As the last generation of Holocaust survivors nears the end of their lives, educators and authors are warning that memory preservation efforts must target younger children to effectively counter rising antisemitism and historical distortion. Eva Mozes Kor, who survived Auschwitz as a child, spent her final years advocating for Holocaust education to begin in elementary school, arguing that by age twelve, when most American schools introduce the topic, children have already begun forming worldviews that may include prejudice.
Kor's memoir for young readers, I Will Protect You: A True Story of Twins Who Survived Auschwitz, written with author Danica Davidson and released in 2022, has become a bestseller and is now used in schools nationwide. The book makes the Holocaust accessible to upper elementary and middle school readers by weaving personal narrative with historical context, showing that these events did not occur in isolation. Davidson emphasized in her Holocaust Remembrance Day article Holocaust Education Should Start in Elementary School at Aish that early education can teach critical thinking, the patterns of history, and the importance of treating others with empathy.
This urgency stems from alarming trends: antisemitic incidents have surged in recent years, online radicalization has lowered barriers to hate, and polls reveal many young Americans cannot name a single Nazi camp or believe the Holocaust is exaggerated. Davidson noted in her op-ed Working with survivors to tell their stories, before it's too late at the Jewish News Syndicate that both Kor and another survivor she worked with, Eva Schloss, understood how such books fit into the broader framework of Holocaust education. Schloss, who passed away recently, collaborated with Davidson on a graphic novel titled What Lies Hidden, which highlights paintings her brother made while in hiding and portrays her as a resilient individual beyond her connection as Anne Frank's posthumous stepsister.
The educational approach championed by Kor and Schloss aims to meet children when their imagination and moral formation are still developing, teaching history as the lived reality of children similar to themselves. Kor frequently stated that children must be reached before prejudices solidify, a view supported by the reality that young people today encounter conspiracy theories, extremist propaganda, and Holocaust distortion online. Davidson's work with survivors underscores that memory is not guaranteed; it must be actively taught and practiced through empathy.
As Holocaust Remembrance Day serves as both a moment of reflection and a warning, the message from these advocates is clear: with survivors disappearing, the world will only remember what is taught to the next generation. Books like I Will Protect You offer an entry point to help children recognize dehumanization and understand the consequences of hatred, preparing them for a world where misinformation and radicalization are prevalent.
