony – it’s not political, and it shouldn’t be restricted. . . . if these schools are restricting [Steigmann’s] story now, then what will happen when there are no more survivors telling the story? And the concept of ‘Never Again,’ what would that look like?” Those questions deserve answers, but City leadership conveyed their values instead.
The City’s Department of Education supported Rusch, citing “political neutrality.” A City Hall spokesperson did likewise, saying “While this speaker wasn’t the right fit, we will continue to ensure our students hear from the living survivors of this history into the future.”
There are, of course, few years left for such presentations. So, it was both positive and unusual that Mayor Eric Adams – who was travelling for a conference on combating antisemitism – nullified that statement. Adams tweeted, “I’ve previously met with Holocaust survivor Sami Steigmann, and he is ABSOLUTELY the right person to speak with kids about the atrocities of the Holocaust.”
What may explain Rusch’s opposition then? Jewish news site Belaaz reported “leaked curriculum materials reveal [Rusch’s] school is actively teaching a ‘social activism’ unit.” It “features a module titled ‘Fashion as Activism,’ which explicitly includes the keffiyeh.” Calling this “indoctrination” for 7th graders, Moshe Spern, head of the United Jewish Teachers, told Belaaz, “This is precisely why they didn’t want a Holocaust survivor with pro-Israel views, because it would go against their negative narrative around Israel.”
The woke left’s “Oppressor Versus Oppressed” framework pervades US schools, portraying Jews as white oppressors and Israelis as colonialist oppressors. Illuminating a dark historical chapter featuring Jews as sympathetic victims who were mass murdered for not being white, undermines the woke narrative. Survivor accounts make it harder to slander Israelis over “genocide” in Gaza too, revealing how inapt the comparison is.
On Monday, New York City Councilwoman Inna Vernikov tweeted the Department of Education had “confirmed” Steigmann “is invited to speak at the school.” This outcome is good but shouldn’t have required public pressure.
Truth is a powerful antidote to lies. And the further we travel in time from the Holocaust, the more important it is to amplify voices like those of Steigmann.
