Morris Rubell
Holocaust Remembrance Journeys
Recent School Trips
March 1, 2026
“Do you think the Holocaust would have happened if Hitler had never risen to power?”
“How does the Holocaust still affect your family today?”
“How did ordinary citizens respond to the events of the Holocaust?”
“Why did Hitler hate the Jews so much?”
These were just a few of the many thoughtful questions posed by students from Sussex Technical School who joined us last week on the Morris Rubell Holocaust Remembrance Journey to Washington. Their questions reflected genuine curiosity and a sincere desire to understand not only the historical facts of the Holocaust, but also its deeper context and enduring lessons.
That inquisitiveness is a testament to the exceptional educators at Sussex Tech. I firmly believe that teachers are the lifeblood of our society. I want to extend special thanks to Kristen Longstaff, Karen Lynch, Debbie Wakefoos, Maria Re, Connor Kopnick, and Robert Tierney for their commitment and dedication to preparing students for an increasingly complex world. Several of them generously gave their time for what was a very long day to accompany us on this Remembrance Journey.
During the bus ride, students heard from Melissa Shore, a third-generation survivor (3G), who shared her grandfather’s story of survival in the concentration camps. She connected with them and her inspiring account of his resilience, courage, and enduring positivity—both during and after the war—deeply moved the students and no doubt will stay with them far into the future.
Our hope is that the experiences at the Holocaust Museum, the Lincoln Memorial, and the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial—along with the meaningful discussions throughout the day—will help guide these students as they navigate an increasingly polarized world.
Two questions they asked, in particular, have stayed with me since the trip:
“Why did no one stop Hitler before the Holocaust?”
“Do you see any trends or warning signs in the world today that resemble the early stages of the Holocaust?”
We did not offer simple answers. Perhaps that is the point. Through our Remembrance Journeys, we hope these students will continue to wrestle with these questions, continue seeking understanding, and ultimately empower themselves to act with courage and moral clarity in their own lives.
March 1, 2026
“Do you think the Holocaust would have happened if Hitler had never risen to power?”
“How does the Holocaust still affect your family today?”
“How did ordinary citizens respond to the events of the Holocaust?”
“Why did Hitler hate the Jews so much?”
These were just a few of the many thoughtful questions posed by students from Sussex Technical School who joined us last week on the Morris Rubell Holocaust Remembrance Journey to Washington. Their questions reflected genuine curiosity and a sincere desire to understand not only the historical facts of the Holocaust, but also its deeper context and enduring lessons.
That inquisitiveness is a testament to the exceptional educators at Sussex Tech. I firmly believe that teachers are the lifeblood of our society. I want to extend special thanks to Kristen Longstaff, Karen Lynch, Debbie Wakefoos, Maria Re, Connor Kopnick, and Robert Tierney for their commitment and dedication to preparing students for an increasingly complex world. Several of them generously gave their time for what was a very long day to accompany us on this Remembrance Journey.
During the bus ride, students heard from Melissa Shore, a third-generation survivor (3G), who shared her grandfather’s story of survival in the concentration camps. She connected with them and her inspiring account of his resilience, courage, and enduring positivity—both during and after the war—deeply moved the students and no doubt will stay with them far into the future.
Our hope is that the experiences at the Holocaust Museum, the Lincoln Memorial, and the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial—along with the meaningful discussions throughout the day—will help guide these students as they navigate an increasingly polarized world.
Two questions they asked, in particular, have stayed with me since the trip:
“Why did no one stop Hitler before the Holocaust?”
“Do you see any trends or warning signs in the world today that resemble the early stages of the Holocaust?”
We did not offer simple answers. Perhaps that is the point. Through our Remembrance Journeys, we hope these students will continue to wrestle with these questions, continue seeking understanding, and ultimately empower themselves to act with courage and moral clarity in their own lives.
January 22, 2026
Yesterday, I spent a beautiful (but freezing!) day with the wonderful students of Parsippany Hills and Parsippany HS. We shared a Morris Rubell Holocaust Remembrance Journey to the US Holocaust Museum, and the Lincoln and MLK memorials.
During the trip, on the bus, we were honored to have Marci Charm who is a “3G” survivor who beautifully shared her grandmother’s story of survival during the Holocaust. Marci connected with the students and helped them find a deeper understanding of the challenges, trauma, and resilience of the survivors as she related what her grandmother went through.
The students were so thoughtful and open in their comments and questions. Clearly, they are being challenged and shaped by a very special cadre of educators, Jill Jelonec and especially Jeremy Chaudruc, who’s Holocaust and Genocide class should, serve as a model for teaching our youth.
We are in unsettling times. These students and these teachers give me a little hope.
November 20, 2025
Earlier this week I spent the day (and evening) with the amazing students and teachers from East Side High School from Newark. We all journeyed to DC exploring the US Holocaust Memorial Museum and visited the Lincoln and Martin Luther King memorials. They were all so inquisitive, asked great questions, and offered really thoughtful insights about what they saw and learned.
On the bus heading to DC, they were transfixed as Carol Moskot, a 3rd generation survivor, vividly and sensitively, shared her family’s story of her grandparents and mother in Hungry during the Holocaust.
Throughout the day, the exceptional teachers of East Side HS led by Mr. Schu and Ms. Nunes, were incredible in having prepared the students for the trip and being there to help them come to terms with what they were seeing.
It was a powerful and transformative day. The world is feeling like a dark place right now.
Yet, after spending time with these students and teacher, I’m finding space for some hope.
