TFS commemorates International Holocaust Remembrance Day
TFS was honoured to host an assembly for International Holocaust Remembrance Day, bringing together students across all grades for a day of reflection, learning and remembrance.
The morning began with opening remarks from Deputy Head of School and Senior School Principal Jean-Bastien Urfels. Among those in attendance was special guest, Dr. Claire Nunes-Vaz, a former TFS parent, whose connection to the Holocaust is deeply personal through the loss of many family members at Auschwitz. Dr. Nunes-Vaz has donated her family’s encyclopedias, saved during the war, for TFS to safeguard and learn from.
Senior School students then heard from keynote speaker and Holocaust survivor Denise Fikman-Hans. She shared her story in French, her native language. Born in 1938 in Paris, Denise was just a child when, in 1942, her father, aunt and uncle were deported to Auschwitz. In an effort to protect her family, Denise’s mother sent her six children and two nieces into hiding. They were separated and placed with different families before Denise was taken in by a convent, where she remained until 1948. After the war, she returned to Paris, later married her husband Milan Hans and, in 1979, immigrated to Toronto, where she built a new life.
Students listened closely as Denise’s story unfolded, bringing history to life in the room. Following the talk, select students shared their own family connections to the Holocaust, making the moment all the more personal.
In the afternoon, Junior School students gathered for a second assembly, introduced by Principal Alexandre Ferrand, and heard from survivor Gershon Willinger. Born in Amsterdam in 1942, Gershon was only a few months old when his birth parents placed him in hiding with members of the Dutch resistance. Given the name “Fritsje” to conceal his identity, he was later discovered and sent to the Westerbork transit camp. His parents were murdered in Sobibor in 1943. Gershon was subsequently deported to Bergen-Belsen and then to Theresienstadt, where he remained until liberation. After the war, he lived with foster families and in a centre for Jewish war orphans before immigrating to Canada in 1977. For many Junior School students, this was a first encounter with a survivor’s testimony. They listened with care, learning the importance of bearing witness, even at a young age.
At TFS, we uphold the triple commitment of UNESCO: to honour victims and survivors, educate future generations and combat antisemitism, racism and hatred. This commemoration was a chance for students to engage with moving testimonies – stories of loss, resilience and survival that continue to shape our collective responsibility to remember.
Thank you to our guest speakers, student musicians, faculty, all who joined us and the Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center for their partnership in making this important day possible.
See more photos from both assemblies on our Instagram: 81st anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau with Holocaust survivors
Back
Senior School students then heard from keynote speaker and Holocaust survivor Denise Fikman-Hans. She shared her story in French, her native language. Born in 1938 in Paris, Denise was just a child when, in 1942, her father, aunt and uncle were deported to Auschwitz. In an effort to protect her family, Denise’s mother sent her six children and two nieces into hiding. They were separated and placed with different families before Denise was taken in by a convent, where she remained until 1948. After the war, she returned to Paris, later married her husband Milan Hans and, in 1979, immigrated to Toronto, where she built a new life.
Students listened closely as Denise’s story unfolded, bringing history to life in the room. Following the talk, select students shared their own family connections to the Holocaust, making the moment all the more personal.
In the afternoon, Junior School students gathered for a second assembly, introduced by Principal Alexandre Ferrand, and heard from survivor Gershon Willinger. Born in Amsterdam in 1942, Gershon was only a few months old when his birth parents placed him in hiding with members of the Dutch resistance. Given the name “Fritsje” to conceal his identity, he was later discovered and sent to the Westerbork transit camp. His parents were murdered in Sobibor in 1943. Gershon was subsequently deported to Bergen-Belsen and then to Theresienstadt, where he remained until liberation. After the war, he lived with foster families and in a centre for Jewish war orphans before immigrating to Canada in 1977. For many Junior School students, this was a first encounter with a survivor’s testimony. They listened with care, learning the importance of bearing witness, even at a young age.
At TFS, we uphold the triple commitment of UNESCO: to honour victims and survivors, educate future generations and combat antisemitism, racism and hatred. This commemoration was a chance for students to engage with moving testimonies – stories of loss, resilience and survival that continue to shape our collective responsibility to remember.
Thank you to our guest speakers, student musicians, faculty, all who joined us and the Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center for their partnership in making this important day possible.
See more photos from both assemblies on our Instagram: 81st anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau with Holocaust survivors
