Rabbi Elisheva Salamo discussed the heroism and bravery of Jewish partisans, mainly Jewish teenagers who fought to resist the Nazi regime during the Holocaust, in honor of Yom Hashoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day) during lunch on Tuesday.
Salamo, a representative from the Jewish Partisan Educational Foundation (JPEF), shared powerful stories of the partisans’ struggle to harm the Nazis. For example, she described an incident where a group of young partisan women acted girly and flirtatious around Nazi soldiers in a marketplace. Little did the soldiers know, the women actually held grenades inside their baskets.
Referring to a concentration camp, Salamo said, "What gets me the most is those who were stripped naked, dug their own graves and then shot into them. It was much better to be a partisan than in the camps."
Salamo stressed that genocide still continues throughout the years.
"Nobody else should have to undergo this [genocide]," Salamo said.
JPEF is designed to educate and raise awareness of the Jewish partisans. It provides educational materials for students in 7th grade and above.
Salamo’s appearance was part of a series of events during Paly’s "Not In Our School" week, sponsored by the Gay-Straight Alliance, Jewish Club, Black Student Union, Youth Community Service, and Student Government. The week was designed to promote tolerance and identity safety, according to GSA president junior Monte Emmer.
"When you’re young, the way you talk and act is how you will change the world," Salamo said.