SCHOOL SCOOP
Students Spearhead Abby Library Dedication Special to Today Magazine
IN THIS EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW with Today Magazine editor-in-chief Bruce Deckert, social studies teacher Stuart Abrams comments on the Abby Weiner Holocaust Memorial Library at Avon High School and related topics — the pronunciation for Weiner is WHY-ner ———————————————————————————–—————— Abrams began teaching at Avon High in 1994 and has taught the Genocide and Human Behavior course for 20-plus years — he also teaches Human Rights in a Modern World, the sophomore history requirement for Avon students, along with other teachers —————————————–—————–— An award-winning educator and a gifted storyteller, Abrams is the adviser for Avon High’s UNICEF and Amnesty International club ——————————————————————–——— Regarding the connection of the UNICEF and Amnesty International club to the dedication of the library in Abby’s name: Stuart Abrams — Abby Weiner is the best teacher I ever had — I think of him every day. He is the greatest teacher I’ve ever had in my life. He was an only child, originally from the city of Sighet in Romania — he was a boyhood friend of author Elie Wiesel, who is also from Sighet. In 1944 Abby and his parents were taken to the Auschwitz death camp. They were on the same train as Elie Wiesel and his family. Abby survived the Holocaust and later came to the United States. At first he lived in Brooklyn and eventually made his way to Torrington, Connecticut, his final resting place — no other human being will make that circuitous route from Sighet to Torrington. The students in the club were the motivating force behind the library dedication — the club was a convenient vehicle for dedicating the library to Abby. Members of this club are examples of the extra level of commitment and creativity and insight that was needed for this project. I know Abby would have been happy to see high school students get this involved.
Abby Weiner and his wife Bonnie with Avon High social studies teacher Stuart Abrams — Abby received an honorary Avon diploma in 2017 — he didn’t graduate from high school because he was a prisoner in the Auschwitz concentration camp
The last time I saw Abby, he was in the hospital — when I walked out of his hospital room that day in January 2019, I had a sense that it was the last time I’d see him on this earth. He had such a significant impact on me and on students at Avon High School, given the many times he told his story in my classes.
As far as dedicating this library to him, the process was really organic. It didn’t require a lot of thinking on my part — the pieces came together serendipitously. Sometimes divine intervention plays a role. I started gathering books about the Holocaust, and I thought of a portrait of Abby.
Soon after, I wondered: What would be an appropriate way to honor him?
The library dedication was one of the greatest days in the history of Avon High School.
He had received an honorary Avon High diploma in 2017 — he wasn’t able to earn a diploma when he was high school age because he was in Auschwitz.
The night of the dedication — professionally, I’ve never felt like that, likely because of my relationship with Abby. It was well beyond any expectation I could have had. continued on next page TODAY MAGAZINE – www.TodayPublishing.net – JUNE 2023
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