LIVINGSTON, N.J. (WCBS 880) -- More than eight decades after Hitler started his war on Jews that would kill millions of them, there is still Jewish hate.
Holocaust survivor Mark Schonwetter said the way to fight antisemitism is with education.
"I don't mean only education as far as the Holocaust is involved," Schonwetter said. "I think the education should be that we are human beings. We are all the same people living on this planet...and not willing to accept any hatred."
Schonwetter walked 15 miles with his mom and sister 80 years ago to escape the Nazis.
That simple message of education is one that he thinks isn't articulated enough. His Holocaust education foundation raises money that is given to schools in the form of grants.
This year, demand has skyrocketed.
"Last year, we had 60-some odd applications. This year we had 158 applications," said Schonwetter's daughter, Ann Arnold, who helps run the foundation. "The need is there. The teachers want to teach this. They need the support to be able to bring it to their classrooms, to be able to educate their students."
A school in Jersey City is one of the recent recipients of a grant. Students created an exhibit with different interpretations of who Hitler was and how he rose to power.
The Mark Schonwetter Holocaust Education Foundation held its second annual "Journey for the Living" 15-mile walk on Sunday at the Oval in Livingston, New Jersey.
To accompany the event and raise awareness, they enlisted the help of students at Elon University to design a billboard in Times Square that reads "Walk to Support Holocaust Education."
Schonwetter thinks the recent wave of antisemitism is a reminder to have respect for all people.
"Why do we have to hate each other? Why do we have to create this?" he asked. It's a question he hopes to stop asking at some point.
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