Ullman Gives Lecture At Holocaust Center Port resident discusses experiences hiding from Nazis

Holocaust survivor and author Leo Ullman recently gave a moving lecture at the Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center of Nassau County, located at the Welwyn Preserve in Glen Cove. During his presentation in February, the longtime Port Washington resident spoke about his harrowing experiences as a very young boy hiding from the Nazis in occupied Amsterdam during World War II and his family’s subsequent emigration to America.

During his lecture, he showed the audience a rug that was given to his father before his family went into hiding. The man who gave Ullman the rug believed that praying on it would protect his family. Ullman still has the rug in his home to serve as a reminder of the strength and sense of hope it provided to his family while they were in hiding in Amsterdam and for the decades that have followed.

“Leo Ullman is doing a tremendous service by continuing to share his family’s story of survival and perseverance in the face of evil,” Nassau County Legislator Delia DeRiggi-Whitton said. “It is always a privilege to hear my courageous friend speak and lend his powerful voice to ensuring that future generations never have to endure the atrocities that the

LANGUAGE BUDDIES from page 6D responsibilities.

While this program is only in Manorhaven Elementary, everyone involved is hopeful that the program will expand to the other elementary and secondary schools in the Port Washington School District.

ENL teacher and Language Buddies participant John Davis has high school bilingual students come into his classroom at Manorhaven Elementary to pair up with his elementary school students.

“Manorhaven is one of the most diverse schools in Port, and this program is happening very naturally,” said Davis. “Students at the high school that actually came through Manorhaven are coming back to the classroom and working with

Nazis inflicted upon his family and so many others.”

Ullman is the author of a powerful book entitled 796 Days: hiding as a child in occupied Amsterdam during WWII and then coming to America. The book chronicles the remarkable strength and resolve that his family demonstrated during their more than two-year ordeal of evading capture by the Nazis. Ullman’s book includes not only his own personal story, but stories of other family members and their miraculous survival. The book has numerous unique photos, copies of documents in support of the stories, as well as valuable historical context of those terrible times.

Previously, Ullman served as director of the Anne Frank Center USA for more than two decades. Located in Manhattan, the center’s mission is to educate young adults about discrimination and the dangers of intolerance. Ullman’s family was in hiding in Amsterdam at the same time as Anne Frank and her family. Visit hmtcli.org to learn more about the Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center. Visit annefrank.com to learn about the Anne Frank Center USA.

—Submitted by the office of Legislator Delia DeRiggi-Whitton the teachers that taught them English.”

“It’s a beautiful thing, and I would like to see it expanded,” said Davis. “I’m so proud they want to give back to their community.”

The seniors constantly help the elementary-aged students with classwork such as math and reading. But the social-emotional aspect of this program is just as important.

“I’ve just hovered over the kids while they do class work to help out, but we did a lot of other things like play basketball, go to lunch together, and I’ve even been to art class with some of them,” said Nishikiori. “We’ve created a bond with the kids.”

Students entering a new educational system that is unknown to them can have a lot of fear and anxiety about making friends and fitting in. Having someone like Nishikiori, who speaks their language, understands their cultural background, and has some experience in the American school system, is a great comfort to ELL students.

While Language Buddies benefits elementary school-age ENL students, it also gives the high school students a sense of responsibility and experience in a classroom setting. Zárate shared that seniors now tell her they want to pursue careers in the educational field because of their time with the younger students.

In addition, the Language Buddies program provides an opportunity for Schreiber seniors to earn community service toward their Senior Experience Project by helping students and acting as role models.

The Language Buddies program has received a grant from the Ed. Foundation, which supports initiatives beyond basic educational needs for students in the Port Washington public school district. The funding from the Ed. Foundation has helped provide busing for students to visit the elementary school.

With the collaborative help of Zárate, Davis, the entirety of the ENL Department and the Education Foundation, Nishikiori’s idea has come to life, allowing Port’s bilingual students to thrive in both elementary and high school.