Parkland residents of twenty years, Alan and Felice Rosenthal have three sons–Josh, Matt, and Daniel – who have attended Parkland schools, including Park Trails, West Glades, and MSD. They are pleased that the governor has signed this bill into law.
“As the survivors die off, we need to remember their stories,” says Felice Rosenthal, a mom, and former educator. “It’s important to keep their stories alive, even when they won’t be.”
Members of Congregation Kol-Tikvah, their three sons attended religious school and were bar-mitzvahed there. While not overly observant, the Rosenthals say they value being part of a Jewish community.
In 1990, Felice Rosenthal took part in the March of the Living, an annual educational program which brings students from around the world to Poland, where they explore the remnants of the Holocaust.
Her son, Josh, who just graduated from MSD was scheduled to participate last April, but the event was cancelled due to COVID-19.
Felice Rosenthal remembers meeting many actual survivors and hearing the late Elie Wiesel, himself a survivor of Auschwitz, speak at the concentration camp in Poland and said it has left a lasting impression in her memory.
“Every time I hear a survivor speak about their experiences and how horrendous it was, it gives me chills,” says Felice Rosenthal. “Our kids need to be taught this history and how it happened. It’s not something we can forget.”
“This bill makes it standard for all kids across the state,” says Alan Rosenthal, an estate planning attorney. “With anti-Semitism on the rise, having this mandated in the public schools will be beneficial. As the number of survivors decline, and we lose their first-hand accounts of the Holocaust, this ensures that educators take over and every student will understand what happened and how to prevent it.”
“Having the history of the Holocaust and the definition of anti-Semitism taught together makes this bill more impactful,” says Alan Rosenthal. “We hope the legacy of this bill is a kinder and gentler society.”
Evan Goldman, VP, Community Planning and Government Relations at the Jewish Federation of Broward County, said the Federation has advocated for increased education around anti-Semitism and the Holocaust.
“More than ever, there is a need for high standards in Holocaust education,” says Goldman. “Education is the touchstone to long-lasting community change.”
He’s appreciative of the efforts of The Holocaust Documentation & Education Center (HDEC), which spent time lobbying for the initiative in Tallahassee. The HDEC is devoted to documenting the memory of the Holocaust and educating today’s generation about the dangers of bigotry, hatred and intolerance.
“It was a masterstroke to wrap Holocaust education and anti-Semitism into one bill along with the teaching of the 1920 Ocoee Election Day Riots,” says Goldman. “Rep. Randy Fine, Sen. Lauren Book and Sen. Randolph Bracy should be commended for bringing it all together.”
“The bill is important so the next generation understands that anti- Semitism and racism are insidious and simply cannot be tolerated,” Goldman stated. “It’s important that we stand up against hate and intolerance.”
“It’s gratifying to see both the Jewish and black communities united in their response to hatred, in whatever form,” says Goldman. “We are stronger together.”
By Jan Engoren