HMH Bearing Witness - November 2016

EDUCAT ION

and about being an upstander in a troubled world. Kate Starkes (2009) Oh, my heart is so heavy yet it’s also filled with starstruck appreciation for Naomi’s life’s light that continues to inspire me everyday. Today, I decided to dedicate my teacher education class to Naomi’s memory. I shared her story, her life’s cause and her forever impact on the world of education. She did it again. Her spirit is at work in all of us. I will stay the course. Mara Johnson (2016) I’m sorry to hear of this loss, and I am sending my condolences to the Warren and HMH families. Today marked the beginning of my Holocaust, genocide & human rights unit in my world lit class, and I shared my amazing experiences from the Warren Fellowship. Naomi’s light continues to shine, and it always will. Hillary Williams (2014) Naomi instilled a responsibility in each of us to uphold justice and stand tall. Her spirit was filledwith grace, grit, and tenacity. I am so honored to have known such a strong woman, beautiful soul and role model. Erin Balfour (2003) We celebrate her life not only as a singularly magnificent human being, but also as one who shaped the lives of so many around her. She is the stone dropped in the pond that sent ripples throughout the world. Ripples of peace, love, and hope. Tarah Burris (2004) Naomi Warren shared her story of survival and of building and continuing a beautiful life after the Holocaust. I promised her the day I met her that I would carry her story all the days of my life, and without a doubt I have. She quite simply was the truest example of grace, generosity, and strength. She filled so very many with love and will be missed dearly. Thank you to Naomi and members of the Warren family for what you have created here at Holocaust Museum Houston. There is no greater honor for an educator than for her students to achieve, and achieve the Warren Fellows have. As I reflect on these words, so eloquent, I would like to say to Naomi and members of the Warren Family, that through these stirring words, reflections of Naomi’s life, love, and commitment to education, I pledge to you to continue your work, with dedication and in your memory. We will continue to shine your light after darkness, for you have shown us how.

She was a wonder. She was “absolutely incredible,” a description Naomi used to describe something or someone very special. Many of you have heard her use these words, and it always delighted me to hear the joy in her voice as she did so. I will always hear her. Naomi’s life was filled with light following darkness. This is one of the reasons that I believe so many individuals came to love her. Throughout her life and most especially during the Holocaust, Naomi defied darkness with her ingenuity and determination, with her hope for her future. Light shone forth from Naomi. In no way is this more evident than in the words of educators who came to revere Naomi. On Naomi’s 80th birthday, her children created the Warren Fellowship for Future Teachers, holding its first week-long program in 2003 at HMH. Today, Fellows are selected for the Warren Fellowship from a national pool of applicants, or as Spector/Warren Fellows from the Syracuse University student population. In January and May the Fellows come to learn about the history and lessons of the Holocaust and genocide. They study at the Museum, in its exhibits, with distinguished scholars, experts in pedagogy and they meet and spend time with Holocaust Survivors. As a result of being Warren Fellows, 540 future educators have studied at Holocaust Museum Houston. This time is intense, it is emotional, and it is career changing. Holocaust scholar Lawrence Langer has said that educating about the Holocaust is like opening a door of impossibility, for how does one teach the unfathomable? I believe that the Warren Fellowships have created a model that is effective, and Naomi Warren and her family have been at the center of its creation. She demonstrated her absolutely incredible strength, energy and wisdom to welcome the beginning educators to learn this painful history, and she made this possible by sharing her sense of life, and of light after darkness. Now, I will share with you several of the hundreds of messages I received from Fellows after Naomi’s passing, reflecting on their time with Naomi. Before I do so, I would like to ask you to consider that if each Warren Fellow teaches between 30 - 100 students per year that means that between 16,200 to 54,000 students per year learn about the Holocaust; about Naomi and the Survivors the Fellows met;

DR. MARY LEE WEBECK DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION

To everything there is a season. . . In early October Holocaust Museum Houston lost a heroine and an advocate, and my column in this issue could be about no other than my beloved friend and our revered Board Member, Naomi Kaplan Warren. I offer these words in celebration of a brilliant, beautiful, kind and good woman. Fifteen years ago, after meetingNaomi Warren at theUniversity of Texas at Austin, where I was a faculty member, I fell in love with her. Naomi changed my life, quite literally. Because of her, I work at and promote the mission of Holocaust Museum Houston. Naomi will forever remain with me, close to my heart, close to my soul. She welcomed me into her world as we came to know each other. Our friendship was enriched by seriousness: the mission, vision and public values of HMH and also by joy and laughter. We laughed together about many things. Naomi had a grand sense of humor, she shared her joie de vivre, her exuberant enjoyment of life and the grace she held so naturally. Naomi changed my life, as she changed the lives of so many people. First, her children: Helen Spector, Geri Roper and Benjamin Warren. She taught her children well, to bring light to the world by making a difference, which each of them has done, in her or his own way. Naomi was so thankful and so proud of these amazing human beings, who became role models for their own children. Her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren continue her legacy. They are filled with love for Naomi, or Nunu as she was called by family members. On Rosh Hashanah this year, their lives changed, irrevocably. Now, they are further bound to keep Naomi’s memory and share her wonder, as are we at HMH.

We thank the Survivors who have spoken toWarren Fellows since 2003 for adding somuch to the Fellowship experience. Your stories will live on and be shared in classrooms around the world.

Ruth Steinfeld Sonia Stern Z”L Lissa Streussand Chaja Verveer Naomi Warren Z”L Ben Waserman Laure Wittner Zoly Zamir

Bill Orlin Riki Roussos Pauline Rubin Sam Rubin Z”L Rubin Samelson Z”L Sam Spritzer Z”L Anna Steinberger Larry Steinfeld Z”L

Edith Hamer Z”L Vera Hollo Z”L Louise Joskowitz Walter Kase Z”L Hania Lewkowitz Al Marks Edith Mincberg Bill Morgan

Stefi Altman Renia Berzak Z”L Ruth Brown Alice Cahana Rosine Chappell Helen Colin Z”L Renee Danziger Z”L

Celina Fein Lili Gordon

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