“I think that it’s important for the eighth grade to learn about The Holocaust, and hearing it from Thomas Blatt, who experienced it firsthand, is a way to make people stop and listen. The Holocaust was a horrific event that caused pain and suffering for a lot of Jewish families whose stories deserve to be told. I feel that the more people know about it, the less chance there is that this will happen again.”         

-Nicole Shaw

“When Thomas Blatt came on stage, I was quite surprised. He looked very young for an 80 year-old, but his eyes seemed to have lived twice as long as he. Tom sometimes seemed in pain, both physically and mentally because of memories, and he looked up at the sky whenever reminiscing about something horrible or good. But towering above all these things I noticed his determination to survive.”

-Bryan Merrill

Thomas Blatt’s story is one of courage, sadness, and will.  When he talked to us about his adventure, a deep respect for him formed inside me. Sobibor was a place of evil not known before on Earth, and he had the courage and will to survive. Mr. Blatt is a very courageous man who deserves everyone’s respect.

-Justin Niedermeyer

“Hearing the story of The Holocaust from a victim is a rare occasion that not many people get to experience. As I listened, I stopped thinking about how much he had gone through and how unbelievably strong he had to be to survive. This was an experience that is unforgettable.”          

-Sarah Marchitto

“Coming into this Holocaust unit I was excited to learn and to hear stories about it. As we watched movies and read books, I learned so much. I knew all the facts of what had happened, but Mr. Blatt’s story of how he escaped Sobibor really put it in perspective. It made The Holocaust come to life in my head.”              

-Nicole McCaffrey

“When Mr. Blatt was talking I began to understand more, not so much the actual events but the feelings and emotions that went along with those events. It is amazing to me how strong his will was to live and how time after time he defied the odds and made it through. Mr. Blatt is a truly amazing man, and I’m very glad I had the opportunity to hear what he had to say.”                           

-Deziree Iams

“When I first started learning about The Holocaust, I was fascinated about this point in history. After hearing Mr. Blatt’s story, I’m still fascinated but I have more respect for those who fought or were victims in this event. My grandpa fought in World War II, and now I know the meaning of that.”      

-Rachel Brewster

“Thank you, Thomas Blatt. Thank you!”             

-Taylor Flesner