Category Archives: Education

Hate is Our Enemy

Tuesday evening I went to the HeartStorm Farmstead where gracious owners Kim and Mike, Rabbi Raskin from Chabad of Southern VT, and Baltic Truth Holocaust Documentary, were hosting Holocaust survivor Elly Gotz, who was there to tell his miraculous story of survival. Gotz was 13 years old and living in Kovno (Kaunas) Lithuania when warContinue reading “Hate is Our Enemy”

Švihov Torah Dedication

One month ago, I started a journey with a group of students researching a Holocaust Torah. Today, the torah was dedicated and officially took up residency at Shir Shalom in Woodstock, VT. I want to congratulate all these students for a job well done. Thank you! With everyone putting in a little time you wereContinue reading “Švihov Torah Dedication”

A Sacred Trust

What do you do when you get an email from your rabbi with the subject line, “HELP”? I say, “I’m not sure I can, but I’ll give it a try.” This is how another project started. The congregation I belong to, Shir Shalom in Woodstock, VT, has been gifted the permanent loan of a HolocaustContinue reading “A Sacred Trust”

Searching for Stories

My mother tells how Heinz Lichtenstern, her father, escaped a transport to Auschwitz in 1944. Notified that he, along with all men aged 16 to 55 then in Theresienstadt, would be leaving soon, he had said his tearful goodbyes to his family. At the transport, before boarding, Heinz once again showed the family’s Paraguayan passport.Continue reading “Searching for Stories”

Vote of Confidence

I have been traveling to Connecticut a lot. I don’t mind. All the hubbub around Tutti’s Promise gives me an excuse to visit my parents. When people ask me about driving down to Southern New England I say my parents like it when I visit – but the truth is I like the visits too.Continue reading “Vote of Confidence”

Nautilus Silver Winner

More exciting news for Tutti’s Promise! Nautilus Book Awards has announced that we won Silver in Middle Grades Fiction. Now completing its 20th year, Nautilus Book Awards recognizes books that transcend barriers of culture, gender, race, and class, and promote conscious living & green values, spiritual growth, wellness & vitality, and positive social change. ThankContinue reading “Nautilus Silver Winner”

Noting what’s Notable

Last Tuesday afternoon the phone rang. It was my publisher, Margie Blumberg. Our conversation went something like this: Margie: Hi. What are you doing? (I noticed an unusual lilt to her voice). Me: Not much. Margie: Is Dave there? Me: Yes. Should I put the phone on speaker? Margie: Yes. I want him to hearContinue reading “Noting what’s Notable”

The Student Becomes the Teacher

A high school classmate, enthused about Tutti’s Promise, introduced me to a current teacher at our former school, Eric LaForest. Eric is the Director of the Norton Center for the Common Good at Loomis Chaffee School and he invited me to spend a day teaching. We spoke on the phone, exchanged emails, and came upContinue reading “The Student Becomes the Teacher”

The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

When I arrived at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum on July 19, 2017 I took a minute to wander. I said ‘hello’ to the Holocaust survivor who was sitting at a desk greeting visitors and I noted the sign on the information kiosk which advertised a book signing that afternoon. Then I headed upContinue reading “The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum”