A SPECIAL VISIT - Ernst-Reuter-Schule 1

A SPECIAL VISIT
Raihanna Yasin
On Thursday the 29 th of May wethe
English advance course of the
12 th grade- expected a really
impressing visit of a refugee of the
holocaust during the Second
World War. We were excited to
get to know a true life story of an
eyewitness from this cruel
historical period.
Jahrbuch 2008
When Benjamin Hirsch and his family, consisting of his wife, his daughter and his
granddaughter, entered the room, we were surprised by the vital outward
appearance of Mister Hirsch.
In our last English lessons, we had
collected a lot of interview questions,
for which we really expected
answers. Then he started to talk
about his new life in the U.S.A.,
about his return to Germany, about
his family and the massive problems
of being Jewish during the nationalsocialist
regime in Germany. We
were outraged and felt very touched
when we heard about how he left Germany on a Kindertransport train to Paris
together with his four siblings not knowing that he never would see his parents again
whom he lost in Auschwitz.
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Jahrbuch 2008
When he talked about his arrival in the U.S.A. Mister Hirsch mentioned that he was
called “the animal alien”, which shocked us even more. But he did also amuse us by
telling stories about hilarious and good times in his manifold life
together with his now big family. Every student in the class was absolutely fascinated
and speechless, because he had a great sense of humour although he had lost parts
of his family in Auschwitz.
He recommended his two books, “a different drummer” and his second and more
detailed book “Home is where you find it” warmly to us. The two of them are
achievements, which helped him to handle his destiny. Then we divided the class
into four groups, so that we could have individual conversations with each of our
guests. His daughter and his granddaughter had come from Israel to join him here in
Frankfurt.
It was a unique and special
experience to have the
opportunity to talk
intensively and personally
with a brave and sincere
Jewish family. They live
their Jewish traditions and
could tell us a lot about
orthodox Jewish lifestyle
which we found interesting.
It was touching to see how
we could reduce their prejudices of Germany. All in all it was a gorgeous and
attractive event, which was really worth the effort.
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