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International Holocaust Remembrance Day at The Emery/Weiner School

By Hailey Newman, The Emery/Weiner School, School Buzz Reporter | January 31, 2018

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A diplomat places a stone in the arbor in honor of all who perished in the Holocaust. (Photo: Norwegian Consulate General in Houston)

On Friday afternoon, Jan. 26, 2018, The Emery/Weiner School held a ceremony in order to commemorate International Holocaust Remembrance Day. Typically, the school holds an assembly during the school day for the students, but this year was different. This ceremony was held when grades 9-11 were gone on winter trips, leaving only the seniors to represent Emery’s student body.

This event specifically honored Hiram “Harry” Bingham IV, a United States diplomat who saved thousands of Jews from persecution while stationed in Marseille, France. The ceremony opened with the St. John’s School choir performing, eventually leading into an informational video about Bingham and his life.

One of Bingham’s sons, Robert Bingham, spoke about his father’s life and how he was able to help the Jewish people escape persecution in the 1940s. Along with the current senior class, many current diplomats were in attendance. There were multiple speakers from different organizations around Houston promoting ideas such as combating antisemitism and continuing to tell the stories of those from the Holocaust that are not able to now, including the American Jewish Committee (AJC). Afterwards, attendees were invited to place a stone on the outdoor structure called the Arbor, which was built to commemorate the 1.5 million Jewish children who perished in the Holocaust.

Current Emery senior, Netanya Ronn, said, “I had never heard about Harry’s story and hearing from his son, about how his father saved thousands of Jews, was very moving and special.” Now more than ever, it is vital that the stories of those involved in the Holocaust continue to be told so that it is never repeated or forgotten.

The Emery/Weiner community is proud to help carry on the legacy of those involved in the Holocaust year after year to ensure that people stay educated and pass on their stories for generations to come.