Join PA Cyber for a Powerful Holocaust Remembrance Day

A Video Premiere and Q&A with Author Lee Goldman Kikel

On 80th anniversary of liberation of Auschwitz, unique event will educate students, connect them with stories to foster deeper understanding

January 23, 2025

The Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School (PA Cyber) invites the media to join its students and families in Warrendale for a Holocaust Remembrance Day event on Monday, January 27, from 3 to 4 p.m.

As part of a unique, interactive learning experience for PA Cyber Charter students, attendees from across the state, both in-person and virtually, will watch the premiere of an inspiring video presentation capturing one man’s incredible journey from concentration camps to life in Pittsburgh. Attendees will also participate in a Q&A with Lee Goldman Kikel, the survivor’s daughter and author of the book “Perseverance: One Holocaust Survivor’s Journey from Poland to America” (2019).

“Learning about the Holocaust is essential to understanding the consequences of unchecked hatred and prejudice,” said Whitney Conjeski, a high school history teacher at PA Cyber. “By studying this history, we honor survivors, remember the victims, and empower future generations to stand against injustice, ensuring that 'never again' is not just a phrase but a commitment to humanity. Through this education, we also have an incredible opportunity to connect students with survivors’ stories, authentic historical resources, and global perspectives, which will foster deeper understanding and meaningful action.”

Melvin Goldman spent five years in the Jewish ghetto and concentration camps. He was 21 years old when Allied Forces liberated the concentration camps in 1945. He weighed 85 pounds and could not walk. He recovered for several years in Germany, and then a kind stranger sponsored his move to the United States where he eventually raised a family and owned a jewelry store in Squirrel Hill.

Goldman’s story is captured in the video “Perseverance,” the newest edition in PA Cyber’s Emmy-nominated Moments in History series, which captures first-hand accounts of chapters in time. “Perseverance,” a PA Cyber production, will be available on the school’s YouTube channel following the event.

Goldman recorded his memories on cassette tapes in the late 1970s. In them, he had stated he wanted his story preserved in a book. His daughter honored his request, and she frequently tells his story at events. Her book was adapted into a play and performed at New Hazlett Theater Center for Performing Arts in Pittsburgh in 2023.

Despite Goldman’s experiences, he was always positive and upbeat, said Goldman Kikel. “He was tolerant and accepting of others. If he can live like that, others can too.”

When Goldman Kikel was reviewing the last chapter of her book in 2018, the Tree of Life Massacre occurred in Squirrel Hill. “I realized how much antisemitism there still is in the world, and, to connect it with my dad’s story, I feel so strongly that we need to tell these stories, and we need to talk about all the hate and upheaval and try to steer things in the right direction.”

Please join us in honoring history and ensuring it is never forgotten. We hope to see you there.

Event date: Monday, January 27 | 2025 International Holocaust Remembrance Day

Time: 3:00 – 4:00 p.m.

Location: PA Cyber’s Warrendale Office, 200 Pinewood Lane, Suite 100, Warrendale, PA, 15086

MEDIA CONTACT

Jennie Harris / jennie.harris@pacyber.org

About PA Cyber

Serving students in kindergarten through 12th grade, the Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School is the most experienced online public school in Pennsylvania. PA Cyber’s online learning environments, personalized instructional methods, and curricula choices connect Pennsylvania students and families with state-certified and highly qualified teachers and rich academic content aligned to state standards. Founded in 2000, PA Cyber is headquartered in Midland (Beaver County) and maintains a network of support offices throughout the state. As a public school, PA Cyber is open for enrollment to any school-age child residing in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.