Five Riverhead students recognized during Holocaust Remembrance week for ‘building bridges’

Five RHS students received recognition this week  from the Jewish Community Relations Council as part of Yom HaShoa (Holocaust Remembrance) for “building bridges.”

The U.S. Congress established the Days of Remembrance as the nation’s annual commemoration of the Holocaust. Each year, state and local governments, military bases, workplaces, schools, religious organizations, and civic centers host observances and remembrance activities for their communities. These events occur during the Week of Remembrance, which runs from the Sunday before Holocaust Remembrance Day (Yom HaShoah.)

In a Yom HaShoa ceremony at Suffolk County Community College during the week of April 20, five RHS students, Amanda Baron, Jeremy Bornstein, Samantha Dunn and Mieko Vail, along with Katie McKillop (who was absent from event), were recognized for their participation in organizations such as Student Government, Students Against Destructive Decisions, RIverhead Community Awareness Program and other clubs and anti-bias programs throughout their high school careers which reflect “bridge building” and their efforts to make the world a better place.

These RHS seniors were part of a contingency of students from nine high schools who were given certificates of recognition by the Jewish Community Relations Council in partnership with the Suffolk County’s State Senate delegation. Suffolk County State Assemblyman Fred Thiele was one of the speakers and district representatives, who read bios of the high school students and presented them with their awards.

The main speaker at the program was Holocaust survivor Werner Reich. Reich gave his personal account of surviving the horrors of the holocaust as a teenager. His message is that “indifference kills.”

“All that it takes for evil to go unchecked in the world is for good people to do nothing,” Reich said.

Reich has spoken to high school audiences (including a presentation at Riverhead High School) about his experiences during the holocaust and encourages students to not stand by silently but rather be the first to speak out when they witness bigotry, prejudice and cruelty. He inspires his young audiences to battle indifference in the world, and encourages our communities to celebrate the efforts of these young people who have worked hard to make a difference.