New grant to support Holocaust education at Heights High

Stephen Hoffman, president of the Jewish Federation of Cleveland (back row, left) with Mark Sack and honorees Leatrice Rabinsky (front, left) and Gita Franke.

The Cleveland Heights High School Alumni Foundation received a $5,000 annual renewable grant for Holocaust education at Cleveland Heights High School from the George F., Stephanie M. and George L. Traub Fund of The Cleveland Jewish Federation.

Stephen Hoffman, president of the Jewish Federation of Cleveland, presented the grant to Lessons of the Holocaust teacher Mark Sack at a ceremony on Sept. 29 at the federation.

The funds will be used for field trips and guest speakers, and also to support two local scholarships for Lessons of the Holocaust students. 

The scholarships will honor two women who have been instrumental in Holocaust education at Heights High for many years.

The Dr. Leatrice Rabinsky Scholarship honors the founder of Holocaust education at Heights High and will be awarded to a student who shows academic excellence in the class.

The Gita Frankel Scholarship honors a Holocaust survivor and University Heights resident who is a frequent guest speaker at Heights High. It will be awarded to the student who demonstrates exemplary community service.

Rabinsky began the Holocaust education course at Heights High in the early 1970s. The current class, a social studies elective, is taught by Sack, one of her former students.

Started in 1903, the Cleveland Jewish Federation has a long history of supporting education and social welfare in the greater Cleveland community.

“We are very grateful for this support from the Jewish Federation,” said Sack. “These funds will help us continue our strong history of Holocaust education by providing unique enrichment experiences for students.”

“Holocaust education touches students’ hearts and guides their actions. We are building citizens that are upstanders—proactive people who will stand up to cruelty and intolerance,” he said.