By Bette Zaret, Holocaust Education Initiative & Ellen Resnic, Educational Programs and Outreach Manager for Classrooms Without Borders
Since 2011, survivor Howard Chandler has made annual journeys to his homeland of Poland to share his story of resistance and survival during the Holocaust.
With the support of our generous donors, the Jewish Federation has provided scholarships to 16 local Sarasota and Manatee educators who have had the extraordinary experience over the last several years of journeying by Howard’s side, listening to him recount his story in the places where it happened.
Howard Chandler was almost eleven when Nazi Germany invaded Poland on September 1, 1939. As a member of the Wierzbnik Jewish community, Howard’s life was irrevocably changed. When school resumed later that September, Howard and his siblings, along with all Jewish students, were forbidden to return. As the Wierzbnik ghetto was created, Howard’s family was allowed to remain in their home since it was within the ghetto perimeter. Soon, relatives from outside their town moved in, and the ghetto’s population swelled from 3,500 to over 5,000.
On October 27, 1942, the Wierzbnik ghetto was liquidated. This was the last time Howard saw his youngest brother, sister, and mother, who were transported to Treblinka and murdered along with over 4,000 Jews from Wierzbnik. Howard, his brother, and father were sent to the slave-labor camp in Wierzbnik. After two years, they were transported to Auschwitz-Birkenau. Surviving Birkenau and the death marches to Germany, Howard and his brother were reunited at Buchenwald and liberated at Terezin, outside of Prague, Czechoslovakia. Howard’s father was long-presumed murdered in Birkenau, but more recently, Howard discovered he was sent to Stutthof and murdered there.
Walking along the same paths Howard once trod, members of the 2024 cohort shared their personal, emotional, and transformative experiences as they visited the Wierzbnik ghetto, Auschwitz-Birkenau, and other significant sites.
“One of the most memorable places we visited was the Warsaw Zoo, where Jan Zabinski and his compassionate wife, Antonina, saved 300 Jews,” Jessica Hoover recounted. “Antonin
a used the piano to signal when to hide in the animal cages and when it was safe to come out after the Nazis were gone. Together they smuggled people out, took risks of being found out, and even endangered the life of their young son. Seeing the tunnel, basement, and zoo taught me that in times of darkness the light of humanity still shines.”
“Nothing compares to becoming a witness and experiencing the power of a survivor’s story,” said Zachary Ward. “I am more determined than ever to fight to bring Holocaust education to our students. If we want to create a more equitable world, void of toxic hate and genocide, we must teach the stories of the Holocaust. We must give students the opportunity to witness the Holocaust first-hand to foster a future of acceptance, unity, and tolerance for all.”
“During our journey, one thing that became abundantly clear was the need to confront the past,” David DiTucci reflected. “Parts of our past are hard to think about, and there are many who choose not to. But by confronting the crimes of the past, we can, in some small way, honor the victims of those crimes. No matter how hard history may be, we can only understand the past if we confront it with honesty and courage.”
Howard’s impact is profound. Hearing his firsthand account brings history to life, and allows educators, students, and community leaders to bear witness to the atrocities and resilience of those who lived through one of humanity’s darkest periods. Amplifying the voices of witnesses like Howard is essential for preserving the memory of the Holocaust, ensuring that its lessons are not forgotten, and reminding us to speak up against injustice. His testimony is not just a recounting of past horrors, but a call to action for the present and future. It compels participants to reflect on their roles in combating hate and prejudice in their own communities, enabling them to become advocates for change.
Howard Chandler’s legacy underscores the power of storytelling and the importance of bearing witness. His annual journeys, as well as all the testimonies of local survivors recorded by the Jewish Federation, ensure that the memories of the Holocaust are kept alive and that its lessons continue to resonate with new generations. They remind us of our shared responsibility to stand against injustice and to speak up for one another, ensuring that such atrocities never happen again.
Howard inspires us all to become better stewards of history and more compassionate members of our global community. Thank you, Howard.
To help support the scholarship program that made this journey possible, click here to donate. For Holocaust educational resources and survivor stories, click here.