11 million stamps, 18 collages recall the Holocaust

 

A postage stamp collage by Sarah DeFantis of Holocaust survivors Sam and Goldie Weinreb

 

Sam Weinreb and Sarah DeFanti with a portion of her collage showing Weinreb’s late wife Goldi

From The Israel Philatelist

FOXBOROUGH, Massachusetts –Students and faculty leaders at the Foxborough Regional Charter School have completed 18 collages made with donated postage stamps and celebrated with an open house.  The 18 signify Chai (Life).  They have collected over 11 million stamps for the 6 million Jews and 5 million others murdered by the Nazis.

The stamps came from 48 states and 26 countries including many from children, collectors and survivors.  Many of the stamps came from Society of Israel Philatelist (SIP)  members, stamp clubs and groups who supported this program. The program started in the 5th grade, then grew to be a kindergarten through 12th grade initiative. The students who spoke commented on the  opportunity they have had to learn about this dark period of history.

The titles of the 18 collages are:

  1. With Liberty and Peace for All
  2. Eleven Million Reasons to Never Forget
  3. Immortal Butterfly
  4. Love Thy Neighbor
  5. The Forest That Saved Lives
  6. Eva Paddock: Holocaust Survivor
  7. Yizkhor – To Remember and Never Forget
  8. The Metamorphosis of the Pink Triangle
  9. Kindertransport
  10. Kristallnacht
  11. Books Cannot be Killed by Fire
  12. Music is a Dream
  13. Peace Must be Dared
  14. I Am the Last Witness
  15. The White Rose Resistance
  16. Different People, One World Community
  17. Sacred Ground
  18. Chai (Life)

Now that the collages are finished, the school leaders and volunteers are trying to find a place where they can be on permanent display.

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Jamie L. Droste, Foxborough’s coordinator for student leadership and service, said that the 18th-Chai-collage was inspired by Sam Weinreb, a Holocaust survivor, who had been married for over 70 years to Goldie, who also was a survivor, before she died.  The student artist who made the collage, Sarah DeFanti, and her family visited Weinreb at his home, and the two families became friends.

Recently, Weinreb was awarded an honorary diploma from the Foxborough Regional Charter School, and Sarah and her family were on hand to share the day.

“So,” said Droste, “the 18th collage has a very special meaning to me as it exemplifies what this 10-year-old community service project has done.  We have honored those killed and tortured in the past, and have brought meaning and empathy to a new generation of children.  To be honest, when Sarah and Sam first met, it was beautiful and one of the best days of my career as an educator.”

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Preceding republished from The Israel Philatelist with additional material from Jamie L. Droste.